Description:

Rare complete program celebrating Balbo and the arrival of the ‘Italian Air Armada' in New York in July, 1933. The 9.25 x 12.5 in. program feature a photo of Balbo on the cover with facsimile signature, surrounded by Italian and American flags and images of the Colosseum, Statue of Liberty, seaplanes, and Balbo's route across the Atlantic. Its forty pages include photographs of Balbo and the seaplane crews, FDR, a haughty Mussolini, King Victor Emmanuel, candid scenes, etc. The program for the five days of events is laid out as well. Advertisers include Seagrams and boxing promoter Humbert J. Fugazy. Fine condition. From 1 July to 12 August 1933, twenty-four seaplanes led by Balbo flew round-trip from Rome to the Century of Progress in Chicago, Illinois. From Chicago they flew to New York with an escort of 36 U.S. airplanes. New York gave a warm welcome to the pilots on Broadway as millions of people watched the parade. President Franklin Roosevelt invited him to lunch and presented him with the Distinguished Flying Cross and he was awarded the 1931 Harmon Trophy. The Sioux even honorarily adopted Balbo as 'Chief Flying Eagle'. To a cheering mass in Madison Square Garden he said: 'Be proud you are Italians. Mussolini has ended the era of humiliations.'

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May 23, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
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$100 $499 $20
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$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000