Aces on the Western Front Graphite Edition – Thirty Four signature “Pièce Unique”

Description

This special edition portfolio includes the graphite print Aces on the Western Front by Robert Taylor which is personally signed by two iconic Luftwaffe Aces:

Generalleutnant GÜNTHER RALL Knights Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords
One of the greatest Aces of WWII he flew Bf109s with JG52 in the West and in Russia and later flew Fw190s with JG300 finishing the war as the third highest scoring Ace in history with 275 victories.

Hauptmann ULRICH STEINHILPER
Qualifying as a pilot in 1939 he flew Bf109s during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain with JG52, but was shot down and taken POW in late 1940 having reached Ace status with 5 victories.

THE BOOK
Each portfolio includes a matching numbered special edition copy of the outstanding biography “My Logbook” by Günther Rall. The book is also personally autographed by Günther Rall and issued in a gold embossed slipcase

Much has been written about Günther Rall, one of the most extraordinary pilots of all time. In this outstanding book he tells his own story. From his youth in Nazi Germany to the first harsh realities of air combat over France and England. Of being hounded by the Gestapo while at the same time being showered with awards by Hitler. Of the 275 aerial victories that placed him among the top three fighter pilots in history. Of an operational career that began on the Me109 and culminated with the F-104. A life, unequalled in war and peace, and in the skies above four continents.

Released in 2007 this portfolio is one of only 300 ever issued and has been sold out for a number of years. Now only available on the secondary market we have recently acquired two mint condition sets from private collections making this a great opportunity for aviation art collectors and history enthusiasts alike to acquire this unusual and seldom found acquisition.

THIRTY FOUR SIGNATURE COLLECTOR’S PIECE
This outstanding work is conservation framed to include the original autographs of a further Thirty Two iconic WWII veterans, including legendary Aces and recipients of the Knights Cross:

Oberst ERICH HARTMANN Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds – JG/52 / 352 victories – the highest scoring Ace in history
General JOHANNES “MACKY” STEINHOFF Knights Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords – JG52, JG7, JV44 / 178 victories
Ambassador FRANZ ELLES – 5 victories
GeneralleutnantHANNES TRAUTLOFT  Knights Cross – JG54, JG77/ 57 victories
Major HEINZ LANGE Knights Cross – JG54 / 70 victories
Oberst EDUARD NEUMANN German Cross in Gold – JG27 / 13 victories
Generalmajor FRIEDRICH KÖRNER Knights Cross – 36 victories
Major GUNTHER SHACK Knights Cross with Oak Leaves – JG51 / 174 victoriesMajor FRITZ LOSIGKEIT Knights Cross – 68 victories
Generalleutnant WALTER KRUPINSKI Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves – JG-52, JV-44 / 197 victories
Major JULIUS MEIMBERG Knights Cross – JG2, JG53 / 53 victories
Hauptmann OTTO STAMBERGER Iron Cross 1st Class –  JG26 / 7 victories
Leutnant EDMUND “PAULE” ROSSMANN Knights Cross – JG52 / 93 victories
Leutnant VIKTOR PETERMANN Knights Cross – JG52 / 64 victories (4 of them after losing an arm)
Leutnant GERHARD HALM Knights Cross – Afrika Korps, the second youngest recipient of the Knights Cross in WWII
Major ERIC RUDORFFER Knights Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords – JG2, JG7, JG54 / 222 victories
Hauptmann ALFRED GRISLAWSKI Knights Cross with Oak Leaves – JG52 / 133 victories
Oberst HERMANN BUCHNER Knight’s Cross – JG-7/ 58 victories
Oberstleutnant ERNST-WILHELM REINERT Knights Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords – JG77 / 174 victories
Oberst JOHANNES NAUMANN KC – JG26 / 34 victories
General FRIEDRICH OBLESER Knights Cross – JG52 / 120 victories
Oberstleutnant HUGO DAHMER Knights Cross – JG26/ 45 victories
Generalmajor JOSEF HAIBOCK – 77 victories
Oberleutnant GERHARD THYBEN Knights Cross – JG54 / 157 victories
Oberleutnant WALTER SCHUCK Knights Cross with Oak Leaves – JG-5, JG-7 / 206 victories
Oberst HERBERT IHLEFELD Knights Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords – JG77, JG52, JG25/ 130 victories
Generalmajor DIETRICH HRABAK Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves – JG52 / 125 victories
Hauptmann FRITZ KELLER – JG27 / 13 victories
Major GERHARD SCHÖPFEL – Knights Cross / 40 victories
Oberleutnant ADOLF GLUNZ Knights Cross with Oak Leaves – JG26 / 71 victories
Oberleutnant WALTER WOLFRUM Knights Cross – JG-52 / 137 victories
Generalleutnant ADOLF GALLAND Knights Cross with Oak Leaves. Swords & Diamonds – JG26, JV44 / 104 victories

The signatories included in this historic collector’s item scored a staggering 3493 victories between them creating a true Pièce unique.