Sell a Wilbur Wright Autograph — Free Appraisal & Auction Estimates

To auction, sell or consign your Wilbur Wright autograph, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (NateDSanders.com).

Wilbur Wright Autographs Are In Demand

Wilbur Wright autographs are scarce and highly sought after by aviation collectors. Whether you have a signed letter (ALS = Autograph Letter Signed; TLS = Typed Letter Signed), photo, or document, our specialists can provide a free valuation and guide you through selling at auction. Below are past results, what impacts value, and how to get a fast appraisal.

Some Wilbur Wright Autographs Sales:

Signed Photo Early Wright Brothers Plane — Sold for $36,000

Several years after the Wright Brothers’ historic flight at Kitty Hawk, several skeptics voiced their opinions and called them “bluffers” as they hadn’t performed any public flights. To silence the critics, Wilbur and Orville flew publicly in August of 1908 in Le Mans, France and thoroughly impressed the French public. These flights resulted in the Wright Brothers catapulting to fame overnight and several critics issuing apologies. We realized $36,000 for a Wilbur Wright signed photo taken in France during this trip that captures Wilbur, a very early Wright Brothers airplane and six other men. Vintage photo measures 12 x 16 inches.

Wright Flyer Fabric Swatch — Sold for $19,425

We realized $19,425 for a swatch of fabric taken from the original Wright Flyer flown during the Wright Brothers’ First Flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903. While the Flyer was being prepared for exhibition, Orville Wright learned that some fabric could not be used and substituted some new fabric in place of the original. This original fabric was passed to his friend Lester Gardner, Editor of Aviation and Aeronautical Engineering, who then gave it to people in the aeronautical community. This specific swatch of fabric comes from aeronautical engineer, Otto Kallir. CAG encapsulation measures 2.375 x 3.375 inches.

Signed Postcard — Sold for $13,650

We realized $13,650 for a Wilbur Wright signed postcard featuring a 1908 photo captured during their exhibition flights in Europe. Black and white photo is captioned “La Conquete de L’air” (“Conquest of the Air”) and depicts a Wright Brothers airplane flying above a barn. Postcard measures 5.5 x 3.5 inches and is cleverly signed “Wilbur Wright” on the roof of barn.

Typed Letter Signed From 1902 — Sold for $10,745

We realized $10,745 for a Wilbur Wright signed letter dated 3 March 1902 to an Edmund Doyle in San Francisco. Wilbur instructs recipient how to obtain a 1900 issue of The Journal of the Western Society of Engineers that published an article by Wilbur. The article, titled “Some Aeronautical Experiments”, goes into detail about the Wright Brothers unpiloted flight in 1900 at Kitty Hawk that would lead to their historic first flight in 1903. Single page typed letter is on Wright Cycle Company letterhead and measures 8.5 x 11 inches.

Postcard Signed From Exhibition Flights in Europe — Sold for $9,725

We realized $9,725 for a Wilbur Wright signed postcard dated 8 November 1908. At this time the Wright Brothers were leading their public demonstrations in Europe to silence the naysayers who claimed they were bluffing. Postcard measures 5.5 x 3.5 inches and features Wilbur Wright with Hart O. Berg, the European business agent for the Wright brothers.

Wilbur Wright Letter Signed From 1912 — Sold for $9,500

The Gordon Bennett Cup was a popular international speed race for aeroplanes that took place on a closed-circuit course. It only ran between 1909 through 1913, but popularized air racing and encouraged engine innovation despite its short-lived nature. We sold a Wilbur Wright signed letter written to the President of the Aero Club of America that temporarily waives his right for litigation against participants in the popular Gordon Bennett Cup. Single page letter is dated 3 February 1912 and sold for $9,500.

Signed Postcard From December 1908 — $8,709

We sold a Wilbur Wright signed postcard from the Wright brothers’ European exhibition flights in 1908 for $8,709. Postcard is captioned “La Conquete de L’air” (“Conquest of the Air”) and features Wilbur preparing for a flight in Le Mans, France. Autograph is in top left corner and is dated 8 December 1908.

Postcard Signed From December 1908 — Sold for $7,135

We sold a Wilbur Wright signed and dated 8 December 1908 French postcard captioned “L’Aviation en 1908” for $7,135. The postcard was signed during the Wright Brothers European exhibition flights that made them worldwide celebrities and muted skeptics. Postcard measures 5.5 by 3.5 inches features a Wright Flyer midair in Le Mans, France.

Signed Letter to The Independent — Sold for $6,850

The Independent was a weekly periodical that published the article “Experiments of a Flying Man” in 1904, shortly after the Wright Brothers first flight, and falsely credited Wilbur Wright as the author. Wilbur Wright wrote to the magazine accusing them of plagiarizing speeches he and Orville gave as well as fabricating other parts of the article. The two page letter on Wright Cycle Company letterhead is dated 20 February 1904 and sold for $6,850.

Orville Wright Letter Signed — Sold for $7,500

We realized $7,500 for an Orville Wright typed letter signed written to journalist Mark Sullivan for Sullivan’s 6-volume compendium “Our Times: The United States, 1900-1925”. Three page letter dated 17 June 1926 reflects on the Wright Brothers’ 1908 flights compared to their first flights in 1903, credits those who inspired them in the early days and discusses what scientific research they used. Page three is signed “Orville Wright”.

Thank you for viewing some of our Wilbur Wright autograph items! Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. Our monthly auctions can be viewed at natedsanders.com.

FAQs

How do I consign or sell my Wilbur Wright autograph?
It’s never been easier to sell your Wilbur Wright autograph at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Email a description and photos of your item to [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can with a free appraisal.

This sounds great and I’d like to move forward. What’s the consignment process like at Nate D. Sanders Auctions?
We’ll send you more information about our auction house along with an agreement to review. Your item will appear in our next auction. Unlike many auction houses, we hold monthly auctions and pay you within an industry-leading 45 days following the auction.

What factors determine the value of a Wilbur Wright autograph?
The value of your item can vary based on format, condition, provenance and content.