WILBUR WRIGHT Rare checks signed by the aviation pioneers. Collection consisting of 1.) Check filled out and signed: "Wright Brothers/W.W.," 8 x 2¾. Dayton Ohio, January 10, 1910. Drawn on The Winters National Bank, payable to M. A. Culp for $78.85. Fine condition. 2.) Check filled out and signed: "Wright Brothers/OW.", 8 x 2¾. Dayton, Ohio, February 1, 1908. Drawn on The Winters National Bank, payable to Ladaskie Miller for $6.00. Fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 31½ x 21½. During 1904 and 1905, the Wrights built and tested new planes and engines. An improved Flyer II was flown near Dayton, Ohio in 1904. They began designing Flyer III. At Simms Station, Ohio, on October 5, 1905, Wilbur flew for 24 miles in 38 minutes, landing only when their new Flyer III gas tank ran dry. The Flyer III was powered by a 15-horse powered engine. This was the Wright brothers' first flight of more than a half hour and renewed their confidence in man's ability to sustain flight. They had invented the first fully practical airplane that could turn, bank, circle and fly figure eights.
WERNHER von BRAUN The man who pioneered the concept of the space shuttle writes about space travel. Autograph Manuscript signed: "By Dr. Wernher von Braun" in title, 1p, 8¼ x 10½ ruled sheet. Manuscript page, which is written in pencil, is part of a longer manuscript ("1" written by von Braun at upper margin). Headed: "Space Travel/by Dr. Wernher von Braun/Chief, Guided Missile Development Division//Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Ala." In full: "There are few dreams of the future which have woven so fascinating a web around human fantasy as flight through space. Since the first, epoch-making experiments of the great American pioneer of rocketry, Robert H. Goddard; since the days when Hermann Oberth, the German, and the Russian Constantin E. Ziolkovsky published their startling writings on rocket propulsion, a veritable spate of literature has overwhelmed the public. This has covered the entire field ranging from serious, scientific dissertations to comic strips. Thus, the intelligent layman 
CHARLES A. LINDBERGH Lindbergh's driver's license application signed by him twice and notarized, only three months before the kidnapping of his infant son. In the year after the kidnapping, with the baby found dead but no suspect yet apprehended, the New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commissioner (and future Governor) Harold Hoffman sent this application to a radio station which was closely following the case. Hoffman, later unmasked as a criminal himself, meddled extensively in the kidnapping case. Document signed twice: "C. A. Lindbergh", 2 pages (front and verso), 3¾x5. Mercer County, New Jersey, 1931 December 29. New Jersey Automobile Driver's Renewal Application, filled out by Lindbergh himself, giving his address (Hopewell, New Jersey) and physical description. He gives New York City as his place of (self) employment, and attests that he has never had his license revoked or suspended, nor had he been refused a license. Signed and attested as truthful by Lindbergh on verso and notarized by "Edward R. Whitehead". Light vertical crease at center (not affecting signatures). Signatures slightly smudged (still legible). Lightly worn at edges. Otherwise, fine condition.
ORVILLE WRIGHT. Photograph signed: "Orville Wright". B/w, 6¼x4½ overall, image 5x3¼ (one surface). Captioned at lower margin: "First Man-Flight, December 17, 1903/Kitty Hawk, N.C." Orville Wright (1871-1948) and his brother, Wilbur (1867-1912), made aviation history with their Flyer in Kitty Hawk, on North Carolina's Outer Banks, on December 17, 1903. While the Wrights had been testing their gliders on Kill Devil Hill for a number of years, this was their first test of their motorized, heavier-than-air flying machine. At 10:35 a.m., Orville Wright was at the controls of the 21-foot biplane with the 40.3-foot wingspan. The 605 pound craft, powered by a 12-horsepower engine that had four piston cylinders and revved to 1,090 rpm, left the ground, staying aloft for 12 seconds and covering 120 feet at an altitude of ten feet. Later that day, during one of their three test flights, Wilbur also manned the controls, traveling 852 feet in 59 seconds. In 1905, Wilbur and Orville decided to stop flying and tried to market their machine, first offering it to the U.S. government and then flying it in France.
NEIL ARMSTRONG Two years before his first spaceflight, and five years before he set the first human foot on the moon, Armstrong fills out a flight plan, preparing to pilot a NASA jet from Ohio to Texas. Document signed twice: "N. A. Armstrong", 1 page, 8x12¾. Port Columbus, Naval Air Station [Ohio], 1964 June 25. Department of Defense flight aircraft clearance form. Details filled in by another hand, including mileage, transponder code, and equipment, but Armstrong has penned this notation: "Request radar vector climb on course." Armstrong plans to pilot a T-33 ("Shooting Star") aircraft from Port Columbus to Ellington Air Force Base in Texas, by way of Dayton. The co-pilot is J. F. Stegall, another NASA employee. Civilian Neil Alden Armstrong (1930-2012) had entered the U.S. space program as a senior NASA research pilot in 1962. A fan of aviation from the age of nine, Armstrong had his pilot's license by the age of 16, and, after studying aeronautical engineering at Purdue for two years, went to Pensacola, Florida for Navy flight training. Serving in Korea at the age of 21, Armstrong flew 78 combat missions and won three Air Medals.
CHALLENGER STS-51L: DICK SCOBEE, MICHAEL J. SMITH, RONALD McNAIR, ELLISON ONIZUKA, JUDY RESNIK, GREG JARVIS and CHRISTA McAULIFFE This official NASA photograph is a crew photo of the ill-fated Challenger mission STS-51L, which exploded in midair on Jan. 29, 1986 and which was the deadliest accident in NASA history until the destruction of the Columbia in 2003. This rare photograph contains the signatures of all seven crew members of STS-51L, who are shown in flight suits and holding their helmets. All seven people in this photo died in the Challenger disaster. Comes with a signed statement by a Kennedy Space Center employee, who collected these signatures with the help of a fellow employee. Photograph signed: "Ellison Onizuka", "S. Christa McAuliffe", "Greg/Jarvis", "Judy Resnik", "Mike Smith", "Dick/Scobee" and "Ron McNair". Color, 10x8 overall, image 9¼x6¾ (one surface). NASA publicity photo with NASA logo in upper right corner. Captioned: "Crew of Space Shuttle/Mission 51-L.
CHALLENGER STS-51L: FRANCIS R. "DICK" SCOBEE, MICHAEL J. SMITH, RONALD E. "RON"McNAIR, ELLISON "EL" S. ONIZUKA, JUDITH A. "JUDY" RESNIK, GREG JARVIS and CHRISTA McAULIFFE Collection framed in the Gallery of History style to 42x28. Four of the astronauts signed envelopes postmarked the day they died Comprises: (1) DICK SCOBEE, JUDY RESNICK and RON McNAIR. Envelope signed: "Dick Scobee", "Judy Resnik" and "Ron McNair", 6¼x3½. 22¢ Abigail Adams stamp affixed. Postmarked Kennedy Space Center, FL, January 28, 1986 (the day of the Challenger tragedy).Typed at left margin: "Space Shuttle 51-L". The names of five members are typed below the heading. Scobee, Resnick and McNair have signed to the right of their names. Fine condition. (2) MICHAEL J. SMITH. Commemorative Envelope signed: "Michael J Smith", 6¼x3½. 15¢ stamp affixed, postmarked Pearlington, MS, May 20, 1980.
GRAF FERDINAND von ZEPPELIN. The airship pioneer writes a letter regarding the receipt for cigar-cases benefiting the Red Cross. Third Person ALS: "Graf Zeppelin" in German, 1p, 5½ x 8½. Friedrichshafen, 1917 January 22.Fully translated: "Graf Zeppelin recommends to the Zeppelin Airship Construction Company to give the attorney at law, Mr. Schwab, the opportunity to receive orders for his timely cigar-cases benefiting the Red Cross." Ferdinand, Count von Zeppelin (1838-1917) entered the Prussian Army in 1858 and served in the Seven Weeks War and in the Franco-Prussian War. He was an observer with the Union army during the American Civil War. In 1891, he retired from the Prussian Army to devote himself to the building of motor-driven airships. Zeppelin invented the first rigid airship in 1900 and in 1906, built one that had a speed of 30 miles per hour. In 1908, he established at Friedrichshafen the Zeppelin Foundation for the development of aerial navigation and the manufacture of airships. Zeppelin died on March 8, 1917, seven weeks after writing this letter. Fine condition.
CHALLENGER STS-51L: FRANCIS R. "DICK" SCOBEE, MICHAEL J. SMITH, RONALD E. "RON" McNAIR, ELLISON S. "EL" ONIZUKA, JUDITH A. "JUDY" RESNIK, GREG JARVIS and CHRISTA McAULIFFE Official NASA photograph of the crew of the ill-fated Challenger mission STS-51L. Challenger exploded in midair on January 28, 1986, making it the deadliest accident in NASA history until the destruction of the Columbia in 2003. This rare photograph contains the signatures of all seven crewmembers of STS-51L, who are shown in flight suits and holding their helmets. All seven people in this photo perished in the Challenger disaster Inscribed Photograph signed: "Dot - Best Wishes" (unknown hand),"El Onizuka", "S. Christa/McAuliffe", "Greg Jarvis", "Judy/Resnik", "Mike Smith", "Dick/Scobee" and "Ron McNair". Color, 10x8 overall, image 9¼x6¾ (one surface). NASA publicity photo with NASA logo in upper left corner. Captioned: "Crew of Space Shuttle/Mission 51-L.
CHARLES A. LINDBERGH and ANN LINDBERGH The original, hand-written note authorizing John Condon to act on their behalf during the 1932 ransom investigation of their kidnapped son! Charles Lindbergh was America's hero. The "Lone Eagle's" intrepid voyage across the Atlantic, in 1927, inspired a public loyalty to Lindbergh that endured long after the flight's successful conclusion. In terms of aviation, Lindbergh did not rest on his laurels following his famed Atlantic crossing. He continued to blaze new airborne trails, often accompanied by his wife, Anne (1906-2001). Lindbergh (1902-1974) was more than just the first man to fly the Atlantic alone. His solo journey captured the imagination of an adoring public on numerous psychological levels. That his quest was bold and daring, and thus resonant with the nation's collective spirit of adventure, is obvious. The consequences of his success were equally clear. Lindbergh was revered as a national hero, given the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army Air Corps, awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and the first Distinguished Flying Cross, and immersed in opportunities to leverage his new fame into wealth.
CHARLES A. LINDBERGH "Lucky Lindy" talks about flying Jennies and why he dislikes reunions, ceremonies and dinners. TLS: "Charles", 1p, 8½x11. Germany, 1963 March 19. To Joe. On blue light-weight stationery. In full: "This is an awfully late answer to your January letter. My mail is always hopelessly stacked up, literally, and I have taken taken (sic) some of it abroad with me in the hope of catching up a bit at least with the letters I want most to write. It is really good of you to invite me to the reunion of the 110th Observation Squadron, and I do have a very close feeling toward the Squadron -- I often think of the old days flying 'Jennies' at Lambert Field. But Joe, I think reunions are for those who like them (and may God bless them). To me, reunions are pretty awful; they always detract from qualities of memory which I prefer to leave to the past where I think they belong and have the greatest value. Also, I like to live quietly and to concentrate on my work and interests. I realized, many years ago, that this kind of life was simply not compatible with ceremonies and dinners, for one led to another and there seemed to be no end.
ORVILLE WRIGHT Orville Wright signed this document in 1945 to lease 135 acres of farm and pastureland that he owned in Indiana. This document was signed three years before Wright's death and offers a look into how he paid his bills late in life. Lease signed "Orville Wright" as Lessor. 2 pages, 8½x12¾, single-sided sheets, bound with two staples at top edge. Feb. 6, 1945. Wright signed this lease agreement to lease 135 acres of farm and pastureland in "Township 23 North", Indiana [possibly Fowlerton] to Clayton W. Dickerson of Jonesboro, Indiana. The lease's term was from March 1, 1945, to Feb. 28, 1946. Dickerson leased the farm - which included improvements like an orchard, garden lot and barn - for $6 per acre or a total of $810, paid in full to Wright on Sept. 1, 1945. This lease also laid out Dickerson's responsibilities. In short, he had to maintain the land and its buildings out of his own pocket and pay one-half the cost for seed and fertilizer and for threshing and hulling any crops, with Wright paying the other half. Wilbur (1867-1912, born near Millville, Indiana) and Orville (1871-1948, born in Dayton, Ohio) formed the Wright Cycle Company in 1892 and manufactured bicycles.
CHALLENGER STS-51L CREW: FRANCIS R. "DICK" SCOBEE, MICHAEL J. SMITH, RONALD E. "RON" McNAIR, ELLISON S. "EL" ONIZUKA, JUDITH A. "JUDY" RESNIK, GREG JARVIS and CHRISTA McAULIFFE This official NASA photograph is a crew photo of the ill-fated Challenger mission STS-51L, which exploded in midair on January 28, 1986 and was the deadliest accident in NASA history until the destruction of the Columbia in 2003. This rare photograph contains the signatures of all seven crewmembers of STS-51L, who are shown in flight suits and holding their helmets Printed Photograph Signed in Ink: "Mike Smith", "Dick/ Scobee", "Ron McNair", "El Onizuka", "S. Christa/McAuliffe", "Greg/Jarvis", "Judy/ Resnik". Color, 10x8. Captioned: "Crew of Space Shuttle/ Mission 51-L. This photograph is an official NASA crew photo of the ill-fated Challenger mission STS-51L. It contains the signatures of all seven crewmembers, including teacher Christa McAuliffe, who died when the space shuttle exploded 73 seconds after launch.Aviation & Space | Sentiments
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BERNT BALCHEN - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED 10/12/1963 - HFSID 165863BERNT BALCHEN Best wishes extended by Admiral Byrd's trans-Atlantic and South Pole pilot Autograph Sentiment signed: "Best wishes/from/Bernt Balchen/Oct 12. 1963" on verso of 4-cent postcard, 5½x3¼. Addressed in another hand.Sale Price $144.00
$160.00
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REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD E. BYRD - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 262978RICHARD E. BYRD Richard E. Byrd signs his wishes an index card. Autograph Sentiment signed: "Good luck/R E Byrd", 5x3 index card. Richard E. Byrd (1888-1957) made the first of his
Sale Price $162.00
$180.00
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REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD E. BYRD - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED 1930 CO-SIGNED BY: PAUL A. SIPLE, JOHN S. O'BRIEN, JACK BURSEY, JOHN HAROLD MORRISON, ALF B. ROBINSON, LAWRENCE CLARENCE WOOLHOUSE, LIEUTENANT (JG) HARRY ADAMS, JOHN J. BAYER, ARTHUR BERLIN, JOHN BUYS, VICTOR H. CZEGKA, JOE DE GANHAL, LAURENCE M. GOULD, WILLIAMS C. HAINES, BENDIK JOHANSEN, RICHARD W. KONTER, CHARLES E. LOFGREN, FREDERICK C. MELVILLE, THOMAS B. MULROY, CHARLES J. MCGUINNESS, RUSSELL OWEN, SVERRE STRON, JOHN L. SUTTON, GEORGE W. TENNANT, WILLARD VAN DER VEER, VACLAY J. VOJTECH, W. HOWARD KELLY, H.B. CREAGH - HFSID 24063The famed explorer pens his name along with a sentiment on a slip of paper affixed to a larger sheet, which also features the clipped signatures (spread across 3 pages) from members of his Antarctic expedition that spanned from 1928-1930! Extremely Rare!
Sale Price $1,360.00
$1,600.00
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REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD E. BYRD - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED 1931 - HFSID 27977RICHARD BYRD The famed polar explorer signs "All good wishes" on the verso of a business card Autograph sentiment signed: "All good wishes/R E Byrd", in black ink, 3¾x2. On verso of business card for Charles B. Whittelsey.
Sale Price $162.00
$180.00
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REGINALD DENNY - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 281425REGINALD DENNY Index card signed "Sincerely" by actor Reginald Denny in blue ink Autograph sentiment signed "Sincerely/Reginald Denny." in blue ink. 5x2¾ card.
Sale Price $126.00
$140.00
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JAMES GLAISHER - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 225658JAMES GLAISHER Clipped sentiment and signature of the high-flying English meteorologist Autograph Sentiment signed: "Faithfully yours/James Glaisher", 4½x1 Affixed to 5x3 card with ink caption (unknown hand).
Sale Price $90.00
$100.00
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JOHN GLENN - FIRST DAY COVER WITH AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 293386JOHN GLENN The first American to orbit the Earth signs a First Day Cover honoring Project Mercury, issued on the date of his historic flight. First Day Cover signed: "Best regards -/J. H. Glenn Jr", 3½x6½. FDC honoring Project Mercury: U.S.
Sale Price $216.00
$240.00
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CAPTAIN KEN HIPPE - FIRST DAY COVER WITH AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 266903KEN HIPPE. First Day Cover signed: "Best Wishes/Capt Ken Hippe USNR Ret/SHIP CVE68 KALININ 13AX/SQUAD VC-3", 6½x3½. FDC honoring the 75th Anniversary of the Veterans of Spanish-American and Other Foreign Wars, 10-cent stamp affixed, postmarked Washington, DC, March 11, 1974, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE.
Sale Price $63.00
$70.00
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BRIGADIER GENERAL RICHARD KNOBLOCH - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED 1979 - HFSID 156937RICHARD KNOBLOCH The Doolittle Raider wishes a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year on this slip in 1979. Autograph sentiment signed: "Merry Xmas/and a Happy New/Year/R. Knobloch/1979", 8½x2½ slip of lined paper. Signed 1979.
Sale Price $126.00
$140.00
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BEN LYON - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 313737BEN LYON The actor signs his name "With best wishes" Autograph sentiment signed: "With best wishes/Ben Lyon", in black ink, 3½x2½. Ben Lyon (1901-1979, born in Atlanta, Georgia) was an American actor who starred in films of the silent and early talking era.
Sale Price $144.00
$160.00
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JOAN MERRIAM SMITH - FIRST DAY COVER WITH AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 287855JOAN MERRIAM SMITH Signed FDC honoring Amelia Earhart, accompanied by a newspaper clipping describing the plane crash which claimed Merriam's life First Day Cover signed: "Best Wishes,/Merriam Smith", 6½x3½.
Sale Price $162.00
$180.00
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MIKE MONRONEY - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 293645MIKE MONRONEY Handwritten sentiment in green ink on a 5x3 card Autograph Sentiment signed: "Good luck to/Ralph Ward/Mike Monroney/USS Oklahoma", 5x3 card. Almer Stillwell "MIKE" MONRONEY
Sale Price $81.00
$90.00
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BILL NELSON - TYPED SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 299755BILL NELSON Signature of the US Senator, clipped from the closing of a letter Typed Sentiment signed: "Sincerely/Bill Nelson" as US Senator, 1 page, 8½x5½. Clipped from the closing of a letter, with the address of his Florida office printed at lower edge. Clarence William "Bill" Nelson (b.
Sale Price $81.00
$90.00
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BUD (KENNETH REED POOL) POOL - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 225401BUD (KENNETH REED POOL) POOL This card is signed by the World War II flying ace who shot down five enemy planes within the same year Autograph sentiment signed: "Best Wishes/Bud Pool" in black ink. 5x3. Kenneth "Bud" Pool (b. 1923) was a World War II flying ace.
Sale Price $90.00
$100.00
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ELIZABETH "BETTY WALL" STROHFUS - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 347798ELIZABETH “BETTY WALL” STROHFUS The W.A.S.P. pens her name in black ink on this index card Autograph Sentiment signed: “Best Wishes/ Betty Strohfus/ W.A.S.P WWII Class 44-W-I” 3½x2. Elizabeth “Betty Wall” Strohfus (b. 1919) was a Women Airforce Service Pilot (W.A.
Sale Price $81.00
$90.00
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PRATIWI SUDARMONO - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 299740PRATIWI SUDARMONO Handwritten sentiment of the Indonesian scientist and astronaut trainee, signing with her credentials Autograph Sentiment signed: "with best regards/Pratiwi/Prof. Dr. Pratiwi Sudarmono PhD/Indonesian Astronaut", 5x3 card. Indonesian research scientist Pratiwi Sudarmono (b.
Sale Price $81.00
$90.00
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ROSCOE TURNER - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 72860ROSCOE TURNER. Signature: "With best wishes/from/Roscoe Turner", 3¼x2. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Roscoe Turner (1895-1970) was one of the biggest names in aviation. In 1929, he had helped organize Nevada Airlines, operating between Los Angeles, Reno and Las Vegas.
Sale Price $180.00
$200.00
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JOHN TYNDALL - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 321491JOHN TYNDALL A clipped sentiment from the physicist, signing "Yours very truly" Autograph sentiment signed: "Yours very truly/John Tyndall", in black ink, 3½x1 affixed to a slightly larger sheet.
Sale Price $162.00
$180.00
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GENERAL ROBERTO FIERRO VILLALOBOS - FIRST DAY COVER WITH AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 299712GENERAL FIERRO VILLALOBOS His autograph note on an FDC honoring Glenn Curtiss, and picturing a biplane he might have flown Autograph Note on First Day Cover signed: "Fierro Villalobos", with loosely
Sale Price $162.00
$180.00
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MAJOR GENERAL LEIGH WADE - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED - HFSID 147228LEIGH WADE Signed in blue ink on a 6x4½ strip of paper Autograph Sentiment signed: "Best Wishes/Leigh Wade", 6x4½. Leigh Wade (1897-1991), a pioneer aviator who became a Major General in the U.S. Air Force, is best known for his participation in the first around-the-world airplane flight.
Sale Price $144.00
$160.00
