Premier Firearms Auction
May 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2022
Our first premier auction of 2022! This event hosts collections from across the country and brings them under one roof for an amazing multi-day auction!
This is an incredible opportunity to add rare and desirable firearms & militaria to your collection.
WWI GERMAN HONOR GOBLET PRESENTED TO FIGHTER ACE OTTO ESSWEIN ON THE OCCASION OF HIS FIRST AIR VICTORY.
inv# 02-16017
This exceptional hammered silver, early war Honor Goblet measures approx. 7 3/4″ high x 3 3/4″ in diameter. It features intricate repousse work depicting 2 eagles in pitched battle w/ an inscription below that reads, “Otto Esswein 15 . 11 . 1917 Jasta 26”. “Jasta 26” is short for his command, Jagdstaffel 26, one of Germany’s famed “hunting groups”. The date “15 . 11 . 1917”, commemorates the first aerial victory of Otto Esswein. The bottom of the goblet has further repousse work that reads, “Dem Sieger im Luftkampt” which roughly translates to “The Victor in Air Combat”. A sm. disk on the underside of the goblet features a Prussian eagle w/ the words, “CHEF DES FELDFLUGWESENS” which translates to “Chief of the Field Air Forces”. The entire goblet stands on a 4 ball base & there is a 4″ solid wooden stand that displays the goblet.
Offizeirstellvertreter Otto Esswein was a WWI double flying ace credited w/ 12 air victories. He was born in 1890 in the Kingdom of Wurttemberg. After joining the military he transferred from ground troops to the aviation service in mid 1915. At the end of October 1917, he was assigned to Jagdstaffel 26 & scored his first victory by shooting down a Sopwith Camel 6 weeks later. Esswein went on to shoot down 11 more planes w/ his new Fokker Dr.I triplane. He was awarded Prussia’s highest award for bravery, the Military Merit Cross in Gold. This award is comparable to the Pour le Merite, however since Esswein was a warrant officer & not a commissioned officer, he could not receive the Pour le Merite. He was also awarded the 1st & 2nd Class Iron Crosses & Wurttemberg’s Military Merit Order in gold as well as silver. Esswein was shot down on July 16, 1918 but successfully parachuted to safety from his burning plane. 5 Days later he was again shot down & killed while attacking a balloon. Included w/ the goblet are 9 WWI German aviation photographs that have undetermined association w/ Otto Esswein.
