Belt Buckle, Lindbergh, King Collection

The belt buckle features a relief of the Spirit of St. Louis in front of the Eiffel Tower. Below the airplane is a circle with a relief of Lindbergh wearing a flight cap. Above the airplane is a banner that has the text "AMERICAN AVIATION 1986 COMMEMORATIVE" engraved. The back of the buckle has a loop to pass the belt through and a pin to secure the belt. A small plaque on the back shows that this buckle is the 525 buckle in a limited edition of 5000. Another plaque has been stamped with text that reads that this buckle is the fifth in a yearly series dedicated to aviation.

On May 20-21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh literally flew into history when he crossed the Atlantic Ocean in his Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, thus becoming the first pilot to fly solo and nonstop from New York to Paris. This flight made Lindbergh a household name and catapulted him into fame and celebrity. The objects of popular culture in the National Collection display everything from ashtrays to wristwatches reflect the public adulation for Lindbergh and the powerful commercial response to his celebrity. More than 75 years after the Spirit's historic flight, Lindbergh's name still has the power help sell manufactured goods.