Very rare original watercolour and pencil on card.

Artist: Unknown (c.1918-1944)

Title: R26 Airship

Medium: Watercolour and pencil on card

Size: Image size 90mm x 195mm

Signed: no. Possible auction text written on the back 5441/5

Notes: Old accomplished painting of an early military airship. Possibly done at the time. Purchased in a leather wallet with 1939 & 1940 calendars in it.

R.26 was the first airship designated under the new system of adding an "R" prefix rather than an "r" suffix for rigids. It had the benefit of being only in the early stages of construction when the weight problems with its sisters were discovered, allowing weight-saving measures to be implemented from the outset. On 4–5 June 1918, it set a new endurance record for the 23 class by carrying out a patrol of 40 hours 40 minutes. With 23r, it oversaw the surrender of the German U-boats at Harwich, before being assigned to experiments in early 1919 to investigate the practicalities of mooring airships in the open. While promising at first, its envelope was eventually soaked with rain, and the airship was subsequently beaten into the ground by a snowstorm. Although refloated by removing its power cars, the structural damage was found to be too great to warrant repairs, and it was struck off charge on 10 March.

It is in great condition, please view the photos

The artwork will be securely packaged between boards for delivery.