OTTO HILLIG, THE ACCOUNT OF THE FLIGHT OF THE LIBERTY TO COPENHAGEN.

OTTO HILLIG, THE ACCOUNT OF THE FLIGHT OF THE LIBERTY TO COPENHAGEN. Otto Hillig’s (1874-1954) personal scrapbook and effects of the first transatlantic flight from New York to Copenhagen (tenth Transatlantic flight in history) on June 24-25, 1931 with Holger Hoiriis (1901-1942) aboard the Spirit of Liberty. This is the only account and effects of this historical flight known to exist. Scrap Book: 74 pages 24” x 20”, cover embossed “Otto Hillig, The Flight of the Liberty to Copenhagen”. (Described in page order) The Thirty-seven telegraphs, including preflight weather conditions, official record when left with sighting reports having time notations, and several good luck and congratulatory wishes, Secretary of State documents for permission of flight, pages of various hotel and various foreign receipts, including the Palace Hotel, Copenhagen, a large graph of 109 flights with statistical information, including the listing of zeppelins, Copenhagen Consulate document, various notes, documents and letters as well as additional telegraphs, a rejection letter from Stinson Aircraft Corp as far as the purchase of a plane for transatlantic flight, Sullivan County documents, cost projections, several pages of letters and documents from various companies and individuals including Franklin D. Roosevelt TLS in regards to his interest in the flight and attending a dinner, dated May 5, 1931, several pages of images of the duo, Spirit of Liberty prior to take off and abroad, some signed by Otto and the duo, pictures of the Spirit of Liberty crated and onboard a ship for return trip, many images of parades and celebration of the success, “Welcome Home”, and with various dignitaries, picture of the plane in flight over NYC, photo of Charles Lindberg in a plane cockpit, various postcards from the towns visited when landed in Europe, “Liberty Atlantic Flight” letterhead and more. Besides being a highly successful photographer, Mr. Hillig had a venturesome spirit. He owned one of the first automobiles in the county and in 1916 he and another local individual made a transcontinental trip across the country in an automobile, at a time when such a trip was practically unheard of. In the early 1920’s he was one of the pioneers in aerial photography and as an outgrowth of his interest in aviation he purchased in 1929 a ticket for $9,000 to be one of twenty-two passengers for a history making flight around the world on the German Graf Zeppelin. Unfortunately, his berth had been previously sold to someone else. Though he sued the Zeppelin Company, the litigation was lengthy and by the time he settled out of court, he just about broke even. His next dream was to fly the Atlantic in his own plane. He found a young Danish pilot, Holger Hoiriis, and commissioned the construction of a Wright-powered Bellanca monoplane at a cost of $22,000. The plane had a 300 horsepower engine and attained a top speed of 132 miles per hour. Painted red and silver, it was named “Liberty” in honor of his adopted hometown. The flight began from the Liberty Golf Course, touched down in Newfoundland and began the cross-Atlantic flight on June 24, 1931. Hoiriis and Hillig (later referred to as “the first trans-Atlantic backseat driver”) had no radio, no life saving equipment and little food. Because of a fog, they flew over Spain and France before they discovered where they were and landed in Krafeld, Germany with five gallons of gas to spare. Continuing on their trip, they received a tumultuous welcome from 60,000 Danes, another ovation from Hillig’s hometown in Germany, and equally warm welcomes in New York City and back home in Liberty. (reference: sullivancountyhistory.org) SIZE: Varies. PROVENANCE: Consignor purchased the grouping which originated through the widow of Monroe Davis, Esq. of Monticello, NY who was a close friend of Hillig. CONDITION: Generally good. 7-70325 (8,000-12,000)

Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - August 2013

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2274	$0.00	OTTO HILLIG, THE ACCOUNT OF THE FLIGHT OF THE LIBERTY TO COPENHAGEN. Otto Hillig’s (1874-1954) personal scrapbook and effects of the first transatlantic flight from New York to Copenhagen (tenth Transatlantic flight in history) on June 24-25, 1931 with Holger Hoiriis (1901-1942) aboard the Spirit of Liberty. This is the only account and effects of this historical flight known to exist. Scrap Book: 74 pages 24” x 20”, cover embossed “Otto Hillig, The Flight of the Liberty to Copenhagen”. (Described in page order) The Thirty-seven telegraphs, including preflight weather conditions, official record when left with sighting reports having time notations, and several good luck and congratulatory wishes, Secretary of State documents for permission of flight, pages of various hotel and various foreign receipts, including the Palace Hotel, Copenhagen, a large graph of 109 flights with statistical information, including the listing of zeppelins, Copenhagen Consulate document, various notes, documents and letters as well as additional telegraphs, a rejection letter from Stinson Aircraft Corp as far as the purchase of a plane for transatlantic flight, Sullivan County documents, cost projections, several pages of letters and documents from various companies and individuals including Franklin D. Roosevelt TLS in regards to his interest in the flight and attending a dinner, dated May 5, 1931, several pages of images of the duo, Spirit of Liberty prior to take off and abroad, some signed by Otto and the duo, pictures of the Spirit of Liberty crated and onboard a ship for return trip, many images of parades and celebration of the success, “Welcome Home”, and with various dignitaries, picture of the plane in flight over NYC, photo of Charles Lindberg in a plane cockpit, various postcards from the towns visited when landed in Europe, “Liberty Atlantic Flight” letterhead and more. Besides being a highly successful photographer, Mr. Hillig had a venturesome spirit. He owned one of the first automobiles in the county and in 1916 he and another local individual made a transcontinental trip across the country in an automobile, at a time when such a trip was practically unheard of. In the early 1920’s he was one of the pioneers in aerial photography and as an outgrowth of his interest in aviation he purchased in 1929 a ticket for $9,000 to be one of twenty-two passengers for a history making flight around the world on the German Graf Zeppelin. Unfortunately, his berth had been previously sold to someone else. Though he sued the Zeppelin Company, the litigation was lengthy and by the time he settled out of court, he just about broke even. His next dream was to fly the Atlantic in his own plane. He found a young Danish pilot, Holger Hoiriis, and commissioned the construction of a Wright-powered Bellanca monoplane at a cost of $22,000. The plane had a 300 horsepower engine and attained a top speed of 132 miles per hour. Painted red and silver, it was named “Liberty” in honor of his adopted hometown. The flight began from the Liberty Golf Course, touched down in Newfoundland and began the cross-Atlantic flight on June 24, 1931. Hoiriis and Hillig (later referred to as “the first trans-Atlantic backseat driver”) had no radio, no life saving equipment and little food. Because of a fog, they flew over Spain and France before they discovered where they were and landed in Krafeld, Germany with five gallons of gas to spare. Continuing on their trip, they received a tumultuous welcome from 60,000 Danes, another ovation from Hillig’s hometown in Germany, and equally warm welcomes in New York City and back home in Liberty. (reference: sullivancountyhistory.org) SIZE: Varies. PROVENANCE: Consignor purchased the grouping which originated through the widow of Monroe Davis, Esq. of Monticello, NY who was a close friend of Hillig. CONDITION: Generally good. 7-70325 (8,000-12,000) Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - August 2013 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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