Lot 385

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Description:

FERDINAND ADOLF VON ZEPPELIN
(1838 - 1917) German aviator and airship designer, constructed the first rigid airship which bore his name. Fine content T.L.S. "G. v. Zeppelin", 2pp. lg. 4to., Friedrichshafen, Aug. 31, 1908, in German to Lt. Schwab, Instructor at the Royal Cadet School. In part: "...I was exceedingly pleased by your communication informing me of the excellent results achieved by the collection for the National Airship Construction Fund made at the cadet school. From the beginning it has been my wish to provide the German Army with an airship fully fit for wartime service. Although already quite serviceable, such an airship is just in its beginning stages and only after the passing of some years will its complete usefulness for war purposes be revealed. Therefore it is particularly gratifying to me to see our young people in the military show so much confidence in what I have already achieved...the cadets at your school wanted to send me a token of their confidence by their patriotic spirit of sacrifice. This splendid display of a truly German spirit has stirred me, joyously. Please transmit my most deeply felt thanks to the officers, teachers, officials and cadets of the school...It is an uplifting feeling...After so many years of difficult struggle...to be able to place my work, full of confidence, in the hands of the coming generation of our German Army...". Zeppelin no doubt writes of his 1907 flight in which he reached a record 36 miles per hour. Buoyed by this success and the accompanying public ardor, Zeppelin continued with more flights. The interest in his airships came to a peak in 1908 with crash of his LZ4 and the subsequent campaign to raise literally millions of DM to fund further research. Near fine condition.

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March 30, 2011 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

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