^Lot 22 Manfred von Richthofen

Gigantic and very rare section of aircraft fabric taken from one of von Richthofen’s fighter aircrafts. The section of lacquered fabric measures 32 x 19.5, with a large (21 x 19) Balkankreuz (Greek Cross) painted in black dominating the fabric, against a dull green background, and was most likely taken from the rudder area of the aircraft. This style of cross was prevalent on German Air Service aircraft from early 1918 until the end of the war. Fabric has been professionally dry mounted, which has since come loose, and framed under UV glass to an overall size of 34.5 x 22.25. Expected distress, with several period patches and touch-ups, crazing and some cracking to some areas of paint, with several areas of the cross having been professionally retouched recently, and some chipping to irregular edges, otherwise very good condition.

Fabric comes from the estate of United States Air Force Colonel Kimbrough Brown, author of the book, Von Richthofen and the Flying Circus (Harleyford Publications, 1958). The fabric was presented to Colonel Brown directly from the von Richthofen family in gratitude of his book. After his passing, his wife sold the fabric in 1986, and this piece is accompanied by the original notarized statement that accompanied the transaction. The letter reads, “The World War German aircraft fabric with black cross, as represented in the photo above, was presented in Germany to my husband, Col. Kimbrough Brown, by the family of the Baron Manfred Von Richthofen as a reciprocal gift when he presented the Baron's family with a copy of his book, Von Richthofen and The Flying Circus. In presenting the fabric to Col. Brown, the family informed him it had been taken from one of Baron Richthofen's earlier fighter aircraft - not from his death plane.” The use of the Latin Cross is unusual from this early period of the war and may well have been a special use on the insignia on a plane Von Richthofen flew, but this is speculation and confirming information is lost to history. Also accompanied by a 1961 news clipping mentioning Brown’s extensive aviation collection, mentioning the von Richthofen fabric. Most of the scant handful of documented von Ricthofen items are preserved in museums and seldom become available to the public.