LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 MAR Grand Format Air & Space Sale #6000  / 

58226

Early Charles Lindbergh ALS

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:4,875.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
Early Charles Lindbergh ALS
<B>Charles Lindbergh Autograph Letter Signed in Full. </B></I> ALS "<I>Charles A. Lindbergh</B></I>" on hotel stationery, 4 pages, 6" x 9.25", [Birmingham, Ala.], Oct. 6, 1927, to William P. MacCracken. In full: "<I>Dear Dr. MacCracken: Thanks very much for your letter. I took a medical examination at Little Rock Ark. A few days ago, at the request of the Air Corps; and passed with as good a rating as I have ever received. I received a wire today from the Department stating that my credentials for license renewal were satisfactory, and the license </B></I>[is] <I>being forwarded so they apparently located the forms you sent last August. The tour is still progressing smoothly and our planes and engines in excellent condition. Thanking you again and with my best wishes, I am, Sincerely yours, Charles A. Lindbergh</B></I>".<BR><BR>Upon his return from Europe after his transatlantic flight, Lindbergh determined to use his newly gained fame to raise the profile of aviation as an important growth area of the economy. Henry Guggenheim, who had recently established a half a million dollar endowment to create a Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics, became Lindbergh's financial backer. Guggenheim sponsored a three-month tour of all 48 States, during which Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis would make stops in nearly every major city. Lindbergh would earn a princely salary of $50,000 for this exhausting schedule. The theme of the tour, and the espoused message was that "aviation had a brilliant future, in which America should lead."<BR><BR>The tour began on July 20, 1927 at Mitchell Field on Long Island. Lindbergh's path circled the U.S. traversing Portland, Maine to Seattle, San Diego, Jacksonville, and back to New York, with numerous stops along the way. At the time this present letter was written, he was nearing the end of his tour. Birmingham was one of the last stops as he traveled up the eastern seaboard. After a grueling 12 weeks and 22,350 miles, Lindbergh returned to New York on October 23, 1927.<BR><BR>A fantastic letter written during the very height of his fame. The letter has some uneven toning on page one and just beneath the signature on page four. Also, some paper has been filled on page three. Accompanied by the original transmittal envelope addressed in Lindbergh's hand, with evidence of professional restoration to a few minor tears. Written on four individual sheets, this is an ideal letter for display. The letter and cover are individually encapsulated and in near fine condition.<BR><B><BR>William P. MacCracken </B></I>served as the first federal regulator of aviation. He was an experienced aviator who served as a flight instructor during World War I. In 1926 Herbert Hoover appointed him as the first Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics. MacCracken also has the distinction of being the first recipient of a pilot's license to be issued by the U.S. Government which was issued on April 6, 1927.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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