No matter if you are an aviation historian or WW2 Short Wave Radio Aficionado, this superb sphere has preserved all exceptionally well on its map. Celebrating the pioneering days of human advancement in flight, the map documents early aviation achievements across the Atlantic Ocean, including flight dates and distance in mileage: Graf Zeppelin Lakehurst to Lakehurst around the world (August 8 -20th 1929, 20,000 miles) Hindenburg Zeppelin Route May 6-9, 1936 Lindberg, New York – Paris , May 20th, 21st, 1927. Howard Hughes, NY-NY round trip July 10-14, 1938 Inaugural Flight of the China Clipper , Nov.22 1935 Technical advancement is furthermore celebrated by documenting Short Wave Radio Stations (HAM) and their call letters around the world .   As everyone is aware of the Lindbergh Flight, we would like to share some info on the the other documented aviation firsts: Graf Zeppelin LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin (Deutsches Luftschiff Zeppelin #127; Registration: D-LZ 127) was a German-built and -operated, passenger carrying, hydrogen-filled, rigid airship, which operated commercially from 1928 to 1937. It was named after the German pioneer of airships, Ferdinand von Zeppelin, who was a Graf or Count in the German nobility. During its operating life, the airship made 590 flights covering more than a million miles (1.6 million km). It was designed to be operated by a crew of 36 officers and men. In October 1928 the Graf Zeppelin made its first intercontinental trip, a 9,926 km (6,168 mi), 111 hour crossing from Friedrichshafen to Lakehurst with Dr. Eckener in command. Capt. Ernst Lehmann, who would be killed in the crash of the Hindenburg at Lakehurst eight and a half years later, served as First Officer on the flight and U.S. Navy LCDR Charles E. Rosendahl, commander of the ZR-3 USS Los Angeles (ex-LZ 126), made the westward journey during which he also stood watch as a regular ship’s officer. Despite encountering heavy headwinds and stormy weather, Eckener had repeated the success of his first transatlantic crossing four years earlier when he delivered the LZ-126 to the U.S. Navy in October 1924 and was welcomed enthusiastically then both with a ”ticker tape” parade in New York and a subsequent invitation to the White House. Ref. Wikipidia Howard Hughes was an avid and daring pilot setting a handful of aviation world records, including one for his 1938 flight round-the-world in just over 91 hours. On July 10, 1938 Hughes and crew departed Floyd Bennett Field, Long Island New York and flew round-the-world in a Lockheed 14 Lodestar Monoplane with the primary sponsoring of the New York World's Fair for which Hughes was an aeronautical advisor.
  They were guided by the most reassuring set of flying gadgets ever packed into a private airplane including a powerful radio transmitter which radio linked them to a towering trylon antenna at the New York World's Fair. The purpose of the Hughes' round-the-world flight was for publicity to bid foreigners to come to visit the New York World's Fair.
  On July 14, 1938 Howard Hughes and his four-man crew returned to New York after circling the globe covering 14,672 miles in three days, nineteen hours, fourteen minutes and ten seconds. They were treated to a special Mayorial reception and ticker-tape parade in New York City. This event promoted not just commercial aviation and the World’s fair in New York, but also re-newed interest in short wave (HAM) radio. Note the call letters of short wave radio stations throughout the world.   Description: The 12” diameter sphere is made of pasteboard. Representing a map of c 1938-45, the legend identifies various aviation routes, including Graf Zeppelin, Hindenburg, Lindbergh flight to Paris and more.. The full meridian is made of cast metal and mounted onto a simplistic wooden base. Total height is about 16 inches. Condition: The globe is in excellent, museum grade condition. All colors are bold and rich, very minimal scuffing, soiling, wrinkling or any other wear. The base is well preserved with minor scuffing to the finish. Please see photos for details.   The age of the globe has been determined by flight routes and political display, which is as follows: We believe for this sphere to be about 1945, just post WW2 as Manchuria is not shown to be occupied by Japan. That being said, some of the political borders are conflicting and not up to date, as the rest of the world is shown pre-WW2 (1935). It is possible for this to be an original pre WW2 map with a later over-print displaying early aviation routes. The mount certainly appears to be pre WW2 as it has a classic cast metal meridian used prior to WW2.   Truly a magnificent artifact, sharing an important moment in time.   $295   SKU# 814WCZHAM35 Well packed, this globe will ship domestic for $22, please inquire for international rates.