On April 6, 1924, four Douglas World Cruisers and eight crewmen set out from Seattle, Washington, to attempt the first around-the-world airplane flight. Some 175 days later, on September 28, three of the biplanes and the six men aboard became the first to circumnavigate the earth by air. Named after four major American cities—Seattle, Chicago, Boston, and New Orleans—the airplanes were capable of operating from both land and water and were equipped with the latest navigational aids. Signed book: The First World Flight. Limited autograph edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1925. Hardcover, 6.5 x 9.75, 328 pages. Signed on the limitations page, indicating this is number 40 of 575 copies, by all six Army lieutenants that made this historic flight: Lowell Smith, Erik Nelson, Leigh Wade, Leslie Arnold, Henry Ogden, and John Harding. Also signed by the author, Lowell Thomas. In fine condition, with scattered light foxing to inside pages, some light wear and foxing to covers, a bit heavier along the worn and soiled spine. The book was originally owned by Olds' father Maj. Gen. Robert Olds. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity for the Estate of Robin Olds. RRAuction COA.
