Vintage matte-finish 5.5 x 3.5 postcard photo, depicting the Wright Brothers and several others at the Hippodrome des Nunaudieres, Le Mans, France, dated on the reverse in an unknown hand March 21, 1909, and signed in fountain pen on the image “Wilbur Wright” and “Orville Wright.” On December 31, 1908, Wilbur won the Michelin Prize of 20,000 francs for the longest flight of the year, which departed from Camp d’Auvours, near Le Mans, and lasted 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 53 seconds. In the following month, Orville and sister Katherine Wright joined Wilbur in Paris. During the next several months, the Wrights traveled through France and Italy making demonstration flights and training pilots. En route from Pau, France to Rome in March, the Wrights stopped in Le Mans so that Orville and Katherine could meet a friend of Wilbur’s, inventor and automobile manufacturer Léon Bollée (1870–1913). The image shows, from left to right, Wilbur, Orville, Bollée, Katherine, and several acquaintances, all dressed for cold weather and standing on some rather soggy ground; Wilbur holds a furled umbrella in his right hand. Light corner crease to sky at upper left, a hint of subtle soiling, and moderate contrast to signatures (which are still clear and dark) against the grassy background, otherwise fine condition. A rare and remarkable treasure from these foremost giants in the history of aviation! Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
