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Graf Zeppelin Match Safe with LZ-121 Airship 1929

$650.00Price
Germany ca. 1928 - 1937
49 mm Wide (2") x 57 mm High (2.25")
Nickel
 

    • Details

      A Very Special Graf Von Zeppelin Match Safe

      Super piece.
      Super quality.
      Super rare.
       
      Original nickel metal match safe with an image of Graf (Count) von Zeppelin and the "Graf Zeppelin" airship flying over Friedrichshafen, Germany in 1929.

      This piece is in terrific condition. A little soil and tarnish here and there but completely intact with a solid hinge and a snap that clicks nice and tight when you shut the case.

      "Ferdinand, Graf von Zeppelin, in full Ferdinand Adolf August Heinrich, Graf von Zeppelin, (1838-1917 ) was a German military official who was the first notable builder of rigid dirigible airships, for which his surname is still a popular generic term.

      Zeppelin received a military commission in 1858. He made the first of several balloon ascensions at St. Paul, Minnesota, while acting as a military observer in 1863 for the Union Army during the American Civil war. He saw military action in 1866 during the Seven Weeks War and in 1870-71 during the Franco-German War, serving successively in the armies of Wurtemburg, Prussia, and imperial Germany. He retired in 1890 and devoted the rest of his life to the creation of the rigid airship for which he is known.

      Zeppelin struggled for 10 years to produce his lighter-than-air craft. The July 2, 1900 initial flight of the LZ-1 from a floating hangar on Lake Constance (near Friedrichshafen Germany) was not entirely successful, but it had the effect of promoting the airship to the degree that public subscriptions and donations thereafter funded the work of the Graf (Count). The German government was quick to perceive the advantage of airships over the as yet poorly developed airplanes, and, when Zeppelin achieved 24-hour flight in 1906, he received commissions for an entire fleet. More than 100 zeppelins were used for military operations in WWI. A passenger service known as Delag (Deutsche-Luftschiffahrts AG) was established in 1910, but Zeppelin died before attaining his goal of transcontinental flight."

      Hugo Eckener commanded the "Graf Zeppelin" airship on its epic 21,250 mile around the world flight in 1929 and on its polar-exploration flight in 1931.

      I bought this beautiful and historic match safe from Hakes Americana about 20 years ago.

      So cool.
       
      An unused postcard of the famous and much respected Count (photo dated 1903) is included with the purchase of this match safe. See last pic. 

    • Shipping

      Souk Topia only ships to addresses in the USA.

      International customers must provide a USA address. All International fees, customs and duties are the responsibility of the buyer.

      All sales inlude free shipping and insurance. Shipping is typically USPS priority mail. We package items extremely well and ship pronto!

      Expedited shipping can be arranged but additional charges will apply. Just ask and we will provide a quote.

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