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a pile of old papers on a table with picturesan image of a metal brooch with a bird on itan old document with a picture of a military officer on itan image of a bunch of old papers and pictures on a white surfacetwo men standing in front of an old fashioned airplane in a fieldan old document with a picture of a marine seal on ita close up of a document with a bird on itan old document with a picture of a horse on it
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301 - IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF MEMORABILIA BELONGING TO PILOT JACOB…
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Estimate €1,500 - €2,000
Sale commission
Description
IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF MEMORABILIA BELONGING TO PILOT JACOB FRANCO (1891–1964), A FORMER CYCLIST WITH THE 3rd LINE INFANTRY REGIMENT Comprising: - A rare badge of the 121st Squadron, also used by the 21st Bomber Aviation Regiment after the war. Made of silver-plated metal, featuring an owl and a crescent. The reverse has two attachment tabs.  - Two identification tags belonging to Jacob Franco, model 1883 (for enlisted men). - Identification tag belonging to ‘Jacques’ Franco, 1918 officer’s model. - Badge believed to be from the Champagne Flying Club.  - Lapel badge of an ‘AAA’ aviators’ association. Made of gilded brass with enamel. - Silver medal engraved with ‘TO MY NIECE IN MEMORY OF HER FIRST FLIGHT on 20 June 1914 ’ - Two letters regarding the cycling scouts’ competition on 1 May and 27 July 1914, announcing that the dates for the Seine department’s events had not yet been set, followed by his formal registration.  - Permanent authorisation to travel by bicycle for Private Franco, a cyclist. Attached is a photograph of Private Franco with his bicycle, alongside his comrades, in Brabant in the Argonne (1915).  - Private Franco’s logbook for the year 1915, featuring drawings of women and three profiles of ‘the Parisian woman’, depending on whether she is smiling at the ‘pioupious’, the officers or the ‘pékins’. Including three leave passes (1915) in Franco’s name. - Military pilot’s certificate awarded on 5 August 1917 to Private Jacob Franco. No. 7849.  - Corporal Franco’s squadron logbook from 1917. - Large photograph (heavily worn) showing Franco and one of his comrades in flight uniform. - Various service letters. - Copy of the certificate authorising the wearing of the Inter-Allied Medal. - Certificate for the Military Medal in the name of Sergeant Franco of the 34th Aviation Regiment (1923). With dispatch tube and receipt of delivery. - Travel voucher bearing the stamp of the 21st Aviation Regiment.  - Certificate of appointment as a Knight of the Legion of Honour in the name of Lieutenant Franco (1932). With dispatch tube. - Certificate for the Cross of Voluntary Military Service dated 3 May 1938 in the name of Lieutenant Franco. Registered under number 116. - Air Force identity card in the name of Jacob Franco (1935) with passport photograph. - Membership card for the Burgundy Flying Club and the ‘Les ailes mutilées’ association (1935 and 1939). - Programme relating to the AORAA event in Rennes on 19, 20 and 21 June 1936.  - Identity card in the name of Jacob Franco (1946) with a passport photograph. - Identity card from 1951 belonging to Mr Robert Franco.  - Two photo albums containing 47 and 75 photographs respectively, some inscribed to A. Arnal. Several show Jacob Franco in uniform and in his cockpit. Views of aeroplanes, pilots, graves and downed German aeroplanes. A photograph of an aeroplane painted with the insignia of the 121st Squadron. A photograph of a Russian officer. - A collection of 27 aerial photographs, including views of Damascus, Troyes (1918) and the Saint Avord camp.  - Three X-rays of a fracture to the tibia of the aviator Arnal, annotated in pencil: ‘Accident on 21 July 1911 – X-ray of 23 December 1911’. The accident took place at the Blériot flying school in Étampes.  - A fine collection of 110 photographs, some dedicated to ‘Father Arnal’ or ‘Papa Arnal’, one to Franco, and numerous views of pilots and aircraft (some overexposed). Note: Franco had acquired photographs and mementoes from the aviator Alphonse Arnal, who lived with him in Châlons-sur-Saône.  Alphonse Arnal, who had attended the Blériot School in 1911 – where he was a prominent figure – went on to become a metal engraver. He died in 1932 of heart disease. He was one of the pioneers of aviation in his region. A significant collection of memorabilia belonging to the pilot Jacob Franco (1891–1964), formerly a cyclist in the 3rd Line Infantry Regiment
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About the sale Historical Memories
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Auction time 11/03/2026 at 11:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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