Signed Commemorative Envelope by BUHLIGEN, Kurt (1917-85), HAHN, Hans (1914-82), OSTERKAMP, Theo (1892-1975), and VON RETTBERG, Ralph (1911-2004)

Four German Luftwaffe fighter aces, all Knight's Cross recipients: Buhligen downed 12 enemy aircraft; Hahn downed 108 enemy aircraft, was shot down and captured by the Russians and imprisoned until 1950; Osterkamp has the unique distinction of downing 32 enemy aircraft in World War One and 6 enemy aircraft in World War Two; and von Rettberg downed 8 enemy aircraft. Signed Commemorative Envelope, 6½" X 4¼", cancelled at Pitreavie, Dunfermline, Fife, 6 February 1971. Fine. Left half consists of a pictorial color cachet showing an RAF "Supermarine Walrus" biplane in flight, captioned "30th Anniversary of the Inauguration of Coastal Command Air Sea Rescue Service" and "Royal Air Force / Pitreavie Castle," with text at right detailing the flight on which this envelope was flown. Special postal cancellation. These four figures each sign boldly in a variety of blue inks, two of them adding a title and military abbreviations beneath their signature, Osterkamp adding "Happy Landings!" and Hahn adding "Herzlich!" Envelope verso bears inkstamped biographical details (in German) of each. Accompanied by nine fine high-quality modern prints of WW2-era photographs -- portraits of Buhligen, Hahn, Osterkamp, von Rettberg, etc. A superb assemblage of signatures on an appropriate item.