Germany, Imperial. A Framed 20 Mark Note Retrieved from Manfred von Richthofen by Donald L. Fraser, Ex-Charles Donald Collection

A unique commemorative display from the final moments of the life of Manfred von Richthofen (the “Red Baron”) assembled by a witness to his downing during aerial combat, consisting of a 20 Mark note retrieved post-mortem from the legendary fighter ace’s pocket following the crash landing of his Fokker Dr.I 425/17 triplane on 21 April 1918, situated above a letter indicating that the individual in question was Donald Lovat Fraser, an Intelligence Officer assigned to the 11th Australian Infantry Brigade, First Australian Imperial Force (AIF), a mining engineer and native of London who served with Australian forces during the First World War and who was a known witness to von Richthofen’s death, situated within a metal frame featuring an intact glass face and card stock board with custom-cut voids to allow viewing of both the note and letter in shadow box format, the reverse retaining a Texas photography and framing studio’s label and additional handwritten label indicating that the frame was gifted to Jack R. Kettler on 21 April 1968 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of von Richthofen’s death, measuring 37.5 cm (w) x 38 mm (h), a fascinating momento of the Red Baron obtained by a noted witness to his demise in extremely fine condition.

Footnote: From the Charles Donald collection.