Article about Jean Batten's life and aviation achievements written by Alec Wignall for the 'Aerotime' website
Sanitarium collector card featuring aviatrix Jean Batten
1995Rectangular, colour tinted collector or trading card published by the Sanitarium Health Food Company in 1995 as part of their series entitled 'The Aviation Card Series'. The complete series comprised 20 cards of which this one featuring aviatrix Jean Batten was No. 6.
The front of the card features a colourful illustrated portrait of Jean Batten standing in front of her plane with the blue sky behind. She is wearing a leather flying jacket with sheepskin collar and a leather flying helmet. Her flying goggles are perched on her forehead. She is looking directly to the front and is smiling. She is holding a bouquet of flowers. The card is made from thick paper and there is a white border around all four sides.
The reverse of the card is printed in black and white and features a short biography of Jean Batten and the publisher's details.
Jean Batten (15 September 1909 – 22 November 1982) was a pioneering New Zealand aviatrix renowned for her daring solo flights in the 1930s.
After failing twice, she successfully completed the first solo flight by a woman from England to Australia in her Gipsy Moth biplane in 1934, setting a new women's record. She flew the same aircraft back to England, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia and back.
In 1935, she became the first woman to fly solo across the South Atlantic, flying from England to Brazil and breaking James Mollison's records for the route. Pioneer Scottish aviator Jim Mollison was the husband of another famous aviatrix, Amy Johnson.
In 1936, she made history with the first solo flight from England to New Zealand, a record that stood for 44 years. She set a new solo record for the Australia to England flight in 1937, simultaneously holding records for both directions of the route.
She retired from long-distance flying after her 1937 flight.
She was a celebrated international hero, but after World War Two, she withdrew from public life and died in relative obscurity in Spain.
An article describing Jean Batten's record breaking flights is attached as a supplementary link.
This card would have been issued with packets of Weet-Bix cereal produced by the Sanitarium Health Food Company.
Details
Details
On reverse of card:
"ONE OF A SET OF 20 CARDS
The Aviation Card Series
No. 6 Jean Batten
As New Zealand's most famous aviator. Jean Batten has gone down in his-
tory as a highly courageous adventurer. She was born in Rotorua in 1909,
and decided as a young woman that she wanted to fly. In 1934 she broke
the England to Australia women's solo record, and in 1936 she complet-
ed the first direct flight from England to New Zealand in 11 days and 45
minutes. Jean Batten died alone on the Spanish island of Majorca in 1982,
aged 73, and was buried in a pauper's grave.
Published in 1995 by Sanitarium Health Food Company,
Private Bag 92127, Auckland.
Place these cards in the Weet-Bix AVIATION album, available for $2.00 from your
foodstore, or send $3.50 (to include postage and handling) to: Sanitarium Health Food
Company SWAPS, Private Bag 92127, Auckland. To obtain a full set of 20 cards, swap
with your friends or post to us once card of this series for any one card you need. Please
enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. List the numbers you need on the back of
your return envelope."
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- Framed autograph of aviatrix Jean Batten
- Autobiography of aviatrix Jean Batten entitled 'My Life'
- Framed photograph of aviatrix Jean Batten
- Photograph of Jean Batten in the Royal Aero Club of N.S.W. 1970
- Photograph of Jean Batten taken at R.A.F. Fairford in Gloucestershire, August 1970
- Leslie Horton Partridge self portrait
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- Leslie Horton Partridge watercolour - Boesinghe, 1 September 1917
- Leslie Horton Partridge watercolour - Herzeele, 10 September 1917
- Leslie Horton Partridge watercolour - Murat Farm, 28 September 1917


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