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Wilbur and Orville Wright were the first people to successfully craft a functioning airplane. Their interest in aviation is said to have been sparked by a rubber band-powered toy helicopter from their childhood. They began experimenting with building their own gliders in 1900. After experimenting with a series of gliders between 1900 and 1902 they built their first gasoline powered plane, the celebrated Wright Flyer in 1903.
We recently sold some lots with Orville and Wilbur Wright signed checks and flown fabric from the Wright Flyer. Please see details below:
Wilbur & Orville Wright Checks Signed, Displayed with a Wright Flyer Fabric Swatch & 20″ x 16″ Photograph of the First Flight — Encapsulated by PSA/DNA & CAG
Extraordinary display of the Wright Flyer, the first human powered airplane which made its debut flight at Kitty Hawk on 17 December 1903, famously giving wings to mankind. Titled “First Flight”, display comprises a swatch of the Flyer, matted with checks signed by both Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright, all underneath a 20″ x 16″ photograph of the event. Entire display measures 25.5″ x 36″.
First check is signed by Wilbur Wright, who passed away in 1912, making his autograph quite rare. Composed entirely in his hand, Wright signs “Wright Brothers”, dates the check 4 November 1909 and handwrites the payee of Reed & Barnett for $100. Check measures 6.25″ x 2.75″, encapsulated by PSA/DNA to a size of 9.5″ x 4.5″. Block of toning and bank cancellation hole over the word Brothers, else near fine. Second check is elegantly signed “Orville Wright”, addressed in another hand to Carrie Grumbach on 13 July 1929 for $239.54. Check measures 9″ x 3.2125″, encapsulated by PSA/DNA to a size of 12.25″ x 5.625″. Small bank cancellation holes, not affecting signature. Very good plus condition. Display is completed with a fabric swatch from the Wright Flyer, measuring approximately .75″ x .625″ and encapsulated by CAG to a size of 2.25″ x 3.375″.
Entire archival mat measures 25.5″ x 36″ with display card reading “First Flight / December 17, 1903 / Original signatures of Wilbur and Orville Wright with a swatch of fabric from the Wright Flyer, flown at Kitty Hawk on that historic day.” Near fine condition. Sold for $11,550.
Wright Brothers Kitty Hawk Display — Sold for $10,500.
Here are some additional Orville and Wilbur Wright items we sold:
Wilbur Wright Over-sized 12″ x 16″ Signed Historical & Vintage Photograph of a Very Early Wright Brothers Airplane with Wilbur Standing By — Possibly the Best Wilbur Wright Signed Item Extant
Very large 12″ x 16″ photo of Wilbur Wright with six other men, preparing his plane in France during August 1908 in an attempt to mute French critics who had portrayed the Wright Brothers as bluffers. His first flight lasted only one minute 45 seconds, but his ability to effortlessly make banking turns and fly a circle amazed and stunned onlookers, including several pioneer French aviators, among them Louis Bleriot. In the following days, Wilbur made a series of technically challenging flights, including figure-eights, demonstrating his skills as a pilot and the capability of his flying machine, which far surpassed those of all other pilot pioneers. The French public was thrilled by Wilbur’s feats and flocked to the field by the thousands. The Wright brothers catapulted to world fame overnight. Former doubters issued apologies and effusive praise. “L’arophile” editor Georges Besanaon wrote that the flights “have completely dissipated all doubts. Not one of the former detractors of the Wrights dare question, today, the previous experiments of the men who were truly the first to fly….” Leading French aviation promoter Ernest Archdeacon wrote, “For a long time, the Wright brothers have been accused in Europe of bluff… They are today hallowed in France, and I feel an intense pleasure…to make amends.” The signed photo features a huge bold 3 1/2″ signature. Excellent condition but for one light scratch below the lower wing. Exhibited at “Orville and Wilbur – The Wright Brothers Legacy”, Dayton Art Institute 2003 and Virginia Air & Space Center 2003. The last Wilbur Wright signed photo, an 8″ x 10″ signed portrait, not a fantastic aviation over-sized image displaying an early Wright Brothers flyer documenting the pioneering days of flying history, sold in June 2010 for $27,500 and that amount might not include the buyer’s premium. Sold for $36,000.
Fabric from the Wright Flyer, the first airplane which made its debut flight at Kitty Hawk on 17 December 1903, famously giving wings to mankind. Fabric measures 1.25” square, encapsulated by CAG, who certifies that the fabric was taken from the wings of the Wright Flyer flown at Kitty Hawk. When the Flyer was prepared for public exhibition, Orville Wright discovered that the fabric on parts of the plane could not be used, and substituted new fabric. The original fabric was then bequeathed to Lester Gardner, Editor of Aviation and Aeronautical Engineering, and close friend of Orville Wright, who gave the fabric to individuals in the aeronautical community, including Otto Kallir, from whom this fabric originates. Casement by CAG measures 2.375″ x 3.375″. A rare memento from the first flight, famously launching the century of aviation and space travel. Sold for $19,425.
Signed photo by Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright, President Taft and a handful of others during the Wrights’ visit to the White House on 10 June 1909 to receive medals from the Aero Club of America. At this time, the Wright Brothers and their sister Katharine were among the most sought after celebrities in the world, having just completed very successful exhibition flights in Europe and the United States, as required by the U.S. Army with whom they signed a contract to build a ”flying machine”. Until this time, skeptics were reluctant to believe that the Wright Brothers were able to successfully pilot an airplane, but the Wrights’ fluency in the air caused doubters to not only reverse their criticism, but issue public apologies and lavish praise upon the aviators. At the end of 1908, their influence was so widespread that they even changed women’s fashion, with the hobble skirt (narrowed at the ankles so as not to flare up during flight) becoming mainstream shortly after the flights. Silver gelatin 9.25” x 7” matte photograph is by Harris & Ewing, mounted to a visible size of 11.75” x 8.5” upon which the individuals sign their names: ”Wilbur Wright”, ”Orville Wright”, ”Wm H Taft”, ”Katharine Wright”, aviator ”A. Holland Forbes”, aviator ”Alan R. Hawley”, automotive pioneer ”Chas Jerome Edwards”, Assistant Secretary of War ”Robert Shaw Oliver” and three others. Matted to a size of 16.25” x 14.25”. Some paper loss to left side of mat, closed tear to right side, and crack starting along bottom. Light sheen has been applied to mount, likely from previous restoration to repair cracks. Some dampstainig to lower edge. Overall in good condition with very bold and clear signatures. Sold for $15,000.
Very historic and important U.S. Patent Office document signed by Orville Wright on 25 October 1916, releasing five patents including the notorious #821,393. Originally approved as a patent in May 1906, #821,393 allowed the Wright Brothers to dominate the U.S. and world aviation industry for ten years, as this patent was the only one allowing humans to control movement of an aircraft in flight. It allowed for the control of the important 3 axes of flight: the airplane’s pitch, roll and yaw; without such control, an airplane could not safely be flown. The Wright Brothers so focused on controlling the use of this patent, in fact, that they failed to technologically innovate in other ways, allowing for Europe to surpass the U.S. in aviation prowess just before the outbreak of World War I. The expensive royalties to license the technology protected by this patent also stunted the production of American aircraft before WWI, causing the federal government in 1917 under President Wilson to step in and force plane manufacturers to share patents so that America could ready itself for WWI. This action by the federal government effectively ended the decade long ”patent war” surrounding #821,393. Lot includes the document dated 25 October 1916, signed by Orville Wright and his brother Lorin Wright (Wilbur had died in 1912), releasing the five patents, since payment had been completed on them. A group of New York investors led by William Boyce Thompson had bought the patents, not knowing that they’d be stymied from collecting royalties on them come 1917. Document reads in part, ”I, ORVILLE WRIGHT, of the City of Dayton, State of Ohio, do hereby certify that a certain mortgage…made and executed by The Wright Company…covering the following described United States letters patent: No. 821,393, dated May 22nd, 1906, for improvements in flying machines…is paid. And I do hereby consent that the same be discharged of record…” Attached to the document is a notarized slip from Montgomery County, Ohio, and also a U.S. Patent Office slip with seal, dated 28 October 1916, confirming the patent transfer. Single page document measures 8.5” x 14”. Half inch tear to right edge, folds, pinholes at top left and some chipping to edges of blue paper, to which document is attached. Overall in very good plus condition, with a large and prominent signature by Orville Wright, perfect for display. An extremely rare document in early 20th century aviation history, and one of the few important Wright Brothers documents in private hands. Sold for $15,000.
Wilbur Wright Postcard Signed From December 1908 During Their Very Successful Exhibition Flights in Europe
Wilbur Wright signed French postcard captioned “La Conquete de L’air” (“Conquest of the Air”), cleverly signed “Wilbur Wright.” on the roof of the barn underneath the plane. At the time of this photo in December 1908, the Wright brothers were conducting exhibition flights throughout Europe that made them worldwide celebrities. Collotype photographic postcard shows Wilbur Wright piloting the plane in Le Mans, France. Measures 5.5″ x 3.5″. Small bit of tape at top edge, otherwise near fine condition. Sold for $13,650.
Exceptional Orville Wright typed letter signed, dated 24 March 1928 on his personal stationery. Addressed to Senator Hiram Bingham, Wright defends his and Wilbur’s reputation as inventors of the ”first flying machine” and attacks the Smithsonian for trying to discredit them. Page one of the letter reads: ”The important point at issue is as to who was the inventor of the first successful flying machine. The Smithsonian for the past seventeen years has kept up a constant propaganda to take the credit for this away from my brother and myself. It has done this partly through some actually false statements and partly through statements so cunningly worded as to give a false impression without actually being false in themselves. This last resolution is a fair sample. It certainly can not be considered ingenuous….Such practice as this is beneath the dignity of a scientific institution, such as the Smithsonian purports to be, and such conduct on the part of an institution administering government bureaus with government funds certainly needs investigation by the Government…” Wright then ends his letter on page 2 by writing: ”A good many people do not seem to grasp the difference between the first man-carrying flying machine and the first man-carrying machine to fly. There may be a big difference. Our pride was in producing the first man-carrying flying machine rather than in producing the first man flight. Wilbur and I did not take nearly so much pride in the fact that we were the first to fly as we did in the fact that we were the first to have the scientific data from which a flying machine could be built…I believe there was no one else in the world at that time beside Wilbur and myself that had the scientific data for building a machine that would fly.” Wright’s letter runs 2pp. on 2 separate sheets, signed ”Orville Wright” in striking black ink. Included is a 2pp. joint resolution spanning 20 lines on card-style paper. Dated 29 February 1928, the resolution reads: ”the President of the United States be, and is hereby, authorized and directed to appoint a commission of five distinguished citizens of the United States to whom Orville Wright, and all other persons in any way interested, shall be publicly invited to present evidence as to which was the first successful heavier-than-air flying machine.” Letter pages measures 7.25” x 10.5”. Resolution measures 15” x 11”. Folds in letter pages, small pencil note on first page and staple holes, otherwise near fine condition. Sold for $12,963.
Fabric Swatch From the First Airplane, the Wright Flyer
Fabric from the first airplane, the Wright Flyer, which made its debut flight at Kitty Hawk on 17 December 1903. Fabric measures 1.5” square, affixed to a certificate signed by Lester D. Gardner, Editor of Aviation and Aeronautical Engineering, and close friend of Orville Wright. Certificate to Gordon P. Olley, a World War I flying ace, reads in part, ”…Orville Wright…had preserved some of the original coverings of the wing and [his executors] entrusted several pieces of this most valuable relic to me for distribution to notable aeronautical friends. I certify that this piece was used in the first successful flight in history by Orville Wright on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, N.C. [signed] Lester D. Gardner”. Certificate measures 8” x 10”, handsomely framed in gold and black to 12.25” x 15.25”. Uniform toning to certificate, else near fine condition. Sold for $12,500.
Orville Wright Signed “First Flight” Photo — Large Uninscribed Photo Measures 7″ x 4.875″ on Custom Period Mat Measuring 11″ x 9″
Gorgeous silver gelatin photograph with an uninscribed signature by Orville Wright in fountain pen at lower left on the photographic border, “Orville Wright”, showing the Wright Flyer in motion, capturing man’s first sustained flight on 17 December 1903. Orville Wright is shown flying the plane, with his brother Wilbur alongside, having just released his hand from the plane to steady it upon take-off, the entire event captured for both evidence and posterity by photographer John T. Daniels. Sold for $11,025.
Wilbur Wright Wrote an Article Around 1900 That Went Into Depth About the Obstacles to There Ever Being a Flight or an Airplane. This 1902 Wilbur Wright Typed Letter Signed Is Only About This Exact Historic Article. A Wonderful Wright Brothers Letter Tied into the 1st Flight by the Rare Wright Brother
Typed letter signed, one page, 8.5″ x 11″, Wright Cycle Company letterhead, March 3, 1902. Letter to Edmund Doyle in San Francisco. In full: “The December number of the Journal of the Western Society of Engineers may be obtained of the secretary, Mr. J. H. Warder, Monadnock Building, Chicago, Ill. The price of single numbers is fifty cents each.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds, a vertical and horizontal fold through signature, small and very light stain over beginning letters of signature, small tear to top edge, light mirroring of type to bottom portion of page, and several small holes to page, none affecting signature or text. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, missing part of the front panel. Pre-dating their historic first flight by more than a year, this letter references a lengthy piece that appeared in the aforementioned publication. In that piece, entitled “Some Aeronautical Experiments,” Wright discussed some of “the difficulties which obstruct the pathway to success in flying-machine construction,” giving detailed engineering insight into the topic that he admits to being “very simple in theory.” In that article, he goes through great pains to discuss an unmanned flight in 1900 at Kitty Hawk, a test run that would lead to a date with history. It’s no small wonder then that someone like Mr. Doyle, and presumably countless others, would want to read more about his experiments. With PSA/DNA COA. Sold for $10,745.
Fabric from the Wright Flyer, the first airplane which made its debut flight at Kitty Hawk on 17 December 1903, famously giving wings to mankind. Fabric measures 1.25” square, encapsulated by CAG, who certifies that the fabric was taken from the wings of the Wright Flyer flown at Kitty Hawk. When the Flyer was prepared for public exhibition, Orville Wright discovered that the fabric on parts of the plane could not be used, and substituted new fabric. The original fabric was then bequeathed to Lester Gardner, Editor of Aviation and Aeronautical Engineering, and close friend of Orville Wright, who gave the fabric to individuals in the aeronautical community, including Otto Kallir, from whom this fabric originates. Casement by CAG measures 2.375″ x 3.375″. A rare memento from the first flight, famously launching the century of aviation and space travel. Sold for $10,000.
Wilbur Wright Letter Signed From 1912 in Which He, “In the Interest of Good Sport” Allows Patent Infringing “Aeroplanes” to Participate in World Famous Race
Wilbur Wright typed letter signed on The Wright Company letterhead, dated 3 February 1912, just months before his early death from typhoid fever. Written to Robert J. Collier, President of the Aero Club of America, Wright temporarily waives his right for litigation against participants in the popular Gordon Bennett Cup. Letter reads in part, “…In the interest of good sport the Wright Company will permit representatives of foreign nations to participate in the 1912 race for the Gordon Bennett Cup, regardless of any question as to to whether their aeroplanes do or do not infringe patents owned by this company…[signed] Wilbur Wright”. At this time, The Wright Company was vigorously defending its innovations in human flight through patents, especially against foreign imitations. Single page measures 8.25″ x 11″. Piece of pink paper affixed to upper left. Closed tear on right side repaired with archival tape on verso. Overall in very good condition with an elegant signature by Wilbur Wright. In very good to near fine condition. Sold for $9,500.
Incredible collection of aviation documents, letters, telegrams, photos and patents owned by aircraft manufacturer Grover Loening, one of the first aeronautical engineers, and the second manager of the Wright Company. Archive includes a letter signed by Orville Wright concerning the famous dispute between him and the Smithsonian, as well as a letter signed by John F. Kennedy as Senator. Numerous photos of the earliest days of flight with the Wright family are also included, as is Loening’s signed Pilot’s License (he was taught to fly by Orville Wright), and copies of early patents filed by the Wright Company, along with dozens of documents from Loening’s storied career.
Several letters in the collection from 1925 concern the famous dispute between Orville Wright and the Smithsonian Museum, arising from the Museum’s reluctance to credit the Wright Flyer as the first flying machine. One of the first Secretaries of the Smithsonian, Samuel Langley, believed that he built the first plane capable of human flight, even though his plane failed several times to launch. In an almost comical series of letters between Wright, Loening, Charles Manly (representing the Langley estate), and Charles Walcott of the Smithsonian, proposals are made to restore the Langley machine — with Orville Wright fronting half the bill — to settle the question once and for all, a challenge which Wright politely declines. Other correspondence goes into great detail as to the language of the display should Wright donate the Flyer to the Smithsonian, as well as the reasons that Wright believed Langley’s plane was flawed. In one letter, Wright excoriates the Museum for failing to provide a secure environment for its valuable objects.
Lot also includes a letter likely autopen signed by Richard Nixon as President on White House stationery, dated 5 November 1969, in which Nixon accepts Loening’s resignation as a Member of the Board of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
Loening’s signed Pilot’s License is also included, dated 30 June 1935, accompanied by a letter from the Department of Air Commerce stating that Loening’s aeronautical experience compensates for his ”physical defect” of poor eyesight. Other items include many vintage photos of Loening as a young man with the Wright family and planes in flight. Numerous early aviation patents are included, several from the Wright Co., as well as dozens of documents related to Loening’s long and impressive aeronautical career. Most items are in very good condition. An outstanding collection. With University Archives COA for the John F. Kennedy letter signed. Sold for $8,250.
Fascinating letter signed by Orville Wright, defending the Wright brothers’ legacy as the inventors of human flight. Dated 28 February 1928 on his personal letterhead, Orville Wright here writes to Senator Hiram Bingham III, a pilot who wanted to construct a memorial for the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk. Wright objects to the Kitty Hawk location, believing instead that he needs to reach ”the university man; the man who writes history”, rather than the ”tourist”, since the Smithsonian Institution was, according to Wright, waging a campaign of disinformation at the time. The Smithsonian had previously been headed by Samuel Langley, an aviation pioneer who fancied himself the inventor of human flight with his ”Langley Aerodrome”, and Orville Wright believed that the Smithsonian was using its influence to further Langley’s reputation at the expense of the Wright brothers. Two page letter on two sheets measures 7.25” x 10.5”. Folds, else near fine condition. Sold for $7,500.
Outstanding Orville Wright typed letter signed, with important content on the invention of the airplane. Wright reflects on why the Wright Brothers’ 1908 flights caught the public imagination more than their 1903 flights, credits the men who inspired them during the early days, and corrects the record about what scientific research they used — debunking the ”myth” that it was the work of their nemesis Samuel Langley. Dated 17 June 1926 on his personal letterhead, Orville Wright here writes to journalist Mark Sullivan for Sullivan’s 6-volume compendium ”Our Times: The United States, 1900-1925”, for which an excerpt of this letter was published in the second volume, ”America Finding Herself”, published in 1927. Three page letter on three sheets measures 7.25” x 10.5”. Folds, small bit of foxing, and rust from paperclip impressions. Overall very good condition. A fascinating letter giving historians Orville Wright’s reflections on the early days of human flight. Sold for $7,500.
Large 1.75” Square Fabric Swatch From the First Airplane, the Wright Flyer
Fabric from the first airplane, the Wright Flyer, which made its debut flight at Kitty Hawk on 17 December 1903. Large swatch of fabric measures 1.75” square, affixed to a certificate signed by Ivonette Wright Miller, niece of Orville and Wilbur Wright and co-executor of the Orville Wright estate. She was also the third American woman to fly in an airplane, and instrumental in bringing the Wright Flyer to the Smithsonian. Certificate to Bill Cullen reads in part, ”When Orville Wright prepared the Kitty Hawk machine for public exhibition, the original fabric had to be replaced as it had been under water during the Dayton Flood of 1913…After his death we found that he had preserved some of the original coverings of the wings. We certify that this piece of fabric was used by Orville Wright on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, N.C. in the world’s first heavier-than-air flight in which man made free, controlled, and sustained flight. [signed] Ivonette Wright Miller”. The recipient Bill Cullen was a famous 20th century radio and TV personality and also a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot during WWII; his photo accompanies the lot. Certificate measures 8” x 10”. Apart from some discoloration to fabric, presentation is near fine. Accompanied by an LOA from the family of Bill Cullen. Sold for $7,500.
Wilbur Wright Autograph Postcard, dated 6 October 1908 from Camp d’Auvours in France
Signed clearly “Wilbur Wright” just five years after the brothers’ famed flight in 1903, the postcard is originally from British sculptor Theodore Spicer-Simson to his wife and includes small notes in Spicer-Simson’s hand. Verso of postcard depicts Wilbur Wright standing with Hart O. Berg, whose wife flew with Wilbur in September of 1908 as the first female American passenger on an airplane. Sold for $6,500.
Orville Wright Signed Postcard of the Famous Flight at Kitty Hawk
Postcard signed ”Orville Wright” on the lower left. Postcard bears the iconic image of the first flight on 17 December 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. With Orville Wright’s original mailing envelope postmarked from Dayton, Ohio on 14 March 1930. Postcard measures 6.25” x 4.5”. Toning, small tear to bottom edge, abrasion to top edge and adhesive remnants to verso. Overall very good plus condition, with a very strong signature by Orville Wright. Sold for $3,781.
Orville Wright photo card hand-signed, ”Orville Wright”. Signature appears below the famous biplane as it makes its historic first flight with Orville on-board and Wilbur running beside on the ground. Image is captioned, ”First Man-Flight, December 17, 1903 / Kitty Hawk, N.C.” Paper card measures 6.25” x 4.25”. Minor toning, else fine condition. Sold for $3,750.
FREE VALUATION. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Orville & Wilbur Wright signed checks and flown fabric that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
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