[GRAHAME-WHITE, Claude]. The London Aerodrome Hendon, First Annual Dinner Friday March 20th, 1914 [ cover title ].

£1,200 · Offered by Henry Sotheran Ltd

[GRAHAME-WHITE, Claude]. The London Aerodrome Hendon, First Annual Dinner Friday March 20th, 1914 [ cover title ]. London: Geo. Reynolds Ltd., Art Printers. 1914. 4to. Original card wrappers, printed in silver and with colour illustration after Cyril Cuneo mounted on front cover, Toast List mounted inside front cover, menu mounted on the flap of lower cover, inside this amounted colour illustration after Cyril Cuneo; pp. [28], highly illustrated after phographs and drawings; covers a little rubbed, initial page (for autographs) dusty and with margianl leasures do to shortness of front wrapper (part of the design); a remarkable survival from the infancy of flying in Britain. The now defunct London Aerodrome in Hendon was at the beginnings of aviation in this country, where pioneers could hone their skills, train wannabe daredevils into trying to fly and set exams for people to take in order to be able to fly. It was at the epicentre of the early days of flying. So, with this, it attracted not just UK, but also Europe's best aviators and as the folder lists, they raced each other in front of the adoring public. The races drew large crowds as the small group of aviators pitted their wits against each other. This folder was issued to the great and good at a large function in Pall Mall at the Royal Automobile Club on 20th March 1914. Famous guests such as H.G. Wells and Ernest Shackleton were in attendance and whoever received a folder also had an empty page at the front, so that

• Binding: Hardcover

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