France, III Republic. A First Non-Stop South Atlantic Air Crossing by Joseph Le Brix &Dieudonné Costes Medal 1927

Item #G48899

$170

In bronze, cornucopia hallmarked and marked "BRONZE" on the edge, obverse illustrating the left-facing busts of Joseph Le Brix and Dieudonné Costes, inscribed "J. LE BRIX" at the left and "D. COSTES" at the right, engraver marked "ANIE MOUROUX", reverse illustrating their Breguet 19 G.R. Nungesser-Coli aircraft in flight over the South Atlantic, with their route traced over North America, South America, Africa and Europe, inscribed "PREMIÈRE TRAVERSÉE AÉRIENNE de L'ATLANTIQUE SUD SANS ESCALE LE 14 OCTOBRE 1927" (First Non-Stop South Atlantic Air Crossing on October 14, 1927) on the map between South America and Africa, inscribed on the raised border encompassing the map ".TOKIO.HANOI.CALCUTTA.KARACHI.BASSORA.ALEP.ATHENES.MARSEILLE.PARIS." (Tokyo, Hanoi, Calcutta, Karachi, Bassora, Alep, Athens, Marseille, Paris), measuring 68 mm in diameter, very light contact, spotting, near extremely fine.

 

Footnote: Joseph Le Brix (February 22, 1899 - September 12, 1931) was a French aviator and a Capitaine de Corvette (Lieutenant Commander) in the French Navy. He is best known for an around-the-world flight he made as copilot and navigator in 1927-1928 which included history's first flight across the South Atlantic Ocean, and for record-setting nonstop long-distance flights he made or attempted between 1929 and 1931. Dieudonné Costes (November 14, 1892 - May 18, 1973) was a French aviator who set flight distance records. He was also a fighter ace during the First World War.