Article about Jean Batten's life and aviation achievements written by Alec Wignall for the 'Aerotime' website
R. & J. Hill, Ltd. collector card featuring aviatrix Jean Batten
1939Rectangular, colour tinted collector or trading card published by the tobacco company, R. & J. Hill, Ltd., in 1939 as part of their series entitled 'Celebrities of Sport'. The complete series comprised 50 cards of which this one featuring aviatrix Jean Batten was No. 18.
The front of the card features a colourful illustrated portrait of Jean Batten wearting a high collared, camel coloured coat, a white flying helmet and red and white striped scarf. Her flying goggles are perched on her forehead. She is looking to the side and smiling and appears very glamorous.The background is bright green.
The reverse of the card is printed in black and white and features a decorative border inside which is 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.
Details
Details
On reverse of card:
"CELEBRITIES
OF SPORT
A SERIES OF 50
No. 18
JEAN BATTEN
Jean Batten eclipsed all records when
she flew solo to Australia and New
Zealand in October, 1936, and she is
the first woman to fly over the South
Atlantic Ocean. Jean also knocked
hours of Mollison's record from
Lympne to Port Natal, and won the
International Aeronautical Federa-
tion's gold medal for the greatest
flying achievements of 1937. She is
28 years old, and obtained her "A"
certificate in 1930. She has received
the C.B.E., and at the present time
possesses more decorations than any
other woman aviator.
ISSUED BY
R.& J. HILL, LTD,
LONDON, E. I."
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