Fun of It, The. Random Records of My Own Flying and of Women in Aviation, with a two-page typed letter to "Beatsie dear".
Earhart, Amelia. The Fun Of It. Random Records of My Own Flying and of Women in Aviation. New York: Harcourt Brace and Company, (1932).
8vo, 218 pp; + “Aviation Books by Women”; frontispiece photograph of the aviatrix and 31 other half-tone illustrations; with record by Silvertone from a London broadcast Earhart made May 22, 1932 at back pocket as called for; laid in is an extraordinary two-page typed letter with ink corrections dated Thursday, the nineteenth of May to “Beatsie dear,” on onion-skin that has age-toning, folded in half, then thirds to fit an envelope, else fine; brown wove cloth stamped in pale yellow front and spine; brown dust-jacket lettered in white; worn at spinal edges and tips and somewhat used, but about very good. In a specially made cloth slipcase.
First edition. Inscribed by the author, To Cousin Rieta / who has remained the / same good sport / through all the / passing years / Amelia Earhart. / December 1933.
Although there is no year cited in the letter, it clearly is 1932, datable by the reference to Lindbergh’s trans-Atlantic crossing five years earlier (1927). This letter is a first-hand account by an intimate family member of Amelia Earhart recounting the day of and the preceding the trans-Atlantic crossing, the first such by a woman. The letter describes the writer’s (presumably Cousin Rieta) “Grade A thrill” in riding over New York in the Goodyear blimp that:
Amelia had just 'christened.' The launching party were asked to go up after the ‘service' and how I had the courage to step in is still a mystery to me. However I am glad I was no Sissy for it was well worth the chance I ran of disgracing myself. Looking down on the Empire State building was an unique experience...
The writer mentions that she must be back home to let Amelia in the house as she has the key and “the servants are out.” Page two of the letter is dated Friday morning. She relates that upon arriving home that she found “Amelia had been here and gone! The weather had suddenly changed for the better and she was off to fly to Europe. The sweet child had driven all the way from the New Jersey flying field to get me — and I was not here...” The letter continues: “the thing that I disliked the most was the futile trip that Amelia had made but G.P. [Earhart’s husband, George Putnam] assured me last night that it did not retard things and that the drive probably did her good. I hope so.” She notes that “it is just five years since Lindbergh flew” and mentions Bernt Balchen “who has helped her fit her plane for the trip” and expresses her astonishment, at “the whole thing,” i.e., Earhart’s trans-Atlantic crossing. (NAW I, pp. 538-540. 100 Most Influential Women, pp. 255-258)
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