Three days after the crash of the Hindenberg, Deeg found the remains of his camera equipment at the crash site which included a Leica IIIa, a Vidom viewfinder, a Nooky close-up attachment, Elmar f/4 9cm lens, two filters and lens cap. In 1970 Michael von Rosen acquired the camera direct from Fritz Deeg. The camera came with authentic, original archive material including the newspaper, The New York American, morning edition dated 7th May 1937 with the legend “Hindenburg Explodes at Lakehurst 35 dead”, in-flight brochure with seating plan and journey information, an unopened letter with Hindenburg emblem sent from New York to Frankfurt with Lakehurst Trans-Atlantic flight postmark dated 11 May 1936 and a similar letter on Hindenburg paper with envelope dated 1936 sent by another passenger, an in-flight brochure for the Graf Zeppelin, original press photograph of the Hindenburg crew on the airship which includes Fritz Deeg, a postcard sent from the Graf Zepplin by Fritz Deeg and another postcard with Zepplin postmark, two publicity photographs of the Hindenburg, five press photographs of the disaster, photographs of von Rosen and Fritz Deeg together in 1971, two blue-prints and schematic drawings of airships, three contemporary photographs of the Hindenburg in flight, taken in 1936, three framed photographs relating to the Graf Zeppelin and other material.

Photo credit: © WestLicht Photographica Auction