MERMOZ JEAN: (1901-1936) French pioneer aviator, looked upon as a hero by other pilots such as Antoine Saint-Exupery. An extremely rare Autograph Telegram Signed, Mermoz, one page, small 4to, Natal [Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil], n.d. (c.1930), to [Didier Daurat], in French. Mermoz has written and signed the telegram in pencil to a partially printed Cia. Auxiliar Radio-Emissora Do Brasil form, stating, in part, 'Ignore si hélice deformee, ne le pense pas......N'ai jamais pu faire plus de 150 metres. Vent debout j'ai fait 600 metres ligne droite parfaite travers fleuve pleine charge. Mais je devais arreter distance etant trop courte. Meme phenonene depart Kenitra' (Translation: 'Ignore if deformed propeller, don't think so…..Never been able to do more than 150 metres. Headwind I made 600 metres perfect straight line across the river fully loaded. But I had to stop, distance being too short. Same phenomenon from Kenitra'). Together with a partially printed Fiche de Paiement issued to Mermoz by the operations department of the Compagnie Generale Aeropostale for the month of August 1830 detailing various costs totalling 6621 francs. Autographs of Mermoz are extremely rare in any form as a result of his tragic disappearance at the age of 34 over the Atlantic Ocean whilst making a flight to Brazil. Some light creasing and minor age wear, about VG, 2

 

Didier Daurat (1891-1969) French pioneer aviator, a fighter pilot during World War I who later employed Mermoz at the Compagnie Generale Aeropostale. Daurat was also the inspiration for the character of Riviere in Antoine Saint-Exupery's novel Vol de nuit (1931).