Auktion 168 - FlugundZeppelinpost-Italien

Ihr Partner für hochwertige Philatelie und Numismatik 

168 

Italian Airmail History 

5 March 2020 

Lot 3044 

Please check the homepage 

www.felzmann.de for our online catalogue

2 

Italian Airmail History | 

INTERNATIONALE AUKTION 168 

8375 F 6 € 4.000 

PIONIER FLIGHTS 1903-1911, unique collection of earliest cards from Belluno (1903), Rome (1904) and Milan (1906), extremely rare 

balloon card "Ascensione Libera del 26 Aprile 1904" (Longhi 43, only 8 copies recorded), airship "Italia", handwritten and signed 

by Conte Almerico da Schio and Ettore Cianetti, "Leonardo da Vinci" as well as a last handwritten letter to the ingenious inventor 

Gaetano Arturo Crocco, to the ILA 1909 exhibition Frankfurt, accompanied by correspondingly attractive cards. Other pieces 

Verona (1910), Florence (1910 + 1911) and Turin (1911) complete this historical section on 22 exhibition sheets, recommended to 

advanced collectors

3 


ITALIAN AIRMAIL HISTORY 

History of Italian aeronautics 

With the following 95 lots, we will be presenting a small but exquisite selection of covers and documents 

celebrating one of the greatest Italian aviation pioneers. In addition to world-famous Italian legends such as 

Umberto Nobile or Italo Balbo, there is one man whose peerless ingenuity has continued to be an inspiration 

right up to the current space travel age. 


Prof. Gaetano Arturo Crocco built more than 30 airships and published over 200 scientific papers. In spite of 

this, his name is far less known than those of other pioneers. He is also one of just two Italians to be included in 

the International Space Hall of Fame in Alamogordo in New Mexico. Museum-quality covers, letters, patents 

and even technical airship drawings relating to this aviation and rocket pioneer are presented exclusively here. 

Please note that a collection can also be found under lot number 8375 of the separate collection catalogue. 

ex 3001 

3001 F Longhi 5 / 7 6 € 120 

1898, Torino "Esposizione Generale Italia", Ticket No. 53860 to visit the Balloon Park 

(Parco Aerostatico) illustrated with a Godard balloon and unused coloured fotocard 

"Torino Panorama visto dal pallone frenato" 

3002 

3002 F Longhi 18 6 € 450 

1899, Belluno "Inaugurazione dell Acquedotto di Libano 24.9.1899", special 

illustrated card showing the aqueduct of Libano with a balloon, sent from 

Belluno to Milano (stamp is missing), certificate Longhi 

3003 

3003 F Longhi E/04b 6 € 200 

1902, Military Units, unused special card issued by the 3. Engineering Rgt with 

violet cachet "3°. REGGIMENTO GENIO * COMANDO"

4 



3004 

3004 F Longhi E 02/b 6 € 300 

1902, Military Units, unused special card printed by Borrani, Firenze and 

issued by the 3. Engineering Rgt with violet cachet "3. REGGIMENTO GENIO * 

COMANDO", signed Longhi 

3006 

3006 F Longhi E 04/c 6 € 500 

1903, Military Units, used special card issued by the 3rd Engineering Rgt with 

black cachet "3. REGGIMENTO GENIO * DISTACCTO DI ROMA" sent from 

Rome on May 15 to Naples 

3005 

3005 F Longhi 40 6 € 150 

1903, Genova, 65. Ascencione del Cap. Merighi, used fotocard by Rossi, Genova, 

sent to Pisa commemorating the 65th ascent of Cap. Merighi on 24.3.03 

3007 

3007 F Longhi 44 6 € 150 

1904, Milano Aeronautical Meeting, unused fotocard "Festa Aeronauctica - Milano 

2 Giugno 1904" depicting the Balloon "Genova"

5 



ex 3010 

3010 F Longhi 67, 70, 73 (2) 6 € 200 

1906, Milan, International Exposition, interesting lot of 4 picture cards, of which 3 

are coloured, all related to the aeronautical show (all used) 

3008 

3008 F Longhi 49 6 € 500 

1904, Udine, ascent of balloon "Il Centauro" 7.8.1904, used official special card 

showing the balloon and Cap. Brunnner, very rare card 

3011 

3011 F Longhi 82 6 € 400 

1906, Milano International Exhibition, rare sample of the Regulations for the 

Aeronautical Cup ("Regolamento per la Coppa Aeronautica Regina Margherita 

di Savoia per il passagio delle Alpi in aerostato") in Italian and French, very 

good condition 

ex 3009 

3009 F Longhi 54 6 € 80 

1905, Airship "Italia", Almerico da Schio, 2 fotocards from the first flight both with 

postmark "SCHIO (VICENZA) 27.6.05", the date of the third flight 

3012 

3012 F 6 € 250 

1906, Milano International Exhibition, booklet (20 pages) issued by the 

company Fernet Branca including an illustration of the Aeronautical Pavillon, 

a very charming item in excellent condition with many other drawings and 

topics

6 


Massimo Trenta 

General Gaetano Arturo Crocco was a key figure in the development of aerodynamic 

science in Italy and around the world. He began his research with studies on the stability 

of airships and concluded them in the middle of a project to take human beings into 

space. 


GAETANO ARTURO CROCCO 

FROM AIRSHIP TO SPACE 

Gaetano Arturo Crocco (b. Naples, 26 October 1877; d. Rome, 19 January 1968) was 

an Italian officer, scientist and teacher and a pioneer in aeronautics and rocket propulsion. 

He obtained his degree as an electrical engineer in 1904. During his academic career 

he published 170 scientific studies, registered 30 patents ranging from aerostatics to 

navigation and from aeronautics to missiles, and invented approximately 50 different 

tools for aeronautics. 

As a protagonist in the story of Italian and world aviation, his journey ranged from the 

dawn of the airplane and airship to the time of the first space explorations. In 1956, 

in the last years of his career, he became a NASA consultant, planning interplanetary 

travel with extremely precise calculations. One of his space mission projects between 

Earth and Mars is known as the Crocco Grand Tour. His greatness as an aeronautical 

scientist is internationally recognized. The asteroid 10606 Crocco and the Crocco crater 

on the moon are named after him. He also had a brilliant military career. 

On October 3, 1908, at the experimental site of Vigna di Valle on Lake Bracciano, he made the very first test flight of the first 

Italian military airship, N-1, designed by then-Lieutenant Crocco and Lieutenant Ottavio Ricaldoni. The N-1 flew over Rome on 

October 31, 1908, making a huge impression. In 1909, in part because of this success, Crocco was promoted to the rank of captain. 

Crocco became a professor and then rector at the Aeronautic Engineering School at the University of Rome in 1926, which still 

exists under the name of Engineering School Aerospace. 

In 1935 he organized the Volta Congress, which saw the arrival of 

the world's leading aeronautics experts in Italy and which was the 

prototype for the great post-war aerospace congresses. He became 

a member of the Accademia d'Italia and the Accademia Nazionale 

dei Lincei. 

lot # 3030 

In the meantime, he devoted himself to academic activities, first 

as a teacher and then as principal of the School of Aeronautical 

Engineering, a position he held from 1935 to 1942 and from 1948 

to 1952, the year in which Luigi Broglio took over. During these 

years of research and teaching, Crocco invented and had numerous 

innovative systems and tools built, to the point that the rhyme 

"Everything I see or touch, invented Arturo Crocco" spread among 

his students. 

In the years following the Second World War, Crocco the aeronautical genius, who had left the air force before the conflict with the 

rank of general inspector, was mainly interested in missiles and astronautics. In 1951, together with the earliest Italian experts in 

the discipline, he founded the AIR (Italian Rocket Association), of which he was the president until 1959. Although by this time he 

was over 70 years old, he actively devoted himself to the dissemination of space exploration. 

To foster interest in space initiatives – which materialized with the International Geophysical Year, after decades of speculation 

that existed only in science fiction stories – an international event was organized in Rome on September 15, 1956. For the first 

time, in fact, on the initiative of Crocco’s AIR organization, the Congress of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) was 

held in Italy. It was the largest-ever assembly of scientific and technological specialists engaged in the sector, which at the time was 

mainly linked to missiles and only peripherally to the world of satellites and other future creations.

7 



lot # 3015 

Experimental Shipyard of Vigna 

di Valle, 3 October 1908; flight of 

the first Italian Military Airship, 

designed by Arturo Crocco and 

Ottavio Ricaldoni 

On this occasion Crocco, now in his eighties, presented his memoir entitled "One year exploratory tour Earth Mars Venus Earth", 

which hypothesized the exploitation of the gravitational fields of Mars and Venus to reduce interplanetary travel time. His study 

proved important, and was a first contribution to the famous “gravity assist” or “swing-by” manoeuvre, which NASA began to 

use on some interplanetary missions in the 1960s. Here, the gravitational force of a planet was exploited through a close transit, 

properly calculated, which served to relaunch a space probe to the next destination: it was a boost of energy that allowed the spacecraft 

to explore the solar system in more depth. 

On 31 October 1908, Crocco made 

a round trip from Vigna di Valle to 

Rome, covering 80 km in about 1:30 

minutes and its airship became the 

first aircraft to fly over the capital, 

at 500 meters above sea level, 

making a great impression. 

lot # 3015 

The study remained famous, and Americans referred to it as the Crocco 

Mission and Crocco's Multi-planet Trajectory. For Crocco, this was his 

last, but once again relevant, contribution to the nascent field of space 

science. 

The name of Gaetano Arturo Crocco, almost unknown in our schools, is 

inscribed in the Space Hall of Fame in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Crocco 

is one of the very few Italians, together with Enrico Fermi, for whom this 

honour has been reserved. 

Commemorative stamp to celebrate the event issued by Poste Italiane. 

Postcard with special cancellation of the 7th International 

Astronautics Congress. Coll. U. Cavallaro

8 



3013 

3013 F 6 € 300 

1907, lettercard "BRIGATA SPECIALISTI ROMA" written by Maj. Mario 

MORRIS, commander of the engineering brigade "Brigata Specialisti 

del Genio" to Gaetano Arturo CROCCO concerning technical aspects of 

aerodynamic questions 

ex 3015 

3015 F Longhi E 6 € 400 

1908, Military Airship M 1 constructed by Crocco-Ricaldoni, 2 unused picture 

cards "Cantiere Sperimentale / Vigna di Valle (Bracciano)", one with 2 

authentic signatures of Gaetano Arture Crocco plus used and unused picture 

card depicting the airship above Rome during its flight on October 31 

3014 

3014 F 6 € 200 

1908, official letter paper "MINISTERO DELLA GUERRA" from Rome January 8 

addressed to Ottavio RICALDONI and Gaetano Arturo CROCCO concerning the 

approval to continue their works on the airship 

3016 

3016 F Longhi E / 11c 6 € 1.000 

1908, Military Airship M 1 constructed by Crocco-Ricaldoni, coloured picture 

card signed Longhi with blue "BATTAGLIONE DIRIGIBILISTI / CANTIERE 

AERONAUTICO DI VIGNA DI VALLE (BRACCIANO)" and "IL COMMANDANTE 

DEL CANTIERI", with authentic signature Mario Migoni, probably a unique 

item, plus a contemporary fotocard showing the airship above Castello 

Odescalchi


3019 F Longhi 174 / 177 6 € 350 

1909, Brescia, First International Air-Circus 5.-20.9.09, used special card 

postmarked "BRESCIA * STAZ.E CIRCUITO AEREO 8-SET.09" addressed to 

Busalla, as per Longhi 60 items with this postmark are known; in addition 

2 coloured postcards commemorating the Circus and the International 

Exposition for electrical appliances 

9 


ex 3017 

3017 F Longhi E / 11c 6 € 250 

1908, Military Airship M 1 constructed by Crocco - Ricaldoni, 3 contemporary 

fotographs (17x12 cm) from October 1908 plus 2 unused picture cards "Cantiere 

Sperimentale / Vigna di Valle (Bracciano)" showing the Airship M 3 

3018 

3018 F € 100 

1909, Airship M 1, ticket No. 2011 for Ceppetelli Ernesto to visit the airship at 

Ciampino Airport near Rome 

3020 

3020 F Longhi 234 6 € 150 

1910, Florence, Flying Circus 28.3. - 4.7.1910, double card "AVIAZIONE FIRENZE 

1910" showing Airplane Voisin and Henry Rougier, certificate Longhi 

3021 Longhi 357 / 10 BIga 6 € 70 

1910, Flying Week Milan, coloured double card "Ricordo della Settimana 

d'Aviazione Milano..." showing Cattaneo and his Bleriot flying over the cathedral of 

Milan, used from Bergamo 5.10.10 to Jüterbog, Germany 

3022 

3022 F Longhi 357 6 € 100 

1910, Aero Meeting Milano 24.9.-3.10.10, lovely coloured picture card "Ricordo del 

Concorso d'Aviazione Milano Settembre - Ottobre 1910 RAID BRIGA - MILANO", 

postmarked Milano October 2, addressed to Paris 

ex 3019

10 



3025 

3025 F Longhi 406 6 € 500 

1911, Airship N. 1, private advertising card Mario Durando, Torino, used as 

local card in Vercelli 24.2.1911; Durando had a production facility in Vercelli 

and was an enthusiastic amateur of aeronautics, as per Longhi's certificate 

this card is unique 

3023 

3023 F € 350 

1910, US patent for Gaetano Arturo CROCCO and Ottavio Ricaldoni for car 

suspension for airships, issued on November 8, 1910 

3027 

3027 F Longhi A/1 6 € 800 

1912, Italian-Turkish War, picture card "Aviatori Militari Italiani/Nella Guerra 

Italo-Turca" franked with 5 C. green (Sassone 81) postmarked TRIPOLI 

D'AFRICA - SEZIONE RIUNITE - 12.2.12 10 further "TRIPOLI - HOMS / MOIZO - 

Ore: 1,15 / GAVOTTI -": 1,40, detailled certificate Longhi 

3024 

3024 F Longhi 415 6 € 200 

1911, Airship "Ausonia-bis", Raid Verona - Boscomantico 28.1.1911, unused picture 

card showing the airship and its constructor Nico Piccoli, further foto card showing 

the airship M.3 sent by Cap. Tullio Benigni to Nico Piccoli in Padova on February 16, 

1914 

3028


3028 F Longhi 568 6 € 200 

1912, Genova, ascent of balloon "Aquila" June 16, unused foto card edit. I.C.C. 

showing the ballon with cat. Paul Spiegel, certificate Longhi 

3031 F Longhi E/12/b 6 € 400 

1912, Military Units, postally used (1912-07-07) special card printed by 

Liebman, Roma and issued by the Special Engineering Batt., with blue cachet 

"BATTAGLIONE SPECIALISTI DEL GENIO * COMANDO", very rare item 

11 


3032 

3032 F 6 € 250 

1912, official letter paper "3° REGG. GENIO DISTACCAMENTO DI ROMA" 

written by Maurizio MORIS and addressed to Gaetano Arturo CROCCO 

congratulating him for his success at the university of Liège 

3029 

3029 F Longhi 595 - 597 6 € 250 

1912, receipt issued by the Roman Committee "per la flotta aerea d'Italia" 

dated 24.6.12 for a donation of Lit 25,00; unique item, signed Longhi 

3030 

3030 F Longhi E/13n 6 € 600 

1912, Military Units, unused special card printed by Liebman, Roma 

with violet cachet "STABILIMENTO DI ESPERIENZE E COSTRUZIONE 

AERONAUTICHE - (DIREZIONE)", signed Longhi 

3033 

3033 F € 250 

GAETANO ARTURO CROCCO (1877-1968), ca. 1911, member of III. Rgt. Genio, 

which undertook military trial flights with Italy's first airship "N1", nine 

original large size and small size brass uniform buttons in three different 

effectuations with inscription "Gento militare", plus two picture postcards "III. 

Genio" from 1905, and one of the lieutenant's telegrams from 1906 

3031

12 



3026 F € 15.000 

1912, exceptional and complete set of the construction plan of the military airship P4 built in Vigna di Valle in 1912, of the semi-rigid 

type Crocco-Verduzio, length 63 meters, diameter 12 meters, volume 4700 mc, two Fiat engines of 80 hp each operating a propeller, 

cruising speed 60 km/h. Assigned to Cantiere Dirigibili di Campalto, under the command of Captain Valle, took part in war operations 

in the Adriatic, carrying out numerous bombings in Pula, Muggia and Trieste. In August 1915 it was used as a pilot school for the Regia 

Marina....

13 


3026 F € 15.000 

.... Further unique construction plan of the military airship P 5, of the semi-rigid type Crocco-Verduzio, 4400 mc, 

two Fiat engines of 180 hp each allowing a cruising speed of 60 km/h. Assigned to Regio Esercito di Campalto, 

under the command of Captain Seymandini, withdrew from the operational line in 1915. The lot includes large 

boards with dozens of folded drawings. Unique and of great interest, the plans could be used to rebuild the 

entire aircraft, almost a twin of P4. Great rarity of the Italian and World Airships. 

Italian Airmail History |

14 



3034 

3034 F € 150 

GAETANO ARTURO CROCCO (1877-1968), beret (cap) most likely from his time as 

constructor of various airships and military aircraft around 1912, usual signs of 

wear and tear 

ex 3036 

3036 F Longhi 556 / 557 6 € 1.000 

1913, Raid Torino - Milano, Airship USUELLI - BORSALINO, Dirigibile U1, only 

known picture card written and signed by T. Borsalino showing the airship 

in 1911 over the Milan cathedral, the card was later posted in Allessandria 

1913 - 01-09 and sent to Barranquilla/Columbia where it arrived on 1913-02-01, 

certificate Longhi 

3037 

3037 F 6 € 150 

1913, card printed by "SOCIETA DEGLI INGEGNERI E DEGLI ARCHITETTI ITALIANI, 

ROME" inviting to an evening conference on May 1, 1913 with Gaetano Arturo 

CROCCO and his presentation on "new technique in aerial navigation", added 

unused picture card showing the Airship M1, printed by Ediz. F. Felicetti, Rome 

3035 

3035 F € 200 

1913, patent for Arturo CROCCO and Ottavio Ricaldoni for a mechanism to reinforce 

the outer layer of an airship's bow, Rome January 9, 1913 

ex 3038

15 


3038 F Longhi E 13/k 6 € 200 

1913, unused coloured postcard "Battaglione Aviatori per aspera ad astra" and 

cachet "Battaglione Aviatori Circolo Ufficiali" 


ex 3039 

3039 F 6 € 250 

1915-1918, group of 4 telegrams, 3 addressed to Gaetano Arturo CROCCO, 

among the senders are Cap. Giuseppe VALLE, Ottavio RICALDONI, Tenente 

MUNARI and one addressed to Maj. Maurizio Mario MORIS 

3041 

3041 F 6 € 300 

1917, official letter paper "COMMANDO SUPREMO / COMMANDO CANTIERI 

DIRIGIBILI" written on August 24 by the Unit Commander Giuseppe VALLE 

to Gaetano Arturo CROCCO, highly interesting text about a trip he made 

"yesterday night from 22:00 until 1:00 with the Airship M 14" 

3042 

3040 

3040 F € 200 

1916, Italian patent for Arturo Gaetano CROCCO, Eugenio Passone and Anastasio 

Anastasi for a finder sight apparatus for shots from ground to aircrafts and vice 

versa, highly interesting documentation 

3042 F 6 € 200 

1917, order concerning a new group of airships based in Ferrara dated October 30, 

by "COMMANDO SUPREMO, COMMANDO CANTIERI DIRIGIBILI" signed Maggiore 

Commandante VALLE, a very rare document 

3043 € 200 

1917, Italian patent with detailled description and designs for a recording apparatus 

for velocity and navigation on aircrafts, invented by Gaetano Arturo CROCCO

16 



3044 F Longhi 1054 6 € 1.500 

1918, Airship M.1, special fundraiser flight for a children's 

tuberculosis sanatorium in Ariccia on 27.5.18, special card 

issued for this event, flown on board of the airship and 

addressed to Rome, according to Longhi this is a unique 

item and it is illustrated in his handbook 

3044 

ex 3045 

3045 F 6 € 80 

1918, 2 fotocards (used and unused) "La prima Aeronave Italiana sopre Trento 7 

Novembre 1918", rarely seen 

3046 

3046 F Longhi 1031 6 € 300 

1919, green flyer "Al Sindicato della Citta di Trento" dropped on the occasion 

of a special flight Genova - Trento - Trieste - Fiume on March 24, signed Longhi

17 



3047 

3047 F Longhi 1055 6 € 100 

1919, Airship M. 1, ticket for visiting the airship at Ciampino Airport near Rome, 

Type Pistolesi, Roma 

3050 

3050 F Longhi 1042 6 € 1.200 

1919, Airship M. 1, special fotocard showing the cruising airship "Saluti da 

bordo dell' aeronave "M. 1"; these cards were available on board only; with 

special cachet "R. MARINA -AERONAVE M.1 -23. GIU 1919" postmarked after 

landing "Roma - Ferrovia 22 - 23 II * VI 1919", an extremely rare sample of 

flown passenger mail 

3048 

3048 F 6 € 100 

1919, Airship M. 1, first regular excursion flight 25.5.1919, fotography (16,8 x 

12,5 cm) showing passengers in the gondola at Ciampino Airport 

3051 

3051 F Longhi 1048 6 € 70 

1919, Airship M. 1, unused fotocard "Saluti da bordo dell'Aeronave M.1" 

3049 

3049 F Longhi 6 € 150 

1919, Airship M. 1, first regular excursion flight 25.5.1919, fotography (16,5 x 

12,4 cm) of the inauguration ceremonies at Ciampino Airport 

3052 

3052 F Longhi 1056 6 € 250 

1919, Airship M. 1, ticket for a touristic flight issued by "Regia Marina", these 

flights would show the traveller a view of Rome and could go as far as Naples, 

excellent condition

18 



3053 

3053 F Longhi 1042 6 € 1.000 

1919, Airship M.1, special fotocard showing the "cabina superiore per 

passageri" in the interior of the panorama gondola, these cards were available 

on board only; with special cachet "R. MARINA -AERONAVE M.1 -23. GIU 1919" 

postmarked after landing "Roma - Ferrovia 18 - 19 23.VI.1919", an extremely rare 

sample of flown passenger mail, minor faults on the picture side 

ex 3056 

3056 F Longhi 1096 6 € 250 

1919, Livorno, Festa Ginnico Militare, official illustrated postcard with cachet 

"FESTA GINNICO MILITARE / DIV. MIL. LIVORNO/31 AGOSTO 1919 / POSTA 

AEREA" (type I in black + type II in purple), used 1.9.18 Massa Marittima and 

a normal picture card "Livorno" with the black cachet Type I, used Livorno 

31.8.19, for this variety no value is listed by Longhi 

3054 

3054 F Longhi 1053 6 € 250 

1919, Airship M. 1, fotography showing the interior of the gondola printed in 

golden colour "Excursioni Turistice / con l'aeronave M. 1 della R. Marina / 

Cabina inferiore" (15,4 x 10,6 cm) 

ex 3057 

3057 F Longhi 1098 6 € 350 

1919, Livorno, Festa Ginnico Militare, official illustrated postcard (Airship 

"M 1") from August 31 with cachet "FESTA GINNICO MILITARE / DIV. MIL. 

LIVORNO/31 AGOSTO 1919 / POSTA AEREA" (Type II in purple) 

3055 

3055 F Longhi 1052 6 € 300 

1919, Airship M. 1, rare fotocard showing the airship with panorama gondola 

which could carry up to 36 passengers and was equipped with buffet facilities, 

printed in red "Escursioni Turistice / con l'aeronave M. 1 della R. Marina" 

3058 

3058 F Longhi 1099 6 € 250 

1919, Livorno, Festa Ginnico Militare, official illustrated postcard with cachet 

"FESTA GINNICO MILITARE/DIV.MIL.LIVORNO/31 AGOSTO 1919/POSTA AEREA" 

(type I in black and type II in purple), sent to Rome September 1

19 



3059 

3059 F € 150 

1919, Italian and French patent for Arturo CROCCO for anti-aircraft projectils, quite 

interesting study 

3061 

3061 F Longhi 1221 6 € 500 

1922, First Flight Colombia(Cartagena - Monteria) - Barranquilla - Medellin, 

C.C.N.A., Pilot FERRUCCIO GUICCIARDI, very rare flown cover from Barranquilla 

to Medellin with good sample of the 10 Ct airmail stamp (Gebauer N° 11) and 

bearing both special cachets in purple colour, cerfiticate Colla, an important 

early airmail cover! 

3062 

3062 F Longhi 1420 6 € 150 

1922, Italian Cup for touristic and training airplanes November 11-15, General Rules 

issued by the Aero Club of Italy, brochure with 12 pages, very rare item 

3060 

3060 F 6 € 150 

1920, Airship "Angelo Berardi", short technical description (hectography) on 

the occasion of the 99th ascent on 20.11.1920 issued by "Gruppo Dirigibilisti / 

AEROSCALO DIRIGIBILE / di (Bosco Mantico) Verona", foto of the gondola affixed to 

front page, rare item

20 



3065 

3063 

3063 F Longhi 1423 - 1429 6 € 800 

1926, Verona, Balloon Cup organized by the local Aero Club, complete set of 7 

special envelopes, 4 of which bear the signatures of the captains, rare offer as 

only 6 items exist from Balloon Ciampino XIV 

3065 F Longhi 1443 6 € 100 

1926, First Flight Pavia - Trieste, cover from Pavia 2.4.26 with 60 C airmail, airmal 

cachet "1° Servizio Postale Aereo ..." to Triest, arrival 2.4.26, very fine 

3066 

3066 F Longhi 1443 6 € 100 

1926, First Flight Cover with red "PRIMO VOLO PAVIA / VENEZIA" from Pavia 5.4.26 

- Venice 6.4.26 

3064 

3064 F Longhi 1437, 1449 6 € 100 

1926, First Flight Torino - Trieste and return, cover Torino 1.4.26 to Trieste and back 

Trieste 1.4.26 to Torino, both covers with 60 C airmil, airmail cachet "1° Servizio 

Postale Aereo ...", one with 30 C. postage due for "poste restante", both items very 

fine 

3067 

3067 F 6 € 80 

1926, First Flight Rome - Palermo, special cover from Rome 7.4.26 to Palermo with 

airmal cachet "Primo Volo ..." and 60 C airmal, arrival 7.4.26, very fine

21 



3068 F € 3.000 

Polar flight airship "NORGE" 1926, successful expedition of captain Nobile 

and Norwegian explorer Amundsen that has been proven to have reached 

the North Pole, circular cut-out of outer envelope material of the Italian 

airship "NORGE", diameter approx. 140 mm with multiple postmarks "NY- 

ALESUND 27.8.26" the outpost on Svalbard from which the airship started its 

expedition to the North Pole, reached the American continent after 70 hours 

of flight and safely landed in Teller close to Nome (Alaska), unique museum 

object representing the Italian pioneering spirit and outstanding item of polar 

postal, airship and airmail history, signed Fiorenzo Longhi 

3069 

3069 F 6 € 500 

UMBERTO NOBILE'S POLAR EXPEDITION 1928, radio telegram received from 

the airship "Italia" through Stockholm with the message from general Nobile 

on the airship regarding the enthusiastic reception of the airship in town and 

the flyover of the Italian embassy there, unique 

3070 

3070 F 6 € 500 

UMBERTO NOBILE'S POLAR EXPEDITION 1928, radio telegram received 

through OSLO from the station close to the North Cape at VARDOE with the 

message from general Nobile on the airship "Italia" regarding the weather 

conditions and the estimated arrival time, unique

22 



3071 

3071 F 6 € 8.000 

1928, Airship "ITALIA / NOBILE", part of canvas from the airship affixed on paper painted and signed by Giuseppe 

Biagi, survivor of the famous TENDA ROSSA, "canvas from the Airship Italia Expedition General Nobile carried 

back by myself after 49 days in the pack ice", an important item of this tragedy, certificate Longhi 

ex 3072 

3072 F 6 € 150 

1928, NOBILE Arctic Expedition, group of 12 fotocards "LA SPEDIZIONE NOBILE" 

numbers 1-12, Ed. A. Traldi - Milano, 10 used and 2 cards (N° 6 + 7) unused 

3073 

3073 F 6 € 150 

1928, Arctic Expedition "ITALIA / NOBILE", coloured picture made by Umberto 

Maddalena showing the glaciers at Svalborg, Spitsbergen with signatures of the 

2 radiomen Giuseppe Biagi and Ettore Pedretti as well as Capt. C.R.E.M. Ugo 

Baccarani, rare item

23 



3074 

3074 F 6 € 180 

1932, glider flights above Milan, fotocard "Idro Savola S. 55" flown with GLIDER 

"D-RHÖNADLER", Pilot Peter Riedel on 19.10.32 from 11:50 until 12:04, posted 

Milan 20.10. adressed to Dr. Vogler-Greppin, Basle; signed Longhi 

3075 

3075 F Longhi 2863 6 € 10.000 

1933, Balbo Squadron flight Crociera Nord-Atlantico, triptych "SERVIZIO DI STATO" in perfect condition on 

genuinely flown registered cover "IL PODESTA DI MILANO", tied by MILANO CORRISP. PACCHI * POSTA 

AEREA * 1.6.33 21 via Rome 12.6.33 to New York 20.7.1933 with various redirections. Italy‘s largest airmail 

rarity in perfect condition! Photo certificates Raybaudi “grande rarità“ and Longhi, according to him this is 

the only known cover from Milan to New York (Sassone No. 1, 35.000,- €)

24 



3076 F Longhi 2859 6 € 5.000 

1933, Mass Flight Triptych 5.25 + 44.75 L ”I-BALB” on well preserved registered letter ROMA 3.6.33 to Chicago 

with airmail cancel ”Crociera Aerea del Decennale ...” and personal signatures of Gen. Italo Balbo and Ten. 

Col. Stefano Cagna. The flip side bears the decorative seal of the MINISTERO DELL' AERONAUTICA. Photo 

cert. Diena (Sass. 52A) - a great air mail rarity due to the signature of minister and commander ITALO BALBO 

3076 

ex 3077 

3077 F 6 € 750 

1933, group of four telegrams regarding the successful crossing of the Atlantic by the squadron of General Balbo and his crews, one with 

congratulations from the Prime Minister Guido Buffarini, one even sent by the "duce" Mussolini himself, both with official mark "Prefettura di 

Milano / Cabineto ...", one sent by General Balbo from Chicago on 16.7.33 as an urgent telegram with an extensive report of the landing scene, 

all of them unique! In addition two issues of the gazette "Domenice del Corriere" related to the Balbo flights of 1930 and 1933 and an invitation 

card of the "Areo Club Emilio Pensuti" to a speech "Balbo e l'Aviazione"

25 



3078 

3078 F Sass. GP 64 b 6 € 140 

1934, First Flight Rome - Buenos Aires, registered envelope from FIUME 24.1.34 to 

Buenos Aires with 5 L airmal stamp with upper right margin and additional franking, 

little stain, special cancellation Rome 27.1.34, with italian red flight cachet and 

violet PAN AM flight cachet 

3081 

3081 F Longhi 3063 6 € 320 

1934, First Flight Rome - Buenos Aires, registered letter with full set and 

additional franking from ROMA 27.1.34 to Buenos Aires with red flight cachet, on 

reverse PAN AM flight cachet, signed by the pilot Francis Lombardi, certificate E. 

Diena (Sass. GP64d, € 2.250,-) 

3079 

3079 F Sass. GP 64 b 6 € 140 

1934, First Flight Rome - Buenos Aires, registered envelope with 5 L airmal stamp 

and additional franking from SAN REMO 25.1.34, red flight cachet on reverse, 

mailed to a German counsulate in Brasil, very fine 

3082 

3082 F Sass. GP 64 a 6 € 90 

1934, First Flight Rome - Buenos Aires, cover with 2 and 3 L airmal stamps plus 

additional franking, special cancellation ROMA 27.1.34 and red flight cachet, on 

reverse PAN AM flight cachet, very fine, signed Sorani 

3080 

3080 F Sass. GP 64 b 6 € 100 

1934, First Flight Rome - Buenos Aires, cover with 5 L airmal stamp and additional 

franking 1.25 L from SONDRIO 25.1.34 to Buenos Aires, transit Rome with special 

cancellation 27.1.34 and red italian flight cachet, on reverse PAN AM Flight cachet, 

very fine, signed Sorani 

3083 

3083 F Sass. GP 64 b 6 € 140 

1934, First Flight Rome - Buenos Aires, cover with 5 L airmail stamp and additional 

franking with special cancel ROMA 27.1.34, red italien flight cachet, undeliverable 

and returned with "DIRECTION INSUFFISANTE"

26 



3084 

3084 F Sass. GP 64 b 6 € 100 

1934, First Flight Rome - Buenos Aires, registered postcard with 5 L airmal stamp 

and additional franking 1.75 L to Rio, special cancellation ROMA 27.1.34, red italian 

flight cachet, arrival mark on reverse, undeliverable and returned to sender 

3087 

3087 F Sass. GP 64 c 6 € 160 


franking from AGRIGENTO 25.1.34 to Buenos Aires, special cancel Rome 27.1.34, 

red italian flight cachet on front, violet PAN AM flight cachet, signed Sorani 

3085 

3085 F Sass. GP 64 b 6 € 100 


franking from GUASTALLA 23.1.34 to Rio, tear on top of cover, special cancel Rome 

27.1.34, red italian flight cachet on front, arrival mark 

3088 

3088 F Sass. GP 64 c 6 € 140 

1934, First Flight Rome - Buenos Aires, a little bit stained cover with 10 L airmail 

stamp and additional franking with special cancel ROMA 25.1.34 to Rio, red italian 

flight cachet, arrival mark 

3089 

3089 F Sass. GP 64 c 6 € 130 

1934, First Flight Rome - Buenos Aires, cover opened on three sides, some treces, 

with 10 L airmail stamp and 1,25 L additional franking from GENOVA 25.1.34 to 

Buenos Aires, special cancel Rome 27.1.34, red italian flight cachet and violet PAN 

AM flight cachet, signed E. Diena 

3086 

3086 F Sass. GP 64 c 6 € 160 

1934, First Flight Rome - Buenos Aires, cover with 10 L airmail stamp and 1,25 L. 

additional franking from SONDRIO 25.1.34 to Buenos Aires, special cancel Rome 

27.1.34, red italian flight cachet on front, violet PAN AM flight cachet, very fine, 

signed Sorani


3092 F Longhi 3196 6 € 270 

1934, First Flight Rome - Mogadishu, registered cover with 10 L airmail stamp 

and additional franking from ROMA 9.11.34, special italian flight cachet, special 

arrival cancel Mogadiscio 11.11.34 and arrival Dante on reverse 

27 


3090 

3090 F Sass. GP 64 c 6 € 130 

1934, First Flight Rome - Buenos Aires, a bit stained cover with 10 L airmail stamp 

and 1,25 L. additional franking from MILANO 25.1.34 to Buenos Aires, special 

cancel Rome 27.1.34, red italian flight cachet and violet PAN AM flight cachet 

3093 

3093 F Longhi 3565 6 € 100 

1936, First Flight Rome - Addis Abeba, registered envelope from SAN MARINO 17.5. 

via Milan 19.5. and Rome 20.5. to Addis Abeba 31.5., signed Diena 

3094 6 € 70 

1937, First Flight Milan - Torino - Paris, cover from Torino 6.4.37 to Paris with flight 

cachet "1°. Volo ...", arrival mark 6.4.37 on reverse, very fine 

3091 

3091 F Sass. GP 64a 6 € 80 

1934, First Postal Flight Rome - Buenos Aires by Francis Lombardi and Franco 

Mazzotti, registered picture card with 3 L special stamp with all special cachets, 

small faults 

ex 3095 

3095 F 6 € 500 

1948-1978, small NOBILE lot consisting of 3 covers from Sweden, Finland and 

the USSR sent to his home address in Rome, 2 aerogrammes from 1978 signed 

Gertrude and Umberto Nobile and a picture signed by the artist G. Castellani 

showing the airship "ITALIA" (print 433/500) 

3092 

Italian Spacemail protagonists are offered at 

the end of this session from lot #3655 on. 

Further CROCCO accumulation see 

under lot # 8375

28 

Flug- & Zeppelinpost | 

EUROPA 

ÄGÄISCHE INSELN 


3482 F 211 G 6 € 900 

Italienfahrt 1933, Ägäische Inseln, R-Brief ab Rhodos 24.5. mit sechs Werten Zeppelin komplett und 

weiterer Beifrankatur, sauber einzeln gestempelt, türkisgrüner Flugstempel, Ank.-SST Rom 29.5. sowie 

Friedrichshafen 30.5. rs., Pracht (Longhi 353, ca. 8.000 €) 

VATIKAN 

3617 

3617 F 157 B 6 € 580 

4. Südamerikafahrt 1932, Brief ab Vatikan 29.4. mit reiner Vatikan-MiF nach 

Santos / Brasilien, mit Luftpost bis München am 30.4. mit rotem "mLb" v.s., 

weiter via Berlin mit Anschlussflug nach Friedrichshafen, beide Flugstempel 

vs., ungewöhnliches Routing, Ankunft Santos 6.5. rs., Pracht (Longhi 112) 

3619 

3619 F 214 B 6 € 820 

2. Südamerikafahrt 1933, Etappe bis Recife, Brief ab Vatikan 31.5. mit 7,45 L in 

reiner Vatikan-MiF vom ersten Ausgabetag der neuen Freimarken, Transit Rom 

2.6. ohne weitere italienische MiF, mit Luftpost nach Berlin, Ankunft 2.6., roter 

"mLb" vs., weiter mit Anschlussflug nach Friedrichshafen, beide Flug-stempel 

vs., Ankunft Recife 6.6., unten kaschierter Einriss, jedoch in vierlerlei Hinsicht 

ein bemerkenswerter Beleg, nur 20 Belege in dieser Kombination registriert, 

ex Bayer

29 


Flug- & Zeppelinpost | 

3618 F 214 B 6 € 1.000 

2. Südamerikafahrt 1933, Abwurf Barcelona, Brief ab Vatikan 31.5. mit 5,25 L in reiner Vatikan-MiF vom ersten Ausgabetag 

der neuen Freimarken, Transit Rom 2.6. ohne weitere italienische MiF, mit Luftpost nach Berlin, Ankunft 2.6., 

roter "mLb" vs., weiter mit Anschlussflug nach Friedrichshafen, beide Flugstempel vs., Ankunft Barcelona 3.6. und weiter 

nach Tanger mit Ankunft 6.7., nur 5 Belege in dieser Kombination registriert, Pracht, ex Bayer 

3618 

3620 F 235 6 € 1.400 

8. Südamerikafahrt 1933, R-Brief ab Vatikan 26.9. mit 2,75 L Pius via Mailand 28.9. in Zweiländer-MiF mit Italien 2 und 5 L 

Flugpost, Transit Friedrichshafen 30.9. und Flugstempel vs., Ankunft Recife 4.9. und weitere Transite rs., Pracht (Longhi 

812) 

3620

30 

Astro Philately | 


AFFERRARE LE STELLE 

3655 F € 100 

FRANCO MALERBA - First Italian astronaut (*1946), ein Rahmen 

3660 F € 150 

LUCA PARMITANO (*1976), ein Rahmen, darunter Originalunterschrift neben den 

beiden weiteren Besatzungsmitgliedern F. Jurtschichin und K. Nyberg auf Beleg 

3656 F € 350 

ROBERTO VITTORI (*1964), zwei Rahmen, darunter gleich drei 

Originalfragmente Sojus TMA-6, woran er als Bordingenieur 

teilnahm, jeweils zertifiziert Larissa Kelebeev

31 


Astro Philately | 

3658 F € 300 

PAOLO NESPOLI (*1957), zwei Rahmen, darunter zwei Belege mit Originalunterschriften sowie 

im Orbit mitgeführter Missionswimpel Sojus MS-05, woran er als Bordingenieur beteiligt war, 

mit ISS Bordsiegel und -stempel 

3661 F € 200 

SAMANTHA CRISTOFORETTI - First Italian female astronaut 

(*1977), zwei Rahmen, darunter Mannschaftsfoto sowie Startbeleg mit 

Originalunterschriften

Lot 8375 

Please check the homepage 

www.felzmann.de for our online catalogue 

AUKTIONSHAUS ULRICH FELZMANN GmbH & Co. KG 

Immermannstr. 51 • 40210 Düsseldorf • Germany 

Fon +49 211-550 440 • www.felzmann.de

Auktion 168 - FlugundZeppelinpost-Italien

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