![WRIGHT, Orville (1871-1948). Typed letter signed (“Orville”) to Earl Findley, Dayton, 2 April 1946; typed letter, to Carl Spaatz, [Dayton], 12 April 1946, bearing an autograph note signed (“Orville”) to Earl Findley below the text.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2017/NYR/2017_NYR_14376_0362_000(wright_orville_typed_letter_signed_to_earl_findley_dayton_2_april_1946031842).jpg?w=1)
PROPERTY FROM THE WRIGHT BROTHERS AND LINDBERGH PAPERS OF AVIATION JOURNALIST, EARL FINDLEY
WRIGHT, Orville (1871-1948). Typed letter signed (“Orville”) to Earl Findley, Dayton, 2 April 1946; typed letter, to Carl Spaatz, [Dayton], 12 April 1946, bearing an autograph note signed (“Orville”) to Earl Findley below the text.
Details
WRIGHT, Orville (1871-1948). Typed letter signed (“Orville”) to Earl Findley, Dayton, 2 April 1946; typed letter, to Carl Spaatz, [Dayton], 12 April 1946, bearing an autograph note signed (“Orville”) to Earl Findley below the text.
One page each, 260 x 185mm & 265 x 184mm (respectively), both on his personal letterhead.
Orville Wright navigates competing bids to exhibit the 1903 Kitty Hawk plane in the United States, anticipating its imminent return from its two decade-long exile in London. Wright coordinates with Findley to avoid being pressured as to where to house the storied biplane upon its anticipated return to the U.S.: “What I say here is in the strictest confidence. On Wednesday i wrote a letter to General Spaatz in which I let him know that I would be in Washington the night of April 18th. As he was in Dayton Thursday he could not have received the letter before Saturday. Six o’Clock Sunday evening... I received a telegram from the ‘Officers of the National Aircraft show of Cleveland’ inviting me to attend a ‘presentation dinner in honor of the Army Air forces Aid Society’ to be held in Washington... April 18th. This morning I get a telegram from McSurley asking for a telegraphic answer as to whether the Kitty Hawk plane is likely to be returned to this country in six months... It looks to me like something is cooking. I don’t propose to be a victim of the high pressure salesmanship.”
[With:] BECK, Mabel (1890-1959). Retained copies of Findley’s correspondence with Orville Wright, TLsS, 13 & 17 September 1948; FINDLEY, Earl. (1878-1956) carbon copies of his retained correspondence with Wright.
One page each, 260 x 185mm & 265 x 184mm (respectively), both on his personal letterhead.
Orville Wright navigates competing bids to exhibit the 1903 Kitty Hawk plane in the United States, anticipating its imminent return from its two decade-long exile in London. Wright coordinates with Findley to avoid being pressured as to where to house the storied biplane upon its anticipated return to the U.S.: “What I say here is in the strictest confidence. On Wednesday i wrote a letter to General Spaatz in which I let him know that I would be in Washington the night of April 18th. As he was in Dayton Thursday he could not have received the letter before Saturday. Six o’Clock Sunday evening... I received a telegram from the ‘Officers of the National Aircraft show of Cleveland’ inviting me to attend a ‘presentation dinner in honor of the Army Air forces Aid Society’ to be held in Washington... April 18th. This morning I get a telegram from McSurley asking for a telegraphic answer as to whether the Kitty Hawk plane is likely to be returned to this country in six months... It looks to me like something is cooking. I don’t propose to be a victim of the high pressure salesmanship.”
[With:] BECK, Mabel (1890-1959). Retained copies of Findley’s correspondence with Orville Wright, TLsS, 13 & 17 September 1948; FINDLEY, Earl. (1878-1956) carbon copies of his retained correspondence with Wright.