Germany, Third Reich. A Silver Brooch Presented to Anne Lindbergh from AH, 1940

(Brosche). A silver brooch, presenting as an eagle in profile, with one wing spread open, clutching a mobile swastika in its talons, the obverse featuring filed, individually set natural marcasite stones, the reverse hallmarked 925 SILBER, with a vertical pinback, measuring approximately 58.56 mm (w) x 94.64 mm (h), weighing 34.7 grams, accompanied by the original case of issue, constructed of blue cardstock, the obverse decorated with a gilt geometric design, the interior lined with blue velvet, measuring 102 mm (w) x 148 mm (l) x 54 mm (h), the exterior presenting some scuffing, and in overall extremely fine condition.

The brooch is accompanied by the original note, on AH stationary, in typewriting, stating, “Berlin, Den 14. Juni 1940. Sehr verehrte Anne Lindbergh. In Würdigung Ihrer fliegerischen Leistungen und in höchster Anerkennung für das Eintreten Ihrer Familie zur Unterstützung der deutschen Sache in den USA, möchte ich Ihnen zu Ihrem Geburtstag diese Damenbrosche des deutschen Reichsadlers zukommen lassen.

Der Führer und Kanzler des deutschen Reiches” (Berlin, on 14 June 1940. Dear Anne Lindbergh. In appreciation of your flying achievements and in the highest recognition for the advocacy of your family to support the German cause in the USA, I would like to send you this lady brooch of the German Reichsadler on your birthday. The leader and chancellor of the German Reich), presenting the original signature of A. Hitler in black ink, measuring 194 mm (w) x 123 mm (h), and in near extremely fine condition.

Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, undated, on letterhead for Wolfgang Schulze von Mertschinsky, Antiques, stating “Bestaetigung. Ich Herr Wolfgang Schulze von Mertschinsky bestaetige hiermit wie folgt: 1) Silberne plastisch, ausgearbeitete, mit Steinen besetzte Adler Brosche fuer Damen. 2) Blaues Etui mit Goldrand und blaues Inlett. 3) Uebersendungsschreiben mit Geburtstagsgruessen von Adolf Hitler mit originaler Tintenunterschrift. Von Anne Lindbergh aus ihrem persoenlichen Besitz fuer die Summe von 2250 US Dollar erworben zu haben (Confirmation. I, Mr. Wolfgang Schulze von Mertschinsky hereby confirm as follows: 1) Silver plastic, elaborate, stone-set eagle brooch for women. 2) Blue case with gold rim and blue ticking. 3) Letter with birthday greetings from Adolf Hitler with original ink signature. Acquired from Anne Lindbergh from her personal belongings for the sum of 2250 US dollars.), signed in blue ink by Wolfgang Schulze von Mertschinsky, with two punched holes along the left margin, measuring 210 mm (w) x 297 mm (h), and in near extremely fine condition.

Footnote: Anne (nee Morrow) was born on 22 June 1906 to parents Dwight Morrow, a United States Ambassador to Mexico and United States Senator from New Jersey, and Elizabeth Morrow, a poet and teacher. Anne graduated from The Chapin School in New York City in 1924 and went on to attend Smith College from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1928.

Anne met Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974) in the winter following his historic nonstop flight across the Atlantic. The couple married on 27 May 1929. Anne accompanied Charles, who was active in commercial aviation and scientific research, on many aerial journeys to Europe, to Asia, and to the Caribbean, where he was charting airplane routes. She learned to navigate, operate a radio, and pilot a plane. In 1930, Anne became the first woman to get a glider pilot’s license in the United States. That same year she was co-pilot and navigator when her husband broke the transatlantic speed record. In 1934, Anne became the first woman to receive the Hubbard Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society.

An experience that would forever change their lives occurred on the evening of 1 March 1932 when their 20-month-old son Charles Jr. was kidnapped from their New Jersey home. The kidnapping thrust Charles and Anne Lindbergh further into the public eye and they were tormented by reporters, photographers, con artists, curiosity-seekers, and vandals, who had invaded their lives after the kidnapping. The child’s body was discovered on 12 May, over ten weeks after the kidnapping, and they then had to live through the arrest, trial, conviction, and execution of Burno Richard Hauptmann. The family retreated to England and, later, to a small island off the coast of Brittany, France.

While in Europe, the Lindberghs came to advocate isolationist views, which ultimately led to their fall from grace. The U.S. Attache in Berlin invited Charles to inspect the rising power of Germany’s Air Force in 1938, and during this tour Charles was impressed by the technology and eventually opposed U.S. entry into the impending European conflict. In 1939, Charles composed his beliefs about race in a Reader’s Digest article and his speeches and writing reflected the influence of the Third Reich’s views on religion and race.

In 1940, Anne’s 41-page booklet titled The Wave of the Future was published in support of her husband who lobbied for a U.S.-German peace treaty. The booklet, arguing that something resembling fascism was the unfortunate “wave of the future,” was subsequently attacked by the Roosevelt administration. Anne had also written, in a letter, that AH was “a very great man, like an inspired religious leader--and as such rather fanatical--but not scheming, not selfish, not greedy for power.”

Because of Charles’ outspoken beliefs about a future war that would envelop the United States, the antiwar America First Committee adopted him as its leader in 1940, and he publicly spoke to overflowing crowds, arguing that America had no business attacking Germany. The committee disbanded after the attack on Pearl Harbour. Although Lindbergh considered AH a fanatic and avowed a belief in American democracy, he clearly stated elsewhere that he believed the survival of the white race was more important than the survival of democracy in Europe.

Reflecting on her early work, Anne later acknowledged that she and her husband had been “both very blind, especially in the beginning, to the worst evils of the Nazi system.”