FREE VALUATION. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Hindenburg letter that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).

Sell Your Hindenburg Letter at Auction

The Hindenburg airship, manufactured by the Zeppelin Company of Germany, was the pinnacle of luxurious air travel in the 1930s. The airship took five years to build and embarked on its maiden voyage in March of 1936. The Hindenburg was known for its transatlantic flights and flew 17 roundtrips in 1936, with 98 hours and 28 minutes as its record roundtrip time between Frankfurt and Lakehurst, New Jersey.

We sold a letter penned in July 1936 while traveling on board the Hindenburg for $3,120. Item details are below:

Hindenburg Voyage Letter 1936

5pp. diary-style letter composed aboard the Hindenburg. Written by Helen Morewood, niece of Herman Melville, and dated 14-17 July 1936, letter records in great detail one of the first of Hindenburg’s Trans-Atlantic voyages made less than a year prior to its disastrous fire. In part: “14 July 1936…Arrived at airport and soon embarked on Hindenburg – Left earth so quietly did not feel going up – looked out & saw cars & men like wee toys. Told we would not fly over N.Y.C…ran into fog. Only in bunk felt like on a steamer & heard what sounded like swish of water. Naval officer said it was wind. So thrilled…Nantucket in early am…17 July…Up at 4:30 am. Heard Europa salute us! We went right over her. Much noise on Hindenburg…ran to see what was going on after hearing 4 airplanes fly over us. Passengers in all degrees of garments in dining room…looking out – great deal of happy excitement. Quickly dressed and saw the coast of England Chalk cliffs – beautiful coast – the sun on cliffs and channel lovely. Boats small & large fishing…2 steamers leaving England…An English woman so happy and excited seeing England acted as guide to those near her pointing out where Battle of Hastings was fought in 1066…charming Mr. Brown came to show me France on the other side and dimly…We saw along the coast of England our shadow…so fascinating…flying for Holland was thrilling! Cows ran frighted…at first there were no people to be seen – then they ran out…all Holland so clean and neat…like a watercolor…” Ink pages written on thin translucent paper measure 6″ x 9.75″. Slight toning and wear to edges. Corners contains small folds, else very good condition. Sold for $3,120.

We also sold the following items related to the Hindenburg:

Hindenburg Disaster Press Pass

The Hindenburg disaster occurred on May 6, 1937, in Manchester Township, New Jersey, United States. The German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed during its attempt to dock with its mooring mast at Naval Air Station Lakehurst. On board were 97 people (36 passengers and 61 crewmen); there were 36 fatalities (13 passengers and 22 crewmen, 1 worker on the ground). Hindenburg press pass for 6 May 1937, the day of the infamous explosion. Original press pass string ticket, No. 350. Text reads, “U.S. Naval Air Station / Lakehurst, New Jersey / 1937 / Transatlantic Airship Service.” Rubber stamped in green ink: “PRESS,” “PRESS PRIVILEGES,” “MAY 6, 1937.” Signed by U.S.N. Commander “R. Rosendahl.” Measures 3″ x 6″. Paper clip impression and rust stains to upper edge, else very good condition. Sold for $2,094.

Consign your Hindenburg press pass at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Send a description and images of your Hindenburg press pass to us at [email protected].

Ticket to the Hindenburg Grounds on the Day the Zeppelin Exploded — May 6, 1937

Original pass to access the Hindenburg grounds on the fateful day of its explosion, 6 May 1937. The Lakehurst Naval Air Station, which acted as the U.S. terminal for the airship Hindenburg on its North American flights, issued passes for individuals providing various levels of access to the Zeppelin. This particular pass was issued 6 May 1937, the day on which the Hindenburg burned at Lakehurst. Measuring 6″ x 3″, the pass bears a red rubber stamp granting its holder access as a Zeppelin Guest to the waiting rooms to greet passengers, though it specifically states that the holder does not have access to board the airship. Date stamped 6 May 1937, trip number 1 (which was the first of the 1937 season), and a facsimile of base commander Charles Rosendahl’s signature are also featured prominently. On the verso are detailed instructions for use and disposal. A picture of one of these passes attached to a piece of Hindenburg wreckage appears on page 199 of the Rick Archbold Hindenburg book. Bears indent and rust mark on verso from an old paper clip since removed, though in otherwise fine condition. Sold for $1,883.

Auction your Hindenburg press pass at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Send a description and images of your Hindenburg press pass to us at [email protected].

Hindenburg Pasquerella Signed Photo

Signed by Gus Pasquerella, the Philadelphia Bulletin photographer who captured the iconic image. 10″ x 8″ sepia photo entitled, “Explosion of the Hindenburg” showing the doomed airship mid-explosion. Boldly signed at lower left, “Gus Pasquerella 5/6/37.” Pencil dockets on verso read: “Hindenburg Explosion at Lakehurst, May 7, 1934 Mus. Modern Art wants 30 x 40 enlargement.” Light wrinkling, else very good condition.  Sold for $1,200.

Consign your Hindenburg press pass at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Send a description and images of your Hindenburg press pass to us at [email protected].

China Used on Historic Hindenburg Zeppelin Airship — Cup & Saucer Designed by Heinrich & Company — Not the Set Designed for Tourists

Matching set has official Zeppelin logo reading, “DEUTSCHE / ZEPPELIN REEDEREI”. Both pieces are a creme color with ornate gold and blue trim. Undersides contain Heinrich & Company stamp with the marking, “HEINRICH-ELFENBEIN-PORZELLAN”. Beneath markings are the labels that confirm each piece was used aboard the Hindenburg, as opposed to separate sets sold to tourists, “EIGENTUM DER DEUTSCHEN / ZEPPELIN-REEDEREI”. Cup and saucers not actually used on board are much less scarce and labeled, “ORIGINAL BORDPORZELLAN DER DEUTSCHEN LUFTSCHIFFE”. The Hindenburg disaster killed 35 of the 97 people on board and marked the end of the airship era. Saucer measures 6.25″ in diameter, cup measures 3″ in diameter. Small chip on lip of cup, otherwise both pieces are in near fine condition.  Sold for $959.

FREE VALUATION. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Hindenburg letter that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).

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