Bound in a simple loose-leaf fashion with a pair of detachable rings, the simple black print on blue paper of the cover does little to broadcast the importance of the contents, unless the holder knows the significance of the bold lettered "TOP-SECRET/BIGOT" in the upper left and lower right corners, though the artistic rendering of the sea god Neptune (aka Poseidon) carrying a tank to shore with a landing ship and plane behind him gives a pretty big hint. Established early in 1944, the "BIGOT" classification was the highest level of information restriction yet implemented by the United States, covering the details and essentials of Operation Neptune, the amphibious landing of Allied forces at the five beaches of the Normandy Coast. Essentially a precursor to the modern "code word" system of information compartmentalization, issuing of Bigot clearance to men and officers (who were known as "Bigoted" in casual conversation) was on a strict basis of need, with zero exceptions; the King of England was at one point turned away from a ship's compartment containing Neptune-related information by a junior officer who had not been explicitly told that the King was 'Bigoted'. This level of secrecy was essential, as it went hand-in-hand with one of the greatest deception programs in history, with faked armies, bogus signals intelligence, and a batch of flipped and coerced Nazi spies doing everything they could to make Calais or Norway look like the target of the invasion, while Normandy was just a feint or fake-out; Bigot information landing in German hands could have changed the course of human history. The monograph is a bounty of information on Normandy as it existed in April of 1944, containing the best available knowledge of tidal and weather conditions, the defenses of the beach (static and mobile), and the areas immediately beyond. This includes hand-drawn maps, aerial and ground photography, artists depictions of fortifications and obstacles, and a wide array of tidal charts, complete with overlays for calculating how close different categories of landing ship can get to the high water mark at different times of the day. In addition to the monograph is a supplement dated 21 May 1944, labeled to be inserted into the monograph, with listed adjustments to the shore line rendering due to storm activity, predictions of possible enemy moves in response to the invasion, fresh charts and an update on the possible presence of threats like 170mm self-propelled guns, human torpedoes and other mini-subs, e-boats, and explosive robots. No, we didn't make that last one up; "The enemy is reported (unconfirmed) to have installed on beaches in North France and Belgium a robot or amphibious engine, 3.3 feet long and 19.2 inches high, containing high explosive charges. These robot mines are said to be directed by radio control against approaching landing craft and to be similar to magnetic mines. Also in with the loose papers is a hand-written note signed by a Lieutenant of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, detailing the standing harbor and sea orders of an unnamed ship; no information is available on the Lieutenant, though he may have been the original "Bigoted" owner of the monograph or addendum.

Fine. Both the monograph and addendum show wear appropriate to age, with mild foxing and tearing. The cover of the monograph has taken on a number of brown stains, and the addendum pages have yellowed. An extremely scare document, these papers represent a rare window into one of the greatest military operations in American history, both in scale and in importance, and would be worthy of a place of honor in any collection of 20th century military artifacts.