Cigarette Case, Lindbergh, King Collection

A rectangular cigarette case made of plastic with a faux tortoise shell appearance. The case features an image of the Spirit of St. Louis flying over water. The plane and the water have small pieces of cut glass inlaid in their design. The test "Spirit of St. Louis" appears in the lower right corner of the image. The case opens on a hinge and features a small metal pin and clasp that hold the case shut. The inside of the case has a piece of stretched cloth attached to the case on one half.

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.