ORVILLE WRIGHT
Color picture postcard of a George Washington equestrian statue, signed by Orville Wright. He added a note: "Am expecting to see your father take Washington's role in changing defeat into victory in certain Dayton affairs." This card was postmarked 10 days before Wright crashed the Wright Flyer at Fort Myer, Virginia. His passenger, Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge, was killed and became the first airplane crash fatality.
Autograph note signed "O.W." at lower margin of picture postcard. Color, 3½x5½ overall, image 3½x4¾ (one surface). Photograph captioned: "Equestrian Statue of Gen. George Washington". In full under photo: "Am expecting to see your father take/Washington's role in changing defeat into/victory in certain Dayton affairs." Addressed on verso by Wright to: "Mr. Robert Needham/W. Second Street./Between Wnes & Broadway/Dayton. Ohio". Notation in unknown hand above address: "To Robert from Orville Wright/after he broke his leg in Washington". Postmarked Washington, D.C., Sept. 7, 1908. 1-cent Benjamin Franklin stamp affixed. This notation is incorrect. Wright didn't break his leg in Washington, D. C. but at Fort Myer, Virginia, which is across the Potomac River from Washington. On Sept. 3, 1908, Orville Wright made the first demonstration flight of the Wright Flyer for the U.S. Army at Fort Myer, Virginia. On Sept. 17th, in the final flight at Fort Myer, the Flyer crashed. Orville broke his leg in the crash, and his passenger Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge was killed, giving Selfridge the questionable honor of being the first airplane crash fatality in history. Lightly worn at edges. Type transfer touches writing on verso. Otherwise in fine condition.