March 2012 Auction Ends Wednesday, March 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/28/2012
Exceptionally rare piece of fabric from the Spirit of St. Louis, signed by the aircraft's chaperone to Paris, Charles Lindbergh. Upon the 3.25'' x 2.75'' piece of fabric, Lindbergh writes ''Original fabric from the Spirit of St. Louis. Sincerely, Charles A. Lindbergh / Dec. 25, 1928''. This piece of silver, stiffened fabric was treated at the time of its manufacture, and therefore likely taken from the fuselage area of the plane. Especially made by Ryan Airlines in 1926 for Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight, the Spirit of St. Louis was a highly experimental aircraft in its time, with its single-engine design, which Lindbergh believed would optimize his chance of success. As tradeoffs, however, the engine tank was situated at the front to improve the center of gravity (denying Lindbergh a front windshield) and the fuel capacity of the plane was dangerously low. Lindbergh, in fact, was so concerned with losing fuel from the weight of the plane that he trimmed excess paper from his maps. This piece of fabric from the spectacular and revolutionary aircraft was removed after Lindbergh flew The Spirit on its final flight from St. Louis to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., in April 1928, where it still resides. There, at the Smithsonian, it was renovated and this piece of the plane's fabric was saved and, on Christmas, 1928 signed and given to only a select few individuals close to the courageous aviator. Very good.
Charles Lindbergh Signed Piece of Fabric From the Spirit of St. Louis -- Very Scarce Given by Lindbergh to Select Individuals on Christmas, 1928
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