AERONAUTICA - 'PUSS MOTH' LOG BOOK OF LT.-COMMANDER GEOFFREY RODDTwo finely presented log books relating to the De Havilland aircraft D.H. 80A Puss Moth and its playboy adventurer owner Lt. Geoffrey Rodd, together approximately 680 pages, detailing all flights (departure/arrival locations, list of crew/passengers, incidents), numerous additional photographs, press cuttings, ephemera, etc relating to Rodd, Puss Moth and their adventures pasted in, contemporary blue morocco by Truslove & Hanson of Sloane Street, gilt lettered "G-AAYB. Journey Log Book. Vol. 1[-2] July, 1930 to July, 1931 [-To]" on upper covers, oblong 4to (190 x 240mm.), July 1930-July 1931[-1933]Footnotes"COMMANDER GEOFFREY RODD'S AEROPLANE AND EXPERT SERVICES AS A PILOT ARE IN MUCH REQUEST BY THE FAIR SEX" - the flight log books (enlivened with photographs, press cuttings and ephemera) of a playboy pilot's De Havilland aircraft Puss Moth, from the time of his learning to fly under the tutelage of ace pilot Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay, to flights with celebrated female pilots Amy Johnson and Peggy Salaman, aerial filming for the cinema, lending his plane to collect Hollywood actress Gloria Swanson from Paris, and his tragic death, aged only thirty-two, crashing during take-off from the glamorous holiday resort of St. Moritz. Born in Australia, Rodd (1901-1933) served in the Royal Navy during the First World War, then aboard the Royal Yacht. As evidenced from these evocative albums his trajectory from amateur pilot on the waterlogged airfields of Sussex and Kent, to success in competitions, blind flying with Amy Johnson, immersion in the world of celebrities and film stars, and airfields of glitzy Biarritz over a period of under two years was astonishing.
His early flights were taken in the company of his teacher at Hanworth Aerodrome, Scottish flying ace Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay (including one resulting in an official report to the Accidents Investigation Committee concerning the "Meopham Accident", 25 Sept. 1930); flights with associates from his naval days followed, including Admiral of the Fleet Reginald Tyrwhitt (who wrote that the flight "had entirely changed my ideas as regards travelling by air!"); increasingly confident he was soon piloting successfully at the King's Cup with Peggy Salaman (a letter signed by Peggy to Rodd after her return to England having flown from Lympe in Kent to Cape Town, November 1931 is tipped-in).
Other notable notices include a report relating to a dangerous driving charge against Rodd at Blackheath (he admitted guilt); a letter of chastisement from the Chief Constable of the Hastings Police for distributing handbills (relating to the "Navy Week at Chatham", a copy of which tipped-in) from his aeroplane (15 Aug. 1930); correspondence with the Air Ministry concerning an "Alleged flight over prohibited area" (14 Oct. 1930) with Rodd's reply admitting the offence and apologising for his late reply due "to a serious accident in starting "G-AAYB" involving amputation of my right thumb" [31 Oct. "engine back fired and propeller cut off my right thumb at top joint... fainted a couple of times", but flown back by Max Findlay]; forced landings including one due to "stick jambing... a nut which must have caused this" (Oct. 23 1930), and "Smoke Bomb ignited in its release box in cabin: pretty nearly choked"; "Shoreham aerodrome flooded, but landed in field alongside" (24 Jan. 1931), piloting Vice-Admiral Snagge to the Epsom Derby; achieving the fastest time ("982.5 miles at 127.56 m.p.h.") at the Kings Cup Air Race, 24 Aug. 1931, with pasted in letters and newspaper reports on the race ("... The lady pilots fared badly, as was to be expected"); "Night landings by Bentley's headlights" at Hanworth, 31 Oct. 1931 (several newspaper reports show images of Rodd with his chauffer John Camp, who also acted on occasions as his co-pilot); "House Party's flight in moonlight" at Lord Willougby de Broke's aerodrome at Kineton, "12000ft. taking cinema over the clouds" (8 Apr. 1932, beside a newspaper cutting reporting on actor John Loder telling Rodd a story about Gary Cooper); 19 Apr. 1932 "For Gloria Swanson" [flight from Lymphe to Paris and return, piloted by Maxwell Findlay], "...couldn't get permission to fly under Clifton Suspension Bridge. Flew over" (9 June 1932); August 1932 extensive public displays including at Burnham, and filming at Brooklands for the film "The King's Cup"; 19 August starts a "Blind Flying Course" (and includes aerial photo of "The Rude Man of Cerne Abbas"); On 28 August flies to Le Toquet with Amy Johnson (during which time his £3000 car is stolen from Park Lane, and used "in Wandsworth smash-and-grab raid"), and on the 31st takes her "Night flying. Aerobatics"; aerial holiday to Biarritz (newspaper reporting that he "has been offered £200 for one portion alone of his Biarritz film..."); "Practice blind flying in clouds", flights to Cannes, Geneva, the Alps, and on 10 January 1933 landing on frozen lake at St. Moritz, where later in the month he was killed during a failed take off from the same lake.
Provenance: Sotheby's, 15 May 1969, lot 199.Additional informationAuction informationBuyers Premium and ChargesFor all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:Buyer's Premium Rates
28% on the first £40,000 of the hammer price;
27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £40,000 up to and including £800,000;
21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £800,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.Buyers' ObligationsALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.Payment NoticesFor payment information please refer to the sale catalog.Shipping NoticesFor information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licences please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.Lot Symbols•Exempt from VATZero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.Related DepartmentsBooks & ManuscriptsAuction ViewingsLondon, Knightsbridge18 June 2023, 11:00 - 15:00 BST19 June 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 BST20 June 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 BST21 June 2023, 09:00 - 10:00 BSTConditions of SaleView Conditions of Sale
AERONAUTICA - 'PUSS MOTH' LOG BOOK OF LT.-COMMANDER GEOFFREY RODDTwo finely presented log books relating to the De Havilland aircraft D.H. 80A Puss Moth and its playboy adventurer owner Lt. Geoffrey Rodd, together approximately 680 pages, detailing all flights (departure/arrival locations, list of crew/passengers, incidents), numerous additional photographs, press cuttings, ephemera, etc relating to Rodd, Puss Moth and their adventures pasted in, contemporary blue morocco by Truslove & Hanson of Sloane Street, gilt lettered "G-AAYB. Journey Log Book. Vol. 1[-2] July, 1930 to July, 1931 [-To]" on upper covers, oblong 4to (190 x 240mm.), July 1930-July 1931[-1933]Footnotes"COMMANDER GEOFFREY RODD'S AEROPLANE AND EXPERT SERVICES AS A PILOT ARE IN MUCH REQUEST BY THE FAIR SEX" - the flight log books (enlivened with photographs, press cuttings and ephemera) of a playboy pilot's De Havilland aircraft Puss Moth, from the time of his learning to fly under the tutelage of ace pilot Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay, to flights with celebrated female pilots Amy Johnson and Peggy Salaman, aerial filming for the cinema, lending his plane to collect Hollywood actress Gloria Swanson from Paris, and his tragic death, aged only thirty-two, crashing during take-off from the glamorous holiday resort of St. Moritz. Born in Australia, Rodd (1901-1933) served in the Royal Navy during the First World War, then aboard the Royal Yacht. As evidenced from these evocative albums his trajectory from amateur pilot on the waterlogged airfields of Sussex and Kent, to success in competitions, blind flying with Amy Johnson, immersion in the world of celebrities and film stars, and airfields of glitzy Biarritz over a period of under two years was astonishing.
His early flights were taken in the company of his teacher at Hanworth Aerodrome, Scottish flying ace Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay (including one resulting in an official report to the Accidents Investigation Committee concerning the "Meopham Accident", 25 Sept. 1930); flights with associates from his naval days followed, including Admiral of the Fleet Reginald Tyrwhitt (who wrote that the flight "had entirely changed my ideas as regards travelling by air!"); increasingly confident he was soon piloting successfully at the King's Cup with Peggy Salaman (a letter signed by Peggy to Rodd after her return to England having flown from Lympe in Kent to Cape Town, November 1931 is tipped-in).
Other notable notices include a report relating to a dangerous driving charge against Rodd at Blackheath (he admitted guilt); a letter of chastisement from the Chief Constable of the Hastings Police for distributing handbills (relating to the "Navy Week at Chatham", a copy of which tipped-in) from his aeroplane (15 Aug. 1930); correspondence with the Air Ministry concerning an "Alleged flight over prohibited area" (14 Oct. 1930) with Rodd's reply admitting the offence and apologising for his late reply due "to a serious accident in starting "G-AAYB" involving amputation of my right thumb" [31 Oct. "engine back fired and propeller cut off my right thumb at top joint... fainted a couple of times", but flown back by Max Findlay]; forced landings including one due to "stick jambing... a nut which must have caused this" (Oct. 23 1930), and "Smoke Bomb ignited in its release box in cabin: pretty nearly choked"; "Shoreham aerodrome flooded, but landed in field alongside" (24 Jan. 1931), piloting Vice-Admiral Snagge to the Epsom Derby; achieving the fastest time ("982.5 miles at 127.56 m.p.h.") at the Kings Cup Air Race, 24 Aug. 1931, with pasted in letters and newspaper reports on the race ("... The lady pilots fared badly, as was to be expected"); "Night landings by Bentley's headlights" at Hanworth, 31 Oct. 1931 (several newspaper reports show images of Rodd with his chauffer John Camp, who also acted on occasions as his co-pilot); "House Party's flight in moonlight" at Lord Willougby de Broke's aerodrome at Kineton, "12000ft. taking cinema over the clouds" (8 Apr. 1932, beside a newspaper cutting reporting on actor John Loder telling Rodd a story about Gary Cooper); 19 Apr. 1932 "For Gloria Swanson" [flight from Lymphe to Paris and return, piloted by Maxwell Findlay], "...couldn't get permission to fly under Clifton Suspension Bridge. Flew over" (9 June 1932); August 1932 extensive public displays including at Burnham, and filming at Brooklands for the film "The King's Cup"; 19 August starts a "Blind Flying Course" (and includes aerial photo of "The Rude Man of Cerne Abbas"); On 28 August flies to Le Toquet with Amy Johnson (during which time his £3000 car is stolen from Park Lane, and used "in Wandsworth smash-and-grab raid"), and on the 31st takes her "Night flying. Aerobatics"; aerial holiday to Biarritz (newspaper reporting that he "has been offered £200 for one portion alone of his Biarritz film..."); "Practice blind flying in clouds", flights to Cannes, Geneva, the Alps, and on 10 January 1933 landing on frozen lake at St. Moritz, where later in the month he was killed during a failed take off from the same lake.
Provenance: Sotheby's, 15 May 1969, lot 199.Additional informationAuction informationBuyers Premium and ChargesFor all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:Buyer's Premium Rates
28% on the first £40,000 of the hammer price;
27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £40,000 up to and including £800,000;
21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £800,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.Buyers' ObligationsALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.Payment NoticesFor payment information please refer to the sale catalog.Shipping NoticesFor information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licences please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.Lot Symbols•Exempt from VATZero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.Related DepartmentsBooks & ManuscriptsAuction ViewingsLondon, Knightsbridge18 June 2023, 11:00 - 15:00 BST19 June 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 BST20 June 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 BST21 June 2023, 09:00 - 10:00 BSTConditions of SaleView Conditions of Sale
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
