Impressive archive consisting of hundreds of signed and unsigned items related to all aspects of aviation, including vintage signed photos, letters, and actual fragments of early aircraft. Represented within the collection are aviation pioneers and ground breakers, aircraft innovators and industry leaders, military pilots and airmail trailblazers. Originating from the founder of flight himself, the highlight of the lot is doubtlessly a bank check, 8.5 x 3, filled out in another hand and signed by Orville Wright, payable to The Dayton Power & Lights Co. for $8.37, September 22, 1924.
Roscoe Turner is extremely well represented, featuring an outstanding vintage matte-finish 7.75 x 10 photo of Turner hugging a lion, signed and inscribed in fountain, as well as a vintage glossy 5 x 7 photo similarly signed. Other Turner items of the utmost interest are an assortment of fabric swatches and metal pieces attributed to his planes, including one large grouping of fabric from his No. 29 Pesco Special, and a few small swatches of cloth from his 1929 Fleet Model 1 airplane (accompanied by a letter of provenance from previous owner). Additionally, some of his personal effects are included, among them his personalized TWA Ambassador luggage tag, Rosco Turner Flying Club, Inc., rubber ink stamp, and various small nameplates and pins. Other signed items from Turner include an ALS, program, and four signed sheets. His mechanic, Don Young, has also penned an ALS and signed and inscribed an 8 x 10 photo. A large variety of unsigned programs, photos, and other ephemera related to Turner accompany the group.
Particularly notable among the military flyers included are James H. Doolittle and Eddie Rickenbacker. Doolittle appears many times, with 19 signed items, including letters, photos, programs, signatures, and Christmas cards from throughout his life, the earliest from 1935. Also includes signatures from some members of his famous 'Doolittle Raiders.' Rickenbacker items include a vintage glossy 10 x 8 photo of him in a race car, signed and inscribed in fountain pen and dated 1961, signed magazine photo, and six TLSs from between 1960 and 1970. Contained as well are many unsigned photos and ephemera related to the pilots.
Additional items of particular note are Pappy Boyington's signed 1976 Congressional Medal of Honor Society membership card; two vintage photos of Igor Sikorsky, 8 x 10 and 10 x 8, each signed and inscribed and dated 1964; two early 1930s airmail covers signed in fountain pen by Earle Ovington; three ink signatures from Richard E. Byrd; Chinese 100 yuan banknote from 1941 signed by fighter pilots including Tex Hill and Jacob DeShazer; and a poster signed by over 20 WWII Flying Tigers.
Other signed items consist of an assortment of many different formats including photos, letters, covers, and signatures. Signers include: Fred Key, Leroy R. Grumman (3), Harold I. June (2), Fred S. Robillard, Roland W. Richardson, William P. MacCracken, Jr (2), Harold M. Bixby, Leigh Wade, William Benson Mayo, Hughie Brewster, Burr H. Winslow (19), Harry Bruno, Bill Meixner (2), Ed Whitcomb, Jay W. Kelley (2), Harold L. Buell (2),Tom Griffin, Duane Cole, Dick Becker, Cook Cleland, Al Haynes, Jeana Yeager, Edwin Cooper, Gladys Hackbarth, Grover Loening (2), Russ Holderman (3), James Fitzmaurice, Dick Merrill (10), Arch Whitehouse (4), Dana C. de Hart (3), John H. Halliburton (8), Walt Shaffer (2), Billy Parker (4), Ernest Lester Jones, R. W. McClurg (2), John F. Bolt, Dick Rossi, Robert L. Scott, Jr. (4), Robert A. Rushworth, Joseph G. Hoplins (8), H. Roy Waite, George C. Pomeroy (3), William A. Denehie (2), Bob Reeve, Halsey Dunwoody, Herbert O. Fisher, Francis Gary Powers, Jr. (3), LeRoy D. Kiley (2), Rutledge Irvine (2), Douglas Campbell (3), A. L. Cunningham (3), Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., J. H. Kuhl, and Albert S. Burleson.
Balance of the collection consists of unsigned items, including: 1910 International Aviation Tournament program; 1918 Aviation 'Pocket-Book'; cardstock broadside for an appearance by Roscoe Turner; various pamphlets and periodicals; three small wooden pieces of the crate used to transport the Spirit of St. Louis from Paris to the US; many letters on interesting letterhead from various early aircraft companies; a few vintage aviation-themed pinback buttons; over 100 airmail covers; piles of magazine and newspaper clippings ideal for scrapbooking; and an assortment of unrelated vintage press photos.
In overall very good to fine condition. Provenance: Collection of Harry Block, Manion's, 2008. A substantial and very comprehensive collection chronicling the development of flight from its very beginnings up through World War II, this is an outstanding opportunity for any aviation enthusiast. RR Auction COA.
