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Amelia Earhart's Silk Kimono-style Jacket....
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$10,000.00
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Description
Kimono worn by the aviator at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel just before the record-breaking flight from Honolulu to California in January 1935
Amelia Earhart's Silk Kimono-style Jacket. [Waikiki,
Honolulu, HI, circa late December 1934]. Together with two
letters (one typed, one autograph, both signed) from Amelia's
sister, Grace Muriel Earhart Morrissey, explaining provenance of
the jacket.Open design, with six hand-stitched ties at each side, underarm, and sleeve. Measuring approximately 48.5 inches from sleeve to sleeve and 29.25 inches from neckline to hem. Cream chiffon-style fabric, lined in cream silk, and decorated in a delicate botanical print in green, orange, purple, and gold, with a "Made in Japan" label. Light yellowing around the collar and at a few scattered spots across the lining.
[Together with]: Typed Letter Signed ("Muriel") from Amelia's sister to Elgen M. Long. No place, October 13, 1979. One page, with postmarked envelope. Creased along old folds. Muriel Morrissey was Amelia's younger sister, affectionally dubbed "Pidge" by the aviatrix herself. Growing up, the two sisters were extremely close and, following Amelia's disappearance, Muriel coordinated Amelia's posthumous affairs, wrote a biography, and worked to preserve not only Amelia's legacy, but the truths of her unique personality, well into the future.
[And:] Autograph Letter Signed ("Muriel") to Elgen M. Long. No place, October 22, 1979. Two pages on a single leaf, written in blue ink. Creased along old folds. Large postmarked envelope, worn and creased (postmarked 22 Oct 1979), red ink stamps and ink notations.
"Christmas 1934 found Amelia and G.P[utnam], along with Paul Mantz and his wife, Myrtle, aboard the Matson liner Lurline en route to Honolulu, Hawaii. Tied down on the aft tennis deck was Amelia's Lockheed Vega, where it was watched over constantly by her mechanic, Ernest Tissot. When they arrived in Honolulu everyone went to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel except Mantz and Ernie, who off loaded the plane onto a barge and floated it to the Fleet Air Base, located on Ford Island in the middle of Pearl Harbor... They stayed there [Waikiki] while preparing the Vega for the flight to California," (Long).
It was during her stay at the Royal Hawaiian that Amelia was gifted this luxurious silk kimono-style jacket and accompanying wide-legged pants (not included in this lot). The jacket is beautifully lightweight, adorned with climbing vines and flowers in brilliant colors, highlighted in gold. We do not have to imagine Amelia lounging comfortably in such a piece, as several beautiful pictures of her wearing it still survive, comfortably seated on a tiled floor in the sun, a book in her hand and delicate heeled house slippers on her feet.
In later years, photos of Amelia in this particular jacket were used to imply her disappearance could be explained by a crash landing and capture by the Japanese. However, many of those close to Amelia, particularly her sister, Muriel, did not agree with the sensationalist nature of the story and she approved of Elgen and Marie's efforts to paint an informed picture of Amelia's life, and loss. "...I have confidence in what you are doing," Muriel writes. "Later, I shall send you [Elgen] Amelia's silk jacket for your collection to refute the Japanese story."
It is this beautiful image of Amelia, glowing with happiness and determination, that precedes her flight as the first woman (and first solo pilot!) to fly from Hawaii to California. This jacket serves as a unique touchstone to Amelia as the woman behind the legacy.
References: Long, Amelia Earhart, The Mystery Solved, pages 50-51.
Provenance: From the estate of record-breaking aviator, Amelia Earhart author and researcher Elgen M. Long and his wife, fellow Earhart scholar, Marie K. Long.
Auction Info
2023 July 8 Historical Platinum Signature® Auction #6275 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
July, 2023
8th
Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 570
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