255

LINDBERGH, CHARLES A.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
LINDBERGH, CHARLES A.
<b>255. CHARLES A. LINDBERGH</b> (1902 - 1974) American aviator who, in his "Spirit of St. Louis", was the first to fly solo non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean. A rare and most desirable partly-printed D.S., a check from the Robertson Aircraft Corporation dated Jan. 31, 1927 made payable to "<i>C. A. Lindbergh</i>" for the amount of $175.00 drawn on the Boatmen's Bank of St. Louis. Endorsed "<i>C.A. Lindbergh Jr.</i>" on verso. This check was likely the first of several stipend checks given to Lindbergh by Robertson Aircraft during the construction of the Spirit of St. Louis. Lindbergh worked for Robertson as an air-mail pilot in 1925 upon his graduation from the U.S. Air Service Flying School. Appointed as Chief Pilot, where he taught other pilots, and in 1926 flew the Chicago to St. Louis air-mail route. He drew his last paycheck from Robertson as a regular pilot on Dec. 31, 1926 when he began work full-time in pursuit of the $25,000 Orteig Prize offered for the first trans-Atlantic solo flight. Robertson Aircraft would provide the first $1000 toward the purchase and modification of the Spirit of St. Louis. Cancellation punches do not affect signatures, but do affect Lindbergh's name on the payee line, otherwise the check bears very light soiling, two vertical creases, otherwise in very good to fine condition.<b>$3,000-5,000</b>