October Legends and Americana Ending November 14th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2015
Hand-colored Lithograph Signed “Orville Wright," image 12” x 16” (visible) matted with a 1” x .75” piece of fabric from the Kitty Hawk Wright Flyer, two turnbuckles used on the Curtiss “Jenny” and the DeHavilland DH-4, and a 7.5” x 2.25” descriptive engraved metallic plate. Exquisitely framed to 22" x 30.5". Visibly fine condition. Artwork by Frank Lemon, this lithograph was published by the Wright Aeronautical Corporation for a corporate Christmas gift in 1928, in a set of seven prints titled “Unforgettable Exploits of the Air.” When given as corporate Christmas gifts, each was numbered one of 500 issued, and was not signed by the pilot honored which makes this unnumbered hand-colored lithograph exceptionally rare and desirable because it was signed by Orville Wright.
Provenance includes certification of the Kitty Hawk Wright Flyer fabric from Harvey D. Geyer, a close friend, associate, and employee of the Wright Brothers from 1910, who was appointed the technical advisor of the Wright Estate after Orville’s death in 1948. His Estate included some of the original coverings of the wings which had been removed when he had prepared the Kitty Hawk Flyer for public exhibition in London in 1928. The two turnbuckles from the Curtis “Jenny” and DeHavilland DH-4 were presented to Louis P. Christman who, under the direction of Col. Edward Deeds, U.S. Chief of Aircraft Production in World War I, began the restoration of the 1905 Wright Flyer in 1947. Orville Wright worked closely with Christman in the project. Col. Deeds gave Christman these two turnbuckles, among other items, for his work in restoring the 1905 Wright Flyer and are from the Family of Louis P. Christman. Comes with letter of authenticity from University Archives.