SCARCE FIRST AMERICAN EDITION OF THE FLIGHT OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS, SIGNED BY THE AUTHORS, PILOTS CHARLES KINGSFORD-SMITH AND CHARLES ULM

KINGSFORD-SMITH, Charles Edward and ULM, Charles T.P. The Flight of the Southern Cross. New York: Robert M. McBride, 1929. Octavo, original blue cloth, pictorial endpapers. $750.

First American edition of the first book to recount the story of the first flight from the United States to Australia, signed on the pictorial endpaper by Charles Kingsford-Smith and Charles Ulm, accompanied by a 1929 typed letter signed by Kingsford-Smith agreeing to autograph this book.

This work details the first trans-Pacific flight from Oakland, California to Sydney, Australia, which was undertaken from the 31st of May to the 9th of June 1928 by Australians Kingsford-Smith and Ulm and Americans Lyon and Warner. Covering more than 8000 miles, the journey was taken in only three legs and marked one of the greatest achievements in aviation history. Preceded by the Australian and British first editions of 1928. The accompanying signed typed letter, dated the same year as the book's year of publication and addressed to a William Tebben of New York, reads: "5th March, 1929. Dear Sir, Replying to your letter of the 31st January, I shall be delighted to autograph your copy of our book 'Story of the Southern Cross, Trans-Pacific Flight,' if you will forward same to the above address. Yours truly, [signed] C Kingsford-Smith. Co-Commander. 'SOUTHERN CROSS'." This, obviously, is the book in question.

A very nearly fine double-signed copy in exceptionally bright original cloth, with accompanied typed signed letter.