Book  (Jan 2000)  Page(s) 71.  
 
Chocolate Soldier Herbaceous Peony (Auten 1939). A unique hybrid, the result of a cross between Paeonia lactiflora and P. officinalis. While usually of Japanese form, the same bush may produce both single and double flowers as well. Some of the large blooms are solid dark red, others may be flushed with yellow...

Website/Catalog  (1958)  Page(s) [1].  
 
Herbaceous Hybrid Peonies
Semi-Double Red
Chocolate Soldier (Auten) black red with yellow...$4.00

Website/Catalog  (1957)  Page(s) 3.  
 
Officinalis Hybrids, Auten Originations.
This new race of hybrid Peonies starts blooming about ten days before the regular Peony season. They are of surpassing beauty, giving us reds more brilliant than we have ever had, and new shades in coral, cherry, salmon, and orange; reds free from any purple cast. The Royal Horticultural Society of England in 1956 gave their most highly prized "Award of Merit" to John Harvard, Red Monarch, Dandy Dan and Rosedale, and "Highly Commended" to Rose Marie. In the 1956 popularity poll of the American Peony Society, Chocolate Soldier, Rose Marie, John Harvard and Veritas stood among the top six kinds out of 59 red hybrids voted on.
Chocolate Soldier  Darkest "black red". No other peony like it. Some blooms have yellow markings, some do not. Blooms on the same plant may range from full double with no markings to Japanese type with brilliant yellow markings. When full double the petals have absolutely perfect, precise formation. One of our greatest peonies....$4.50

Website/Catalog  (1939)  Page(s) [5].  
 
Officinalis Hybrids, 1939. Auten Originations
Chocolate Soldier. Black red Jappy bomb type, with some yellow dots on center petals. Color is unusually rich, and free from purple suggestion. The finest "black red" I have ever seen. Honorable mention....$20.00