History In Ink®  Historical Autographs


1609842

Orville Wright

Nice signature of the co-inventor of the airplane

Orville Wright, 1871–1948.  Co-inventor of the airplane.  Signature, Orville Wright, on a 3" x 5" card.  With original collectorʼs envelope mailed by Wright.

Wright and his older brother Wilbur changed the course of history when they successfully flew the first controlled, powered, heavier-than-air flying machine at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903.  Bicycle manufacturers and retailers by trade, the Wright Brothers developed the method of three-axis control that allows the pilot to control a fixed-wing aircraft.  With Orville at the controls, the brothers successfully flew their Wright Flyer I, made of spruce and muslin with wooden propellers and a gasoline engine, for 12 seconds, covering a distance of 120 feet across the ground at a speed of 6.8 miles per hour.  They flew three more flights that day, taking turns at the controls, before the plane struck the ground in a strong, freezing headwind, suffering slight damage, after 59 seconds in the air.

This signature dates from November 1933.  Wright signed it for a collector and returned it in his self-addressed envelope.  The envelope, which is postmarked at Dayton, Ohio, on November 20, 1933, accompanies this signature.

The card is a lined index card.  Wright has signed in ink on the unlined side.  The piece has cellophane tape at the corners, not affecting the signature, and is toned from prior matting.  The accompanying envelope, self addressed by the collector, has a pencil notation in another hand identifying Wright in return address space.  It also has tape at the corners and is opened at the top with some paper loss.  Overall the envelope is in good to fine condition, and the signature is fine. 

This signature from the early days of aviation is perfect for reframing with a portrait of Wright or the iconic photograph of his famous 1903 flight.

Unframed.    Please ask us about custom framing this piece.

This item has been sold.

Click here to see more American History autographs.

.

 

 

home  |  presidents  |  supreme court  |  american history  |  world history  |  contact us

     

© History In Ink, L.L.C.

           

 

 

 Registered Dealer # RD281