7058

Hindenburg Flown Fabric Swatch

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:5,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD
Hindenburg Flown Fabric Swatch

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Auction Date:2017 Oct 26 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Flown swatch of red fabric recovered from the wreckage of the Hindenburg following its disastrous explosion at Naval Air Station Lakehurst in New Jersey on May 6, 1937, originating from the red field of the Nazi flags on the airship's tail. The unusually large swatch measures 6.25 x 5 and is annotated on the reverse in ballpoint, "Hindenburg, May 6, 1937." It was recovered by the teenage Rosemary Dowling, who was on the ground selling candy and cigarettes to onlookers; her father, Patrick Dowling, was among the naval crew working to dock the airship when it exploded. In fine condition, with expected wear and soiling.

Accompanied by a provenance statement from Rosemary Dowling's grandson, Joshua Lamont, who was appointed by President Obama as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Labor and later joined the White House Advance team of First Lady Michelle Obama. He writes, in full: "On May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg famously caught fire and was destroyed while attempting to dock with its mooring mast at Lakehurst Naval Air Station. Among those on the ground, teenager Rosemary Dowling (December 31, 1922 – February 9, 2008) was eagerly selling candy and cigarettes to onlookers, a reason to be closer to her beloved father, Patrick Dowling (May 24, 1892 – June 28, 1964), who was among the naval crew working feverishly with his crew to dock the flying giant—and later aid and rescue the 97 people on board. Over her lifetime, Rosemary Dowling—later Rose Dowling Fentress—kept a small vigil in her home commemorating the Hindenburg disaster, including news clippings as well as books and stories written over the next 70 years about the famed Zeppelin blimps, the Hindenburg’s notable passengers and more. She also kept a piece of red material, a piece of the Hindenburg wreckage which as a 14-year old cigarette girl she had picked up off the ground and kept with her. Rose’s sole-surviving relatives, her son Bob and grandson Joshua, realized how unique this red fabric might be. While Josh was working in the White House in 2010, he shared the piece with colleagues at The National Archives as well as preservationists from the University of Maryland, who not only confirmed the origins of the red material, but noted how few relics of this size are known. Further, while the Hindenburg was almost entirely aluminum in color (from the duralumin material), the Nazi German flag of the time, including its red border, were prominently affixed to the tail. This red fabric is from that Nazi German flag on the tail of the Hindenburg."