137 / 148
135
HISTOIRE POSTALE
125
ORVILLE WRIGHT (1871-1948)
Lettre dactylographiée signée à Fred L. Black. Dayton
(Ohio), 19 octobre 1937.
1 p. et demie sur 2 f. in-4 (26,7 x 18,4 cm) de papier vélin à
en-tête gravé, encre noire.
5 000 / 7 000 €
Belle lettre à Fred L. Black, de l’Institut Edison de Dearborn
(Michigan), relative aux affirmations de Gustave Whitehead (1874-
1927) prétendant avoir été le premier à faire voler un avion à moteur
le 14 août 1901 :
« I have not seen the book “Lost Flights of Gustave Whitehead”, but
I did see the story on the same subject printed in “Popular Aviation”
of January, 1935, and signed by Stella Randolph and Harvey
Phillips. I have learned through a friend in Washington that Miss
Randolph works in a doctor’s office in Washington; that she has
no particular interest in aviation; that the Harvey Phillips whom she
had not known before, induced her to collaborate with him in the
preparation of the story. I suspect that, could it be traced, the idea
for the book would be found to have originated in the mind of A. F.
Zahm, of whom you already know. He has been quite active in this
matter, as I have learned from several sources. […] »
En août 1945, Orville Wright publia dans
US Air Services
une
déclaration officielle sur Gustave Whitehead et son vol présumé,
intitulée : « The Mythical Whitehead Flight ».
Petite déchirure marginale, sans manque