Between the Covers

Hardcover. Mammoth plate sepia-toned gelatin silver photograph. Approximately 24" x 18.5". A few modest tears, mostly confined to the ample lower margin, else near fine. Rubber stamp "Released" on verso and noting if published to be credited to the U.S. Navy. The Shenandoah was the first of four American-built rigid airships, commissioned by the U.S. Navy and built at Lakehurst Naval Air Station, in Lakehurst, New Jersey, mostly for surveillance (and publicity) uses. Modeled on a German Zeppelin, it was also the first helium-filled rigid airship (and apparently when filled, consumed most of the world's available supply of helium). It made its maiden voyage in September 1923, and crashed horrifically in September 1925, breaking into three pieces in poor weather in Ohio , with the deaths of 14 (and 29 survivors). It seems unlikely that this large format photographic image would have been released by the Navy much later than 1925.

Item #436869