WILBUR WRIGHT AT LE MANS SIGNED, ALSO ORVILLE WRIGHT SIGNED PROGRAM AN CHARLES De LAMBERT SIGNED

Wonderful vintage 5.5 x 3.5 French postcard of Wright taking off in his Wright 1907 Model Flyer at the Camp d'Auvours artillery field near Le Mans, France, on September 21, 1908, signed in the upper left in fountain pen, "8 December 1908, Wilbur Wright." In very good to fine condition, with surface loss to the top center, just touching the handwriting.

In the course of delivering his Wright Flyer to a French syndicate, Wilbur Wright traveled to Le Mans to perform a series of flights that would prove his plane's capabilities. On September 16, 1908, he set a new world record for distance and duration, flying 15.2 miles in 39 minutes. Later that day he marked another first when he flew his first passenger, French balloonist Ernest Zens. On the date of this image, he set a world endurance record of one hour and 31 minutes and 25 seconds over an estimated distance of 41 miles, a flight which won the Aero Club of France prize.

With the Wilbur Wright Signed postcard is an additional group of 3 items from the 1909 'Grand Quinzaine d'Aviation de Paris,' at which French aviator Charles de Lambert took virtually all prizes. Triumphant and flouting the law, on October 18th, he flew over the city of Paris and circled the Eiffel Tower—the first time any aircraft had done so. Rounding the Eiffel Tower, he headed back to the aerodrome at Juvisy-sur-Orge. His feat was all the more amazing as it had been only a few months earlier that he had been taught to fly by Orville and Wilbur Wright at Pau.

Includes: An original program for the 'Grand Quinzaine d'Aviation de Paris,' held in October 1909, 20 pages, 5.5 x 8.5, signed on the title page in crisp ink by Wright and de Lambert, "Orville Wright" and "Cte. de Lambert." an original vintage photograph, plus an original 5.25 x 3.5 postcard of de Lambert in his Wright biplane, neatly signed in ink, "Cte. de Lambert." In overall very good to fine condition, with splitting along the program's spine.

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