Zeppelins & Balloons

Since ancient times, humans have dreamed of soaring through the air like birds. Even during antiquity, the first tentative attempts were made. On makeshift wings and with life at stake, attempts were made to achieve the dream of flight, an idea condemned by the advancing Christian church, closely associated with witchcraft and sorcery. However, during the Renaissance, the ideas began to gain new ground. An example of this is Leonardo Da Vinci's 'ornithopter' from around 1490 - intended to defy gravity with flapping wings. Da Vinci did not succeed, but it is certain that his fantastic inventions planted a seed. However, it would take several centuries before the dream of the flying human would be realized. In the early 18th century, great scientific advances were made. Isaac Newton had formulated his theory of gravity, and the idea of mechanical birds with flapping wings had given way to more promising aviation experiments - balloons - with lift according to Archimedes' Principle. The first hot air balloons now lifted off, and the foundation was laid for the total balloon hysteria that would reach its climax in Europe during the 19th century. Across the continent, experiments were conducted with "airships" in all shapes and forms, a perilous endeavor, often with deadly outcomes. Among the inventors in aviation technology who worked during this time, Ferdinand von Zeppelin, born in Germany in 1838, is one of the more well-known. Over Lake Constance in 1900, the first ascent took place with the airship LZ 1 developed by Zeppelin - six years later, he had succeeded in developing the controllable airship that we today call "zeppelins." These enormous floating bodies never cease to fascinate; there is something in their appearance, these huge seemingly weightless bodies in beautiful streamlined shapes, that tickles the imagination. Crafoord Auctions presents here a collection of items related to this era of aviation adventures.