Wright Brothers poster set to bring $30,000 to US auction

A Wright Brothers poster is to provide one of the main draws in a November 11 auction in New York.

Wright Brother 1903 aviation poster memorabilia auction
The brothers had already seen success and were internationally renowned by 1909



The poster was created to advertise their appearance at a local airshow, following the brothers' successful attempt at the first controlled flight by a human in a motorised aircraft, in 1903. By 1909 the duo had seen success across the US and Europe, and had established the Wright Brothers company in Dayton, Ohio.

Wilbur Wright was strapped face down to the latticework of the bi-plane for the 1903 flight and managed to travel for just one tenth of a mile at an altitude of 15 feet, before he was forced into a crash landing. The poster shows a more advanced version of the Wright Flyer, which could sustain flight for much longer, and would eventually be approved by the US government for military use.

The poster is graded B for condition, with slight tears to the top and bottom text areas. It will be sold complete with the original programme from the event with an estimate of $20,000-30,000.

Wright Brother aviation poster rare
The Wright Brothers frequently experimented in various European countries



Also starring is an exceptionally rare two-sheet poster, featuring Orville Wright's Model A bi-plane. The poster advertised an airshow over the Tempelhof Field in Berlin, which was sponsored by a local newspaper. Also graded B for condition, it will sell with a $15,000-20,000 estimate.

Paul Fraser Collectibles has a superb collection of aviation memorabilia currently available, including the remarkable Wright Brothers photograph collection of fellow aviator Charles Stewart Rolls. 

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