Knight of the Reich
Messerschmitt Bf 109Gs of JG52 over Zaporozhye in the southeastern Ukraine
Knight of the Reich © Robert Taylor
Knight of the Reich © Robert Taylor
Description
The aviation art print 'Knight of the Reich' by Robert Taylor shows Bf109G from III./JG52 diving into attack a group of Russian fighters high over Zaporozhye in the southeastern Ukraine on the morning of 15 October 1943. Their Commander Hauptmann Günther Rall pounces on a Soviet La-5 to claim his 222nd victory. During this astonishing one month period he shot down 40 aircraft and at the end of November 1943 acheived 250 victories - at the time only the second Ace to do so after Walter Nowotny. By the time he was posted back to the West, Rall was well on the way to his final score of 275 victories, making him the third highest- scoring Ace in history. Had he not been wounded in action numerous times and forced to spend months in hospital, he might well have been the highest-scoring Ace of them all.
Editions and Signatures
Robert Taylor's remarkable painting is published as a lasting tribute to one of the most legendary figures in Aviation history. It is of historical significance that Günther Rall who, through his outstanding skill, decency and leadership, gained huge respect from his comrades and former foes alike, has autographed every print, creating an exceptional collectors piece.
Editions and Signatures
Limited Edition
- 275 numbered prints, personally signed by the Artist Robert Taylor and one of the greatest fighter Aces in history:
Generalleutnant Günther Rall, Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords, 275 victories
Eastern Front Edition (sold out)
- 200 numbered prints, personally signed by the Artist Robert Taylor and five highly distinguished Aces who flew on the Eastern Front:
Generalleutnant Günther Rall, Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords, 275 victoriesLeutnant Hugo Broch, Knight’s Cross, 81 victoriesMajor Erich Rudorffer, Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords, 222 victoriesHauptmann Karl-Fritz Schlossstein, German Cross in Gold, 8 victoriesOberleutnant Walter Schuck, Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, 206 victories
Eastern Front Edition Artist's Proofs
-
25 numbered prints, signed as above (sold out)
Eastern Front Edition Remarques*
- 15 numbered prints, signed as above (sold out)
Eastern Front Edition Double-Remarques* (ask for availability) (sold out)
- 10 numbered prints, signed as above
Eastern Front Tribute Edition (sold out)
- 10 numbered prints, signed as above. With all the components of the Eastern Front Edition the Tributes are issued with an outstanding original pencil drawing individually created by Robert Taylor and signed by six high-scoring Aces who flew over Russia. Each drawing is conservation matted to include the original signatures of six more iconic Fighter Aces who flew on the Eastern Front:
Generalleutnant Günther Rall, Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords, 275 victoriesOberleutnant Walter Wolfrum, Knight’s Cross, 137 victoriesOberstleutnant Heinz Marquardt, Knight’s Cross, 121 victoriesFeldwebel Oskar Bösch, Iron Cross 1st Class, 18 victoriesMajor Hans-Ekkehard Bob, Knight’s Cross, 60 victories
Leutnant Hugo Broch, Knight’s Cross, 81 victories
The matted signatures:Oberst Erich Hartmann, Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds, 352 victories. The top-scoring Ace in history.Major Gerhard Barkhorn, Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords, 301 victories. The second highest-scoring Ace in history.Hauptmann Günther Schack, Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, 174 victoriesHauptmann Rudolf Trenkel, Knight’s Cross, 138 victoriesOberleutnant Gerhard Thyben, Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, 157 victoriesLeutnant Fritz Tegtmeier, Knight’s Cross, 146 victories
With almost 2400 victories between the fifteen signatories, this edition uniquely includes the three top Aces of all time - Erich Hartmann, Gerhard Barkhorn and Günther Rall - all together on one historic piece.
* Each print has a small unique original pencil drawing (Remarque) inscribed on it by the Artist Robert Taylor
Published November 2014
Overall Height ca.
61
cm
Image Height ca.
42
cm
Overall Width ca.
82
cm
Image Width ca.
65
cm
