This authoritative history of the Zeppelin covers the entire course of the airship’s development “extensively illustrated with . . . photographs and drawings” (Toy Soldier & Model Figure).

Named after the German Count Ferdinand Von Zeppelin, an early pioneer of rigid airship development, the Zeppelin was first flown commercially by Deutsch Luftschiffahrts (DELAG), the world's first airline in revenue service. By mid–1914, DELAG had carried over 10,000 fare-paying passengers on over 1500 flights. When war hit, it was employed to military advantage, wreaking carnage upon Britain's towns and cities.

German defeat in 1918 temporarily halted the airship business. Though it bounced back with the construction of the Graf Zeppelin in the thirties, a series of accidents signaled the demise of the Zeppelin. Following the Hindenburg disaster of 1937, and in the midst of numerous political and economic issues, the Zeppelin was soon to be consigned to the history books. This new publication explores each facet of its history, and concludes by assessing the legacy of rigid airship development, still felt to this day.