Lot 49
**Alfred Egerton Cooper R.B.A. (British, 1883-1974), HMA 9 Airship in Flight over Norfolk, oil on canvas, signed and dated 1917 recto, Bourlet label verso, 61cm h x 91cm w, within a painted wood frame 72cm x 103cm. ** Artist's Re-sale Rights may be payable on this lot Provenance: Sir Barnes Wallis thence by descent. Exhibited: possibly "Airships in Peace and War" Prince's Gallery, Knightsbridge, September 1919. The No 9 was the first airship Barnes Wallis worked on as an assistant at Vickers with Chief Designer H B Pratt and the first British airship to fly. A E Cooper and Barnes Wallis were close friends and Cooper is thought to have gifted the picture to Wallis. The painting likely depicts flight over Norfolk as the Airship was stationed from October 17th 1917 at Royal Naval Air Service Station Pulham (later RAF Pulham). The painting is clearly visible in many publicity photographs of Wallis in his office.  £3000-4000