Genuine 'Zeppelin Eckener Spende' Fund Raising Pin. c.1926 (Chris Balm Early Aviation & Motoring Items)

Genuine 'Zeppelin Eckener Spende' Fund Raising Pin. c.1926

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Genuine German lapel pin made by Kruse & Sohne to promote the fund raising effort for the construction of the Graf Zeppelin airship (LZ-127) between 1925-28. This is a genuine example and not one of the copies which are currently circulating the market.

This attractive badge is made from woven silk and is decorated with the image of the Graf Zeppelin flying over the globe. It also bears the caption, Zeppelin Eckener Spende" (Zeppelin Eckener Donation). The badge is surrounded by a gilt brass fame and has a tin back impressed with the maker's mark, "KUKEMAL - Ges. Gesch - KRUSE & SÖHNE AG - BARMEN". Length (not including pin) : 45mm. Very good condition (slight oxidisation to tin back).

After the death of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in 1917, the flight director Hugo Eckener took over the Zeppelin Aircraft Construction Company. After W.W.I., the Versailles Treaty placed restrictions on Germany, preventing them from owning airships, but in 1925 this ban was partially lifted and they were granted permission to build and operate airships for commercial use. At this time the Zeppelin company was virtually bankrupt, but in late autumn 1925 Eckener launched a campaign called Zeppelin Eckener Spende" (Zeppelin Eckener Donation) in order to raise the necessary funds to construct a new airship, the LZ-127 'Graf Zeppelin'. Eckener and his fellow directors also toured the country giving lecturers to the public (Eckener alone, gave nearly 100 lectures). Money was also raised by other methods including the sale of pins and and sets of postcards (fund cards). The fund was not particularly successful as it only managed to raise just over two million RM, instead of the expected six million. The shortfall was eventually raised from other sources including a grant from the government.

For more information on the Graf Zeppelin, please click on the link below :

LZ.127 Graf Zeppelin

Inventory No. A-395

Price: GBP(£) 80.00 + Shipping

Status : AVAILABLE

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