Impressive original vintage photograph collection related to Louis Paulhan (1883-1963), one of the most well-known French pilots in America, who won the 1910 Los Angeles Air Meet when he set a world altitude record at 1209 meters. The collection comprises a signed menu, unsigned menu, 27 smaller photos, two rare oversized photos, and a print:
A highlight of the collection is a pair of two photos of Louis Paulhan at the time of his April 28, 1910 flight from London to Manchester on a Farman biplane, for which he won a £10,000 prize. Includes a menu for a Daily Mail lunch honoring Paulhan's achievement, signed on the front cover in pencil by Paulhan, as well as an unsigned menu for an Aero Club de France banquet honoring Paulhan.
Other subjects of the smaller photographs, ranging in size from 5.75 x 4.5 to 7 x 8.25, include:
- A Louis Paulhan portrait.
- Paulhan on a Voisin biplane in 1908 (2 photos).
- Paulhan on a Farman biplane, with Farman by his side.
- Paulhan on a Voisin biplane at the Reims International Air Meet in August 1909 (6 photos).
- Paulhan on a Voisin biplane at the Paris Air Meet in October 1909 (7 photos).
- The Paulhan factory in 1910.
- Paulhan's biplane flying at St. Cyr (2 photos).
- Louis Paulhan's booth at the 1910 Paris Air Show (2 photos).
- Louis Paulhan's booth at the 1911 Paris Air Show (3 photos).
Subjects of the oversized photographs include:
- Paulhan on a Voisin biplane at the Reims International Air Meet in August 1909, on a 15 x 11.75 mount.
- Paulhan on a Farman biplane at the Blackpool Air Meet in October 1909, on a 15 x 11.75 mount.
The 11.25 x 16.75 print reproduces a photograph by Maurice Branger of Paulhan flying above the Orge River during the 1909 Paris Air Meet. In overall very good to fine condition, with chips and cracks to the edges of the mounts of the oversized photos.
