Description:

Early 20th Century Aviation Ephemera: 3 Items Including Stock Certificate, Promotional Booklet & "A Trip to the Moon" Trade Card

A unique lot of three pieces relating to the technological development and cultural popularization of early twentieth-century American airship technology, including a stock certificate from the American Aerial Navigation Company; a promotional booklet from the same company; and a trade card advertising the Pan-American Exposition's "A Trip to the Moon" amusement park experience. The ephemera dates from ca. 1900-1904.

The lot includes:

1. A partly handwritten and partly printed stock certificate, number 1276, certifying that "Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Shreve" purchased 25 shares of Capital Stock in the American Aerial Navigation Company recently incorporated in South Dakota. Signed on June 15, 1904 by two company officers including founder and president Dr. August Greth as "August Greth" at lower right. The certificate is visually attractive, with an embossed gilt seal and gilt stamp found near the bottom edge. Light paper folds and a former collector's pencil inscription verso, else near fine. 10.25" x 8.25."

Dr. August Greth (1856-1938) was an Alsatian immigrant, inventor, and entrepreneur who patented his dirigible designs in 1897 and established the American Aerial Navigation Company in San Francisco in the same year. $1,000,000 worth of Capital Stock was available through its depository the Western National Bank.

Greth designed and constructed a dirigible prototype called the "California Eagle" which he successfully flew (while manipulating its course) for two hours in late October 1903. Greth's 80-feet-long airship was filled with 50,000 cubic feet of hydrogen gas, and fitted with side propellers running on a single 12 horsepower automobile engine. Greth's maiden voyage aboard the "California Eagle" took place several months before the Wright Brothers' pioneering biplane flight at Kitty Hawk. Greth foresaw a brilliant future for airship travel.

2. A 12pp promotional booklet on the American Aerial Navigation Company, ca. 1900. The booklet includes a brief history of airships, the Aerial Navigation Company, and its principal Dr. August Greth. Including technical drawings and retouched period photographs. Minor weathering to the covers, and slight staple rust, else near fine. 3.625" x 6.25."

The booklet launches a truly fascinating sales pitch in which it predicts that dirigibles will become the preferred method of travel in the future. In part: "All serious thinkers are agreed that the Airship has come to stay, the evolution and extension of trade demand it. It will prove safer, cheaper, faster and more independent, as mail, express and freight carrier than any other accommodation ever thought of or at all available…" Greth even claimed that his design was superior to that of the already well-established Zeppelin in Germany.

3. A period trade card from the Pan-American Exposition of Buffalo, New York, ca. 1901, advertising "A Trip to the Moon" amusement park ride designed by Frederick Thompson (1873-1919). Marginal wear but otherwise in near pristine condition, measuring 3.75" x 5.5" unfolded.

Thompson's Aerial Navigation Company provided fair attendees with a multi-sensory experience--in one of the first examples of an amusement park dark ride--aboard an airship called the "Luna." The aircraft, which was patented as a type of "scenic apparatus," was suspended in air by cables. Scenes revolving around the airship and fans blowing air towards the passengers imitated a real flying experience. Thompson and his business partner Elmer "Skip" Dundy later recreated the ride at Coney Island in 1903.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.


Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

June 30, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000