WILLIAM J. DONOVAN (1883-1959) 'Wild Bill', American brigadier general chosen by Roosevelt to head the O.S.S. (precursor to the C.I.A.). Donovan planted over 16,000 people behind enemy lines and developed elaborate plans to subvert Axis military operations. Very early document issued to Donovan, 1p. large 8vo., [Tokyo, June, 1919]. The document, signed with 'chops' and in Japanese with Donovan's name typed thereon, is explained in an accompanying letter sent by Director General of the Japanese Ministry of Communications to Donovan: '...I send you herewith a special certificate authorizing you to file telegrams for New York...without prepayment...' Very good. Following his return from World War I, Donovan took his wife on a combined vacation, business trip, and intelligence mission to Japan, China, and Korea, then went on alone to Siberia during the Russian Civil War. He went back to work at his law firm, but also took an extensive journey to Europe, where he did business on behalf of J. P. Morgan and gathered intelligence about international Communism.