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Lot #319
Roland Garros Autograph Letter Signed on His First Aerial Victory in World War I: "The enemy plane, in flames, circled for half a minute below me before crashing"

Garros sends photos of his first aerial victory: "I missed the 'beautiful shot' and I am sorry"

Estimate: $2500+

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Server Time: 11/22/2024 05:27:02 PM EST
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Description

Garros sends photos of his first aerial victory: "I missed the 'beautiful shot' and I am sorry"

Early French aviator and a fighter pilot (1888–1918) during World War I. A tennis center was named after him in the 1920s, the Stade de Roland Garros, the stadium that accommodates the French Open tournament, which is officially called Les internationaux de France de Roland-Garros (the 'French Internationals of Roland Garros'). Rare ALS in French, signed “Garros,” one page both sides, 8.25 x 10, April 5, 1915. Handwritten letter sent shortly after his first aerial victory in World War I, in part (translated): "I have asked my friend Ajalbert to send the photos that I was able to take of the wreckage of the downed aircraft and the two German corpses…I missed the 'beautiful shot' and I am sorry. The enemy plane, in flames, circled for half a minute below me before crashing. I had ten times the time to take it. Alas I had left to bomb and not to hunt and I did not have my Vérascope!…I took about 10 views of Nieuport after the last bombing by the 420s; I have in particular one or two holes of 420…the weather is still difficult for aerial photography, the cold is such that it is impossible to take off your gloves even for a moment, it is difficult to do delicate things with aviator gloves…But count on one or two very impressive numbers as soon as the weather is nice. It is essential, otherwise I will get into the most serious trouble, that no one knows that you have photos of me." In very good to fine condition, with scattered light foxing, and repaired paper loss which affects several words of text.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autograph and Artifacts Featuring Science & Technology and Animation
  • Dates: November 22, 2024 - December 11, 2024





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