Lot 1279

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Description:

(1894-1916) German World War I ace credited with 18 victories. Wintgens was the first military fighter pilot to score a victory over an opposing aircraft while piloting an aircraft armed with a synchronized machine gun. Awarded the Pour le Mérite, killed in action. Extremely rare, brief A.N.S., Wintgens, with rank “Leutnant” beneath, on one side of a Feldpost correspondence card, [n.p. “In the field”), July 23, 1916, to Hans (?) Grobel, in German. Wintgens sends his correspondent thanks for his kind congratulations. Further signed by Wintgens to the verso in the return address panel, along with his rank and details of his division and company, in his hand. Addressed in an unidentified hand to Grobel and with several postal cancellations. Together with an original vintage unsigned 5 x 3.5 photograph of Wintgens standing in a full length pose, in uniform, alongside his aircraft. Autographs of Wintgens are extremely rare in any form as a result of his early death. Very slightly irregularly trimmed to the upper edge, not affecting the text or signature. Wintgens may have been responding to congratulations received upon his award of the Pour le Mérite which had been awarded on July 1st . He was only the fourth airman to receive the prestigious medal, having completed the required (at the time) eight victories over enemy aircraft. The present letter is written almost exactly two months to the day before Wintgens would be killed.

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May 1, 2019 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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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