Description:

THE WRIGHT BROTHERS
A superb and very rare offering, a S.P. signed by both WILBUR WRIGHT and ORVILLE WRIGHT, 6 1/4" x 4" (10" x 8" with mat), taken in 1909 on a trip to France with The Daily Mirror of London, and showing the two brothers with their sister, KATHARINE WRIGHT, in an open field with two cows. Signed "Wilbur Wright", "Orville Wright", and "Katharine Wright" at bottom of the image. With imprint on mat just below the image "Daily Mirror Copyright London", while at the left margin of the image there is a faint vertical text made in the negative that appears to read: "D. M. 21/1/09", indicating Daily Mirror, Jan. 21, 1909. In The Papers of Wilbur and Orville Wright, Volume 2, 1906-1948, Wilbur wrote from Le Mans, France, on Jan. 1, 1909: "...Orville will have started for France, and possibly Kate with him...". The editor then notes that: "...A few days after writing this letter Wilbur Wright moved his headquarters to Pau. Orville Wright and Kate joined him a week or two later". Katharine Wright (1874-1929), was Orville and Wilbur's only sister. The trio was especially close, to the extent that during their childhood, they created a compact in which they would never separate. True to this dictum, Katharine quit her own career as a high school teacher to help Orville recover after a debilitating crash in 1908. The following year, she met her brothers in Pau, France, where she handled business matters and social affairs for the shy, almost retiring, aviators. All three were awarded the Legion of Honor, and to this day Katharine remains one of a few American women to have achieved that honor. Kate remained the business and social manager of the Wright Brothers enterprises until the mid-1920s, when she broke their childhood contract and decided to marry. In a fit of rage, Orville cut all ties with her, returning to her side only when it was clear she would die. Mat bears a diagonal crack across the bottom right corner, clear of the photograph, which is in very good to fine condition, with strong, clear signatures. While photos signed by both Wright Brothers are rare, those additionally signed by their sister Katharine are almost non-existent. A fine early aviation piece.

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May 14, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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