A Small Slice of Aviation History

VERY RARE, 1933, Chicago World's Fair, pocket watch fob or medal. This fob/medal is extremely rare. The only one I can find online anywhere is in the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. One side shows Italo Balbo and the other side shows the Savoia-Marchetti S-55x aircraft. The Savoia-Marchetti S-55x was introduced in 1926 and retired in 1945. The fob measures 1.25 inches in diameter. Very rare piece of Aviation history depicting the voyage from Italy to the Chicago World's Fair, Century of Progress Exposition in 1933. I found the following information online:

In 1933 General Italo Balbo led an armada of 24 Italian hydroplanes from Rome to the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago. It was billed as the “Crociera del Decennale” (i.e. 10th anniversary voyage in English) commemorating 10 years of fascist rule in Italy. This medal was one of several struck to commemorate the flight. Chicago renamed the former 7th Street “Balbo Drive” and staged a great parade in his honor. The Italian Exhibit building was designed in the shape of a giant airplane to tie into the armada flight theme.

Available in my ebay store. Click here to view.