LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin". 15 Original Photographien vom Bau des Luftschiffes by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH (Hrsg) - 1928

Friedrichshafen: Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH, 1928. First Edition. Boards. Near Fine. First Edition. Oblong folio (approx 13 x 10 inches). Four flap portfolio with orange cloth connecting flaps with base, three tan boards, and cover in blue with white printing. Some fading to the cover, a few places where the flap folds are starting. Internally are 15 loose silver prints plus a technical data sheet on the Zeppelin. Also laid into this copy is an English language translation of the data sheet (no doubt added at a later time, stained). Inside of the top cover flap is red stamp of Luftschuffbau Zeppelin with date 1928, noting the work was printed in Germany. The fifteen silver prints are 8 1/2 x 6 1/4 inches (with orientation varying) tipped onto a brown paper in turn tipped onto card stock with letterpress captions. All are in excellent condition, sharp images, excepting one with a fingerprint upper right in the silvering. Boards. The 15 images are "Blick in den Steuerraum" (view into the control room), a portrait of inventor "Graf Zepplein" (Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin), "Das Luftschiff-Gerippe im Bau" (the airship skeleton under construction), portrait of "Dr. Eckener" (commander of the Graf Zeppelin during many flights and also manager of the company which constructed these ships, Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH), "Kuche" (the kitchen), "Luftschiff-Gerippe ohne Bugkappe und Heckspitze" (airship skeleton without bow cap and tail cap), "Innenraum des Luftschiffes, vom Bug aus gesehen" (interior of the airship as seen from the bow), "LZ 127 in Fahrt" (LZ 127 in motion), "Kurz vor der Fertigstellung" (nearing completion), "Grosser Aufenthalts- und Speiseraum" (large lounge and dining room), portrait of "Dr. ing. h. c. Durr, Direktor der Werft" (Director of the shipyard), "Fahrgastkabine, für Tagesgebrauch gerichtet" (passenger cabin set up for daytime use), "Überziehen des Gerippes mit der Außenhülle" (covering the hull with the outer shell), "Fahrgastkabine, für die Nacht gerichtet" (passenger cabin, set up for the night-time use), "Hintere Gondel mit 530-PS Maybach-Motor" (rear gondola with 530-PS Maybach motor).Rare, with one copy noted in Worldcat in a German institution. There are other photographic portfolios, but most are smaller format (often post card size) and none with this many images. The Graf Zeppelin operated from 1928 through the early 1940s when it was scrapped.