Printed 5.5 x 3.5 French postcard photo depicting Wright’s plane at Camp d’Auvours, France, signed in fountain pen “18 December 1908, Wilbur Wright.” Wilbur was no stranger to Camp d’Auvours, an artillery testing grounds near Le Mans, having made a number of pioneering flights there. On December 18, 1908, the day he signed this photo, Wright flew his plane to an altitude of 115 meters (approximately 360 feet)—a new altitude record. A few weeks later, on December 31, he won the Michelin Prize of 20,000 francs for the longest flight of the year, which departed from Camp d’Auvours and lasted 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 53 seconds. At the time Wilbur signed, Orville was still recovering from the disastrous crash at Fort Myer, Virginia, on September 17, which had resulted in the death of his passenger, Lt. Thomas Selfridge—the first airplane fatality. Small corner crease at lower right (not touching signature) and a hint of subtle soiling and edge wear, otherwise fine condition. A rare and supremely significant relic from the infancy of aviation! Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
