Vintage matte-finish 5.5 x 3.75 cardstock photo of the first flight of the Wright Flyer near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903, signed nicely at the bottom in fountain pen by Orville Wright. In fine condition. Encapsulated and graded by PSA/DNA as “NM-MT 8.”
Orville Wright, age 32, is seen at the controls of the machine, lying prone on the lower wing with hips in the cradle, which operated the wing-warping mechanism. His brother, Wilbur Wright, age 36, ran alongside to help balance the machine, with this image showing him having just released his hold on the forward upright of the right wing. The starting rail, the wing-rest, a coil box, and other items needed for flight preparation are visible behind the machine. The historic photo shoot was organized by Orville Wright, who preset the camera and had John T. Daniels, a member of the U.S. Life-Saving Station in Kill Devil Hills, squeeze the rubber bulb and trigger the shutter.
