Value of Historical Items Associated with the Wright Brothers

(Updated December 14, 2023) The "monetary value" of a collectible is based on supply and demand. The greater the number of collectors interested in the item, the greater the value. The historical value of the item doesn't necessarily equate with the amount of money a person is willing to pay for the item. There are collectible items that have a high monetary value, but a low level of significance or historical value. This is really evident in coin collecting for example. A certified modern mintage coin of which billions of the coins were minted, can go for a high price simply because is has been certified as the finest mint state coin of that type, year, and mint mark, but in the end, it is still only a modern struck piece of metal. One example, PCGS(1) lists a 1995-D Red, MS-69 Lincoln penny at $4150. This cent was minted 28 years ago, one of 7,128,560,000. Yep, that's one of 7 Billion plus. Yes, I understand that the number of 1995-D cents in MS-69 condition are much fewer than the 7 Billion number, but still, why there is such a supply of collectors willing to pay this price, I don't know. But that is how value is placed on collectibles, supply and demand.

Imagine a museum is burning down. You can run in and grab one item off the shelf to save from the flames. A piece of copper plated zinc minted in 1995, or a historical typed letter written by Orville Wright in 1939 discussing details of flights performed at Huffman Prairie in 1904 and 1905 of the development of the world's first practical airplane. Which would you grab? Based on monetary value alone, you'd grab the useless piece of zinc valued at $4150. After all, it's one of the prettiest shiniest examples of 7 Billion of these metal chunks minted that year! The Orville Wright letter, though unique, in monetary value is less than $3000. And what I really can't wrap my mind around, is why a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Rookie Card would sell for $12.6 million. Are you kidding me! But I digress.

Documentation of sales of coins provide a great advantage of establishing a trusted value base for the hobby. PCGS and NGC(2) websites provide free price guides for coins based on year, type, and condition, with these guides constantly updated based on current sales history. For those interested in collecting historical items associated with the Wright Brothers, similar price guides are not as readily available. Historical price information is available, but it has to be gathered over time, and from various sources. I follow items as they sell on E-bay, and make note of the final sale price. I'll also check sale history on auction sites such as-

Cowan's Auctions
Swann Auction Galleries
Bonhams 
Heritage Auctions
RR Auction
Christie's  

University Archives

Obtaining a record of previous sale of an item doesn't necessarily establish it's current worth. Just because an item sold for a high amount, doesn't mean that similar items now have that value, for a number of reasons. The buyer may have simply paid too much. The buyer may have competed against other buyers in an auction, and made an emotional purchase, paying more than a similar item could be obtained elsewhere. This makes it difficult in establishing values on collectibles. An example, "The Shop That Became a Shrine", a neat booklet printed by the Dayton Chamber of Commerce in 1928 for the 25th anniversary of first flight in fine condition sold at auction in 2013 for $240. Yet, I was able to obtain a nice copy for my collection at $16, and a second example at $12. A copy with a discolored front was recently offered for $70. So what is the fair value for a clean copy? Maybe $30? (A nice clean copy sold April of 2020 for $26.50). According to a November 28th, 1928 Dayton Daily News story, the Dayton Chamber of Commerce planned on printing 40,000 of these. "Every child in public and parochial schools of Dayton and Oakwood will be given a copy, while others will be distributed among those who attend the mass meeting to be held in the NCR schoolhouse on Dec. 10. Additional copies...will be sent to every member of congress, to all leading chambers of commerce in the United States, as well as to leading newspapers and various civic and special organizations interested in aviation." The Dayton Herald reported Dec 7th that 31,000 were distributed to private schools, 3000 to parochial schools, 900 to Oakwood school, 50 to leading newspapers throughout the country, 500 to chambers of commerce in the US, and one sent to each member of Congress.

"The Shop That Became A Shrine", December 17, 1928 publication by The Dayton Chamber of Commerce, author's copy.

 

 

 

When researching the value of the collectable, don't be thrown off by the asking price. Often the asking price is fair, but just as often, the asking price is inflated, and at times ridiculous.  A major irritation of mine is when I observe a collection of historical aviation documents sell at auction, and then watch as this collection is split into it's individual parts, and re-listed item by item by the purchaser at asking prices three to five times (or more) over their original purchase price. I have specific examples, but I'll not list them here, as these items are currently being offered for sale, and I suppose any dealer has the right to make a profit of 600% or more. But as a buyer, I won't be paying those prices. Additionally, I believe it is so unfortunate that certain collections are divided in this way, in that much of the historical information that could be gleaned from the full collection is lost in the individual items. Without giving the specifics, I watched a collection of over 150 drawings and notes sell at auction, and then individually resold by the buyer at a great profit. The collection as a whole told a story, but the items individually do not. Fortunately, I preserved that story by saving a jpeg of every item as they were listed for sale by the dealer, and I have a folder of the complete collection in digital format such that the history is not lost.

When a historical item is actually destroyed, shame on the seller, and equal shame on the buyers. Historical letters are actually being cut up into tiny pieces with individual words or letters sold. Buyers are excited to obtain a sliver of a document with a word or few letters in the hand of George Washington or Abraham Lincoln for example. The seller is able to make a profit on the destruction of the document, and buyers enable the process. I've yet to see this happen with a letter of Wilbur or Orville's, but I don't doubt it will happen if it becomes apparent there is a profit to be had. I have seen items presented as pieces of a document in the hand of Orville or Wilbur Wright, but it fact, the handwriting fortunately was not theirs. As collectors and preservers of history, please don't participate in this type of destruction.(5)


Post Cards- Prices vary depending on age, content, condition, and rarity. I suppose the more valuable are the mint condition, unused cards, however, I prefer the postmarked cards with related messages. I'm not an expert on post cards, and I don't feel confident that I could always recognize a modern reprint from an original period card. With a postmark and message, I'm more confident of authenticity. Additionally, if the message happens to be an eyewitness account of the event, why would an unused mint condition card be more desirable? I've seen asking prices vary from $1 to $250 or more, and have been able to obtain some really nice cards with eye witness accounts in the range of $5 to $35 each. Cards signed by Wilbur or Orville of course have higher value, and are covered later under Signatures.

Postmarked, and signed October 10, 1908, Wilbur Wright in flight, Nice early card, $35 (4)

Period card, Wilbur Wright Camp d'Auvours, postmarked 1908, "We are glad we were here when these interesting experiments were going on so near by. Greetings from Paris" Purchased at $10. (4)

Two postcards with note from eyewitness of Orville Wright's 1909 Ft Myer flights, purchased for $5. (4)

Press Photos- Price appears to depend on age and content. Press photos from 1908 to 1912 picturing Wright flyers, and/or Wilbur or Orville Wright can sell in the $100 to $500 range or more. In January of 2020, a press photo of one of the May 1908 Kitty Hawk flights by the Wright's sold for $920. Press Photos from the 1920's through the 1940's showing Orville Wright at various events can be purchased in the $10 to $45 range.

Press photo- Orville and Wright's Flying Students at Deerborn Michigan, 1938, purchased at $15.

 (4)     

 

 

Nice period press photo of Orville Wright at Kitty Hawk in 1911, purchased at $28. Damage to photo at right does not effect the image. I believe the photo has more value than the purchase amount.(4)

 

Newspapers- First flight newspapers are very desirable. Asking prices are generally in the hundreds of dollars. A complete newspaper would have more value than a single page. Complete newspaper with a front page story would be more desirable than one with the story located within the paper, as display would be more difficult. A complete Chicago Sunday Record-Herald dated December 20, 1903 with an inside page single column headline "A Flying Machine That Flies" and a 1/4 column "Early Report of the Birth of Aviation- the First Flight by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, NC", has been offered for sale at $400 since 2011, still available at AbeBooks.com. For other first flight papers, see photos below.
Laminated pages preserve the paper, but the process is irreversible and deemed undesirable by many. I've purchased laminated pages because of content. Newspaper clippings can be collectable, though I'd prefer the uncut original page. The Wright Brother's themselves saved clippings in lieu of complete newspaper pages. Many historical newspapers with Wright Brother related news can be obtained in the $20 to $50 range.

January 17, 1904 laminated newspaper page, inaccurate account of first flight, The Denver Republican, purchased at $21. Seller had intended to list at $100, but sold in error at $21. As a laminated page, not sure of fair value, but nicely preserved.(4) The same story appeared in the Dallas Morning News, January 17, 1904; appearing on page 17, this single page sold at Cowan's Auctions September of 2017 for $570, not laminated.

The Troy Times (NY) December 18, 1903 First Flight news recently offered for sale for $800. Item was later listed as no longer available, so actual sale amount not determined. Was indicated as the complete newspaper, but number of pages not known.

The Omaha Daily Bee, Nebraska, December 19, 1903, previously offered on E-bay for $380. Account is on page 7 of this complete 16 page paper.

New York Tribune, December 19, 1903 with account on page 5 sold for $50 in August of 2014. Page 4 and 5 had some damage with tears and tape mends.

Dayton Daily News June 16, 17, 18, 1909 Home Celebration issues. Purchased for $93. Papers experienced some paper loss at folds. I repaired these with acid free archival tape. (4) These are the only issues I've been aware of offered for sale over the past eight years.

Magazines- Early aviation magazines appear to be quite common. There are specific issues that are more desirable, and thus command a greater price. Issues are generally offered in the $15 to $50 range, though an issue of La Vie Au Grand Air and Le Petit Journal with aviation news from 1909 recently sold for $328 for the two. I obtained the issue below for $20. So determining reasonable value can be confusing. 

La Vie Au Grand Air, Sept 19, 1908. Nice cover art with full page pictures of Wright flyer inside. $20 (4)

Specific magazines of interest include

• Gleanings in Bee Culture issues March 4, 1904, January 1, 1905, and January 15, 1905. A March 4, 1904 issue recently sold for $123. March 31, 2019, a March 4, 1904 issue sold for $102.  A March 4, 1904 issue was offered at $1400; good luck with that. A grouping of 1904 and 1905 Gleanings magazines including the January 1 and January 15, 1905 issues offered through Swann Auction Galleries September 28th 2017 with estimated value between $1500 and $2500 sold for $5000. I have been searching for the January 1&15 issues for a number of years, but not at that price!(3) An issue of January 15, 1905, with water stain damage, sold on E-Bay September 22, 2018 for $444.99. In my opinion, the January 1 and 15, 1905 issues should not exceed $500 each, and even that price is high in my mind compared to the average cost of a first flight newspaper which sells in the $350 range.
• The Independent February 4, 1904, February 25, 1904, and March 10, 1904. An article "The Experiments of a Flying Man" claimed to be written by Wilbur Wright, was published in the February 4th issue, with retractions in the February 25, and March 10 issues. Wilbur did not write the article. A February 4th issue sold recently for $600, but that was likely overpriced. 
• The Independent October 22, 1903 with article "The Outlook for the Flying Machine" by Professor Simon Newcomb. Newcomb provides reasons why mechanical flight is impossible, just two months prior to the Wright's December 17th flights at Kitty Hawk. 
• Magazines from estate of Orville Wright, stamped such and signed by co-executor  Harold S. Miller. These really interest me, having been once owned by Orville, or for earlier dated magazines (prior to early 1912), were owned by both Orville and Wilbur. Magazines with notations by either brother are exceptionally desirable.
  
• Magazines with news of December 17th, 1903 first flight, such as L'Aerophile Decembre 1903, Scientific American December 26, 1903, etc.
• Der Motorwagen issues with Rozendaal prints of the 1908 Wright Flyer.
  
• And many others.

 

 

Signatures- Wilbur Wright died in 1912, and Orville Wright in 1948. Wilbur's signature is more valuable, again due to supply and demand. Orville's longer life provided him the opportunity to sign photographs, checks, postcards, anniversary of first flight envelopes, etc. His signature on such an item tends to sell for around $450 to $850 or more. However, his signature on the famous first flight photo will sell for much higher. Examples of sales of this popular item through various Auction sites (prices include buyers premium):

 

May 2022 RR       $15,115                  Sept 2022 RR      $5470

Nov 2021 RR        $3661                    Oct 2021 RR        $2866                 April 2023KA   $7119

Aug 2020 RR        $8011                    May 2016 AH      $2500                  May 2023HA   $5750 

May 2020 RR       $3032                    Sept 2016 RR       $2932                  Jan 2015 RR     $2230

Oct 2018 RR         $2230                    July 2016 RR       $1383                  Dec 2104 RR     $3327

May 2018 RR       $2742                    May 2016 RR       $1674                  Nov 2014 RR    $1225

April 2018 RR      $2454                    April 2016 RR      $2078                  Jan 2014 RR     $2073

Feb 2006 HA        $6572                    April 2015 HA      $2125                  Oct 2013 RR    $4690

Aug 2017 RR        $3368                    Feb 2015 RR        $2881                  Apr 2013 HA   $4780

Apr 2011 HA        $3346                    Jan 2009 HA         $2151                 Oct 2012 HA    $3346

Sept 2011 HA       $2629                    Oct 2007 HA         $2629                 Oct 2008 HA    $6500

 

 

 

RR- R&R Auctions 

HA- Heritage Auctions

AH- Alexander Historical Auctions

KA- Koller Auctions, Switzerland

 

 

 

Orville Wright signed first flight picture, sold for $2230, October 10, 2018, RR Auctions.

 

Orville Wright signed first flight picture with original envelope, sold for $8011, August 12, 2020, RR Auctions.

  

I can not explain this price. Orville Wright signed first flight print, May 11, 2022 RR Auctions Fine Autographs and Artifacts, $15,115.

Different format from examples above, and with message and date in Orville's hand. Sold by Heritage Auctions October 17, 2008, $6500.

Postcard format, sold by R&R Auctions October 21, 2021 for $2866.

Orville, Wilbur, and Katharine's 1911 signatures on a blank page removed from a book recently sold for $19,102. Wilbur's signature on a menu for a dinner hosted by the Aero Club of France, November 5, 1908 sold for $8125 at the September 2019 RR Auction. A copy of Fred Kelly's "The Wright Brothers" signed by Orville Wright recently sold on E-bay for $432, a bargain for the buyer, multiple bids.  

 

Orville Wright 10" by 7" card in Orville's hand sold August 11, 2021 by RR Auctions for $20,870. Very unusual high price. Content is everything.

 

A word of caution- I have seen many forged Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright signatures on photos, postcards and envelope covers. Don't make the mistake of comparing the signature to those seen on other postcards and envelope covers, as you have a good chance you're looking at another forged item by the same hand.  And just for clarification, by many, I mean I see dozens of forged items offered for sale every single day I check, resulting in thousands of forged items in collector's hands.
Signatures on checks, postcards, and letters are discussed below.


Checks- There are many available original checks in the hand of Wilbur, Orville, or Lorin Wright. Many checks are fully in Lorin Wright's hand, including the signature of Orville Wright. Lorin would often place his initials under Orville's name, but not always.

 

Orville Wright's name as signed by his brother Lorin Wright.

 

 

 Many checks are in secretary Mabel Beck's hand, but with original signature by Orville. Value will be dependent on a number of factors.

• Date of check.

• Who's signature appears on check.

• If signature is full, or just initials. 

• If check is fully in Wilbur's or Orville's hand, or just the signature.

• If check is made out to another significant historical individual, for example, Charlie Taylor, and endorsed by that person on the backside of the check.                                                                       
  
• Condition of check.
  

• Historical significance of the check. Don't take the seller's claims as fact; do your own research. For example, Brien Greene & Company is a brokerage firm, not "an airplane parts manufacturer" as one seller stated.

 

The Dayton Herald, November 30, 1921

1. Checks in Lorin Wright's hand can be obtained in the price range of $150 to $350. A 1919 check signed Orville Wright in Lorin's hand, and endorsed by Charlie Taylor sold for $199 March 2020, one bidder. This was a bargain in my opinion.
   
2. Checks in Mabel Beck's hand, but with Orville Wright's signature can be purchased in the range of $350 to $850. 
3. Checks in Wilbur Wright's hand signed Wright Cycle or Wright Brothers with Wilbur's initials sell in the range of $1800-$2500. I've seen them listed for higher asking prices, but I doubt they sell in that higher range.
4. Early checks in Orville's hand written to Charlie Taylor sell for $1200.
5. Checks in Wilbur's hand written to Charlie Taylor sell for $2500.  
6. Orville wrote numerous checks to his grand nephew Wilbur H. Wright. Orville's brother Reuchlin's son was named Herbert and Herbert's son was was named Wilbur Herbert Wright. Competing bidders brought the final price to $2340 for a May 16, 1947 check in Mabel Beck's hand, signed by Orville, and signed on back by Wilbur H. Wright. Actual value in my opinion is more in the range of $850 on the high end, but obviously the bidders disagree with me on this one, purchased from Heritage Auctions 2/27/22. 

  For more on Wright Brother checks, see my post-

 "Gleaning the History from Wright Brother Checks- Their Styles and Value"

 

 

 

Postcards-

1. French postcard photo by J. Bouveret of Wilbur Wright and Mrs. Hart O. Berg seated in a Wright aeroplane signed “8 Nov, 1908, Wilbur Wright.” Sold for $4375 Bonhams, June 2016. Resold for $10,005, RR Auctions, September 2016.
   
   
   
   
2.  Real photo postcard of the Wright Model A in flight, signed on the reverse, “Lemans, 12 Nov. 1908, With my compliments, Wilbur Wright.” Sold for $15,943, RR Auctions, April 2016.
   
   
   
   
3. Hotel Esplanade postcard, postmarked May 6, 1911. Letter to Georges Tharel, director of the Compagnie Generale de Navigation Aerienne, sent by Wilbur Wright. “Many thanks for your letter and the very amusing enclosure. I have laughed very much over it.” Also included photo of Tharel posing by a flyer, signed in pencil by the photographer, Henri Manuel; three different vintage photos of the ‘French Wright’ from 1911; and 1911 C. G. N. A. leaflet advertising flight performances as well as the planes. Sold for $10,779, November 2013, RR Auctions.
   
   
    
4. Wilbur Wright signature on correspondence side of postcard, Camp d'Auvours, October 6, 1908. Sold by Swann Galleries, April 2011 for $3600. Resold by Nate D. Sanders Auctons for $6500.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Grouping of four postcards, signed by Wilbur Wright, offered at Bonhams History of Science and Technology, Including Space History sale December 2018. Included the four postcards, 12 gelatin silver print photographs, two unsigned postcards, and two bound booklets of 25 postcards, total $16,250. The first card shown below was resold on E-bay September 2020 for $4827.50. It was listed on E-bay for resale at $9200 buy it now, or make offer; I don't know if it sold. The last card of the four below sold on One of a Kind Collectables August 12, 2021 for $8550.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Wilbur Wright and Hart O. Berg, signed 8 Nov 1908 Wilbur Wright. Sold at Bonhams History of Science and Technology Including Space History, December 2018, $6500.
   
   
   
   
7. From French postcard series L'Aviation in 1908, showing Wilbur Wright with stray dog "Flyer", signed 8 Nov 1908 Wilbur Wright. Sold at Bonhams Voices of the 20th Century June 2015 sale, $5937.
   
   
   
   
8. Flight of Wilbur Wright evening of September 21, 1908 at Camp d'AAuvours covering 66 Km, signed 8 December 1908 Wilbur Wright. Sold at Bonhams June 2015 Voices of the 20th Century sale, $5625.
   
9. The Postcard above was framed with an Orville Wright signed first flight print, a piece of fabric from the 1903 Flyer, and a piece of metal from the 1905 Flyer. These framed items were offered in the Heritage May 7, 2022 auction, and sold for $75,000.  The Orville Wright signed first flight print value of $3500, the Wilbur Wright postcard value of $10,000 to be generous, the wing fabric value of $3000 to be really generous, assuming the piece is well documented as to it's origin, and the 1905 metal strip $500 again assuming well documented, which leaves the frame at $58,000. Doubtful this sale has reset the value on these individual items, especially on frames.         
   
   
   
                                                   
   
   
   
   
10. L'Aviation en 1908, Camp d'Auvours, Wright Flyer on ground, signed 18 Nov 1908 Wilbur Wright. Sold at Bonhams June 2016 Fine Books and Manuscripts sale for $5250.
    
    
11. L'Aviation en 1908, Camp d'Auvours, Wright Flyer on ground, signed 18 December 1908 Wilbur Wright. This postcard was offered for sale in the April 20, 2023 RR Auction Fine Autographs and Artifacts, and sold for $9375.
    
    
    
    
12. L'Aviation en 1908, Wilbur in flight Camp D'Auvours, signed 8 Nov. 1908. Wilbur Wright. Sold at Bonhams December 2014 Fine Books & Manuscripts sale for $5250.
    
    
    
    
13. French postcard, La Conquete De L'Air, close up of Wright Flyer, signed on wing 8 December 1908 Wilbur Wright. Sold at Bonhams December 2014 Fine Books & Manuscripts sale for $5250. This card was resold at the September 22, 2022 RR Auctions PSA Encapsulated Autograph Auction for $10,208. Personally, I prefer not having my collectables sealed up in plastic, but to each his own.
    
    
    
    
    
14. French postcard, L'Aviation en 1908- Le Mans, Wilbur Wright in flight, signed 8 December 1908 Wilbur Wright. Sold at Bonhams December 2018 History of Science and Technology, Including Space History sale for $5000. Was offered on E-bay for resale at $12,500 buy it now or make offer; didn't sell. Was offered by Nate Sanders Auctions June 2021 for starting price of $4500, but no bids.
    
    
    
    
    
    
15. French postcard showing Wilbur Wright on Flyer at Le Mans "La Conquete De L'air", signed across hangar.  Sold in the Heritage November 21, 2020 auction for $16,250.  Previously sold by Nate D. Sanders Auctions for $13,650.                      
    
    
    
                      
    
16. French postcard showing Wright Flyer at Le Mans "La Conquete de L'air", signed 8 December 1908 Wilbur Wright sold at Bonham's September 17, 2019 Air and Space sale for $5325. This card was then listed on E-bay for a buy-it-now price of $21,000 or make offer. The card then  sold for $5500 by Heritage Auctions, Space Exploration Signature auction, 5/21/21.
    
    

 16. Postcard sold at RR Auction, September 11, 2020, for $18,125. The card was offered again, RR Auction, March 8, 2023, and sold for $30,819. The message in French  by Rene Pelleir, the VP of the Aero Club of Sarthe, reads "10:30 PM- We just offered, the bronze for which you have contributed, to the Wright Brothers, and I make haste to send you this card signed by them." This card, in my opinion, is just odd. Why didn't the Brothers offer any salutation, and just instead, signed their names. I assume they knew it would be sent on to the bronze contributor. The card has been certified by PSA/DNA, but those signatures just bother me. I'm not familiar with Rene Pellier's hand writing style, and would need to verify that for myself before I'd feel comfortable with the card.
 

 

 

 

17. Postcard offered by RR Auction, April 12, 2023 Fine Autographs and Artifacts. Sold for $13,589. This card also bothers me. Why signed "Yours truly". Who was it signed to? The y in truly looks very forced. The card was certified by PSA/DNA.

18. Postcard sold by Heritage Auctions September 12, 2023, from Wilbur to his nephew Horace, Lorin Wright's son. Wilbur was in Berlin at the time, and wrote a message on the front of the card, "Can you swim?" Uncle Will. The address on the rear of the card is completely in Wilbur Wright's hand. The card does have damage, with ripped corners, likely due to being held in a photo album with corner hangers, and removed one too many times over the years. Sold for just $1500. Obviously genuine, as it was sent to a family member, yet because it did not include Wilbur's full autograph, the sale was no where near the prices of the previous postcards. In my opinion, this is foolish, the card has more value than $1500.

Wilbur's humor is evident in his challenge to Horace to swim the Atlantic Ocean in order to come visit his Uncle. Again, the address is completely in Wilbur's hand, and the authenticity is unquestionable. 

The card was immediately sent to PSA/DNA for certification, encapsulated, and placed on E-bay by the buyer at Buy it now price of $3995.

Postcard postmarked August 6, 1907, sent by Wilbur Wright to nephew Horace Wright. On August 6, Wilbur was with Hart O. Berg, negotiating the sale of a Wright Flyer in Germany.

 

Letters- Content is important- aviation related content will be more desirable than non-aviation content. Earlier letters are likely to have more value than later dated letters. If Wilbur Wright was the author, the letters will have more value simply because Wilbur died in 1912, and fewer letters are available in his authorship. Some examples of letters sold within the past few years-

1. I'm very envious of the individual who obtained this letter by Wilbur Wright dated, January 25, 1912, to Mr. W. de Hevesy in Paris. This letter has been quoted often in a good number of books on the Wright Brothers, and I was amazed when it became available. “During the past three months most of my time has been taken up with law suits and I have been away from home most of the time. I am hoping to be freed from this kind of work before another year has ended. It is much more pleasant to go to Kitty Hawk for experiments than to worry over law-suits. We had hoped in 1906 to sell our invention to governments for enough money to satisfy our needs and then devote our time to science, but the jealousy of certain persons blocked this plan, and compelled us to rely on our patents and commercial exploitation. We wished to be free from business cares so that we could give all our own time to advancing the science and art of aviation, but we have been compelled to spend our time on business matters instead, during the past five years. When we think what we might have accomplished if we had been able to devote this time to experiments, we feel very sad, but it is always easier to deal with things than with men, and no one can direct his life entirely as he would choose. Yet these years have not been without their pleasant spots. And we look back with much enjoyment to the friendships made during this period. If you should come to America do not forget Dayton.” Included original mailing envelope addressed by Wilbur. Sold for $13,316, April 2016. In my opinion, this letter has more value, but then I am most interested in personal content, and this letter is about as personal as they get, written just months before Wilbur's death. 
   
2. October 10, 1905 Wilbur Wright hand written letter to J. T. Daniels, discussing items left at Kitty Hawk, and the October 1905 flights at Huffman Prairie. Sold through Heritage Auctions May 30th, 2013 for $72,000. "We were very glad to receive your letter. If you will go over and make an invoice of the goods we left in the buildings and send to us the list we will pick out such things as we can not easily replace, and you can have the rest. We wish the buildings to be left standing for another year at least. If we decide to come down next year we will first put on a new roof, and new foundations. We have been having excellent success with our experiments. Last Tuesday Orville made a flight of sixteen miles; on Wednesday he made one of twenty one miles, and on Thursday I went over twenty four miles. As we fly here in light winds our speed over the ground is about four times as great as in the flights at Kitty Hawk. We go nearly forty miles an hour. Please give our regards to the Captain and to the members of the crew whom we know. Yours truly  Wilbur Wright."
   
   
   
   
   
3. Partial typed letter on Wright Cycle Company letterhead, October 9, 1905, signed for both by Orville,  "Wilbur & Orville Wright, O.W." sent to Captain Ferdinand Ferber, discussing the October 5, 1905 flight. Also a partial letter dated the next month was included. Sold for $15,303, December 2014.
4. Typed manuscript of an essay entitled “What Clement Ader Did,” which was published in the May 1912 edition of The Aero Club of America Bulletin, 10 pages, 8.5 x 11, signed on the last page, “Wilbur Wright,” with a couple of additional ink notations by Orville Wright. Sold for $67,333, May 2014.
5. Four pages on two adjoining sheets, personal letterhead, June 6, 1909 to Paul Tissandier in response to his letter sent to Wilbur on May 18, 1909. In full: “We were very glad to receive your nice letter, and to know that you are having such good success with your flying work...." Included mailing envelope in Wilbur's hand. Sold for $40,045, May 2013.
6. Single page, 8.25 x 11, Wright Brothers, 1127 W. Third Street, Dayton, Ohio letterhead, March 25, 1910. Short letter to M. Paul Tissandier. “We are hoping you will not fail to make a trip to America some time this year...." Sold for $64,507, May 2012.
7. Typed 2-page letter on The Wright Company letterhead, November 10, 1911, sent to Lieutenant H. H. Arnold with nice aviation content signed by Wilbur Wright. Sold for $59,134, September 2011.
8. Three pages on two sheets, personal letterhead, December 22, 1909. Letter, written from Dayton, Ohio, to J. M. Beck, Jr. “Some time ago while at College Park I received a copy of your school paper containing an article by you regarding my flight at the Hudson-Fulton Celebration....” Included mailing envelope in Wilbur's hand. Sold for $14,055, November 2012.
9. Typed single page letter on Wright Cycle Company letterhead, March 3, 1902, sent to Edmund Doyle in San Francisco, several sentences, signed by Wilbur Wright, including original envelope. Sold for $11,262, May 2010.
10. Final typed page signed by Orville on behalf of both brothers, “Wilbur & Orville Wright,” Wright Cycle Company letterhead, November 17, 1905, sent to Georges Besancon.  “The claim often made in the 19th century that the lack of sufficiently light motors alone prohibited man from the empire of the air was quite unfounded. At the speeds which birds usually employ, a well designed flyer can in actual practice sustain a gross weight of 30 kilograms for each horse power of the motor, which gives ample margin for such motors as might easily have been built 50 years ago.” Sold for $3259, November 2013.
11. Typed letter on Orville Wright Dayton, Ohio letterhead, June 15, 1927 about a current aviation event at Wright Field, one paragraph, $1640
12. Typed letter on Orville Wright Dayton, Ohio letterhead, March 16, 1931, turning down chairmanship request on historical exhibit of aircraft, half page, $1490
13. Typed letter on Orville Wright Dayton, Ohio letterhead, February 7, 1929, non aviation content, half page, $748.
14. Hand written partial page letter by Orville Wright on The Wright Company stationary to Mr. Woodhouse, sold for $1054, RR Auctions, October 10, 2018. Mentions negatives damaged in flood (1913). I would have liked to have bid on this, but was cash poor at that moment. Not dated, but would date between 1913 to 1915.
15. Typed on The Wright Company stationary, dated November 23, 1916, a letter by Orville Wright to Samuel G. Colt, in which Orville writes, "I have lately found some of the parts of the 1911 glider, which Mr. Crane was trying to set up. I think it probable that more of them will be found in time; but I do not know whether enough will be found to be of any use to you. I have a pile of old parts, which I will some time go through." Sold on Heritage Auctions October 2018 for $1312.
16. Typed four page letter on The Wright Company letterhead, April 7, 1915, from Orville Wright to Frederick Epplesheimer of The New York Herald. Orville writes at length concerning soaring flight. Content is everything, as this letter sold on RR Auction, September 2018 for $10,000. 
17. Handwritten from when in London with Wilbur, four page letter from Orville Wright to neighbor George Feight, November 1, 1907.  Interesting content."I saw the flights of the Farman machine at Paris last Saturday when a flight of about 750 yds was made in a straight line. As this flight was made in a perfectly dead calm and was not as long as the flight we made at Kitty Hawk in 1903 in a 20 mile wind, we do not feel uneasy that we are being very closely pursued." Sold by Max Rambod Inc. December 11, 2008 for $45,000.
18. Orville Wright typed letter to John W. Wood, author of Airports, Elements of Design. Letter dated September 25, 1939, with great content on 1904/05 flights at Simms Station, Amos Root, and John McMahon's book. Included with letter was 1906 Aero Club of America bulletin report of  the Wright's 1905 flights, $3000.

Original letter by Orville Wright to John W. Wood, author of Airports, Elements of Design. Provides facts of Huffman Prairie flights of 1904, 1905. $3000. This letter included the original insert from Orville Wright of the 1906 Aero Club of America bulletin as mentioned in the letter. (4)

1903 Wright Flyer Fabric Remnants- Small 1" square fabric remnants from the 1903 Flyer. The 1903 Wright Flyer was under 12 feet of water and mud during the 1913 Dayton flood. The 1903 Flyer fabric was removed and replaced with new fabric during the 1916 restoration. The fabric was again removed and replaced in 1926 prior to the Flyer being sent to the Science Museum in South Kensington, England, in 1928. Removed fabric was saved by Orville Wright, and after his death, was divided in small squares and applied in various formats for distribution to his acquaintances. Single page document typically was provided with each 1" square fabric.

Sales by Heritage Auctions, prices in descending order-

May 2023 $13,125 Otto Kallir collection, encased by CAG

May 2016- $11,250 to Darryl Schmiermund from Harold Miller

Dec 2016- $10,000  to John Redding from Lester Gardner

Dec 2009-  $10,755 to Charles Froesch from Lester Gardner

May 2023- $9697 to Lt. General Tallman from Harold Miller

Sept 2007- $9560 to Walter Brookins from Lester Gardner

Nov 2020- $9375 to Bob and Katie Reist from Ivonette Wright Miller

May 2019- $9375 to Elliott Reid from Lester Gardner

May 2009- $8962 to Mark Baker from Harold and Ivonette Miller

Mar 2008- $8365 to Wm. P. MacCracken Jr., from Lester Gardner

May 2015- $7500 from Harold and Ivonette Miller, flown on 1982 flight at Huffman Prairie

May 2017- $6875 to John Gillikan from Wilkinson Wright

May 2019- $5750 to James Rhodes from Harold and Ivonette Miller, flown on 1982 flight HP

Apr 2020-  $5500 from Harold Miller, framed format

Feb 2020-  $4125 tp Lee Hilton from Lester Gardner

May 2010- $3883 to Margaret Szypulski from Harold and Ivonette Miller

May 2012- $3107 from Harold and Ivonette Miller, flown on 1982 flight at Huffman Prairie

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the fabric piece was flown to the moon on the Apollo 11 mission, the value increases a bit.......


Unique items- Difficult to place a value on unique items, as each item would need to be compared to a similar item of equal importance, of known value. Recently, items from the Neil Armstrong Estate were sold at Heritage Auctions, and included fabric and wood from the 1903 Wright Flyer that had been flown on the Apollo 11 mission, and to the moon's surface in the Lunar Module "Eagle".

Images courtesy of Heritage Auctions from November 2018 Space Exploration Signature Auction featuring the Armstrong Family Collection

Images courtesy of Heritage Auctions from May 2019 Space Exploration Signature Auction featuring the Armstrong Family Collection Part II

Images courtesy of Heritage Auctions from July 2019 Armstrong Family Collection III Space Exploration Signature Auction

Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions from November 2019 Armstrong Family Collection IV Space Exploration Auction

Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions from November 2020 Space Exploration Signature Auction. Originally sold May 2019, for $55,000.

Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions from November 2021 Space Exploration Signature Auction, $125,000. Resold for $81,250 December 14, 2023 Heritage Auctions Space Exploration Signature Auction.

Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions from July 16, 2022 Historical Platinum Session Signature Auction, $187,500.

Hand drawn map by Lorin Wright, prepared by Lorin in 1915 and presented to Earl Findley and John McMahon for preparing their history of the Wright Brothers. The map indicates locations of homes of the Wright family. Findley and McMahon's manuscript was presented to Orville Wright for review, and was rejected as too personal. Reverse side of map includes notes by John McMahon on Wright family genealogy.(4)

I believe the greatest value of a historical collectible is in the satisfaction of preserving history. The monetary value is very subjective, and really depends on the given day, how well the item has been advertised, the number of interested bidders, and often, the state of the economy. 


(I will be continuing to update this post, adding pricing information on a variety of Wright Brother material. Please check back. Any input is welcome.)




Check out the related posts,
 "Collecting Historical Items associated with the Wright Brothers"


"Buyer Beware When Collecting Wright Brother Items"

 

"Gleaning the History from Wright Brother Checks- Their Styles and Value"

Index of Topics

Copyright 2021-Getting the Story Wright

Notes:
1. PCGS- Professional Coin Grading Service.
2. NGC- Numismatic Guarantee Corporation.
3. Amos Root wrote the first published eye witness account of a Wright flight. Refer to my post
Amos I. Root Much A Buzz About the Wright Brothers 
4. From Author's collection.
5. In early 2020, I contacted an E-bay dealer selling a word cut from a document written by Thomas Edison around 1916. The word was placed in a frame with a picture of Edison, and a claim that the buyer could obtain an actual hand written word by Edison. First of all, the original document was destroyed by cutting it up to sell the separate word. Second of all, the word wasn't even in the hand of Edison. The document was a short note written by Edison to his lab assistant. The assistant, years later, wrote a note on the bottom of Edison's short note, attesting to the fact that Edison wrote the original note in 1916. A word was then cut from the assistant's hand written portion in lieu of from Edison's hand written portion, and displayed as a word written by Edison. The item sold, but not until after a substantial price drop. Perhaps the buyer was just interested in the frame.