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Artifacts

Office of Strategic Services Letter Removal Device

Artifact Details

Long, thin pincers on a handle, showing how the device would work with a transparent envelope

The pincers are shown in position inside an envelope.

During World War II, one used this special pincer device to take letters from their envelopes without opening the seals.  By inserting it into the unsealed gap at the top of an envelope flap, one could then wind the letter around the pincers and extract the letter from within.

Artifact Specs

29.2 cm x 4.8 cm

(L x Diameter)

Additional Photos

A letter wrapped around pincers, at the top of a transparent envelope

Learn More

The Office of Strategic Services: America’s First Intelligence Agency