Getting the story Wright: February 2025

Updates February 14, 2025

Pilot licenses signed by Orville Wright are readily available, often offered at auction. Thirty-three are listed below to provide a guide of price range for collectors. I've arranged the licenses by year issued, in lieu of by year sold at auction. A number of the licenses listed have been sold multiple times, providing some interesting data on resale value.

The National Aeronautic Association of U.S.A (NAA) was initially formed in 1905 as the Aero Club of America (ACA). The ACA was reorganized in 1922 as the NAA. The Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) was formed in October of 1905.

Orville Wright served as governor-at-large to the NAA in 1926 and 1927. Orville signed pilot licenses as "Chairman of Contest Committee" for the years 1924-1930.

Federation Aeronautique Internationale, National Aeronautic Association of U.S.A. Inc. Aviator's Certificate. John Clair Cox, Jr., Born 1905, Certificate #7746, signed by Orville Wright, Chairman, and G.W. Lewis, Executive Vice-Chairman. From Author's collection.

National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) after a White House reception, April 21, 1921. Orville Wright is third from the left, and George W. Lewis is sixth from the left. Orville was a member from 1920 through 1948. Formed in 1915, then in 1958 NACA became the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Image courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.

Of the Orville Wright signed licenses listed in this post, six sold for less than $1000, but five of these sale dates were between 2006 and 2010. The later exception from 2018 sold below market value. Fifteen sold between $1000 and $2000. Nine sold between $2000 and $3000. Five sold between $3000 and $4500. (Including re-sale of some of the licenses).

Factors that could effect value would include condition of license, popularity and accomplishments of the pilot, and clarity of Orville Wright's signature. The list of licenses provided here do not necessarily reflect lower to higher values based on these characteristics, as the items were sold in various auctions over many years, and so a side by side comparison was not available.

Abbreviations for Pilot License table below:

Heritage Auctions- HA
University Archives- UA
RR Auction- RR
Swann Auction Galleries- SA
Potter & Potter Auctions Inc- PP
One of a Kind Collectibles- OKC
Early American History Auctions- EAH
Grant Zahaiko Auctions- GZ
Iconic Auctions- IA
Leonard Auction- LA
National Aeronautic Association of U.S.A.- NAA
United States of America Annual Sporting License- SL
Fe'de'ration Ae'ronautique Internationale. Certificate- FAI

1924 William O. Ralph, No. of Brevet 798, Hydro-aero, License #35. Sold by RR, Aug 14, 2024...................................................................................................................................$3033

1925 Franklin G. Cowie, FAI, #6297, License #317. Sold by EAH, March 20, 2021............... $1600

1925 Etienne Dormoy, FAI #2237, License #5. Sold by GZ, March 6, 2024.............................$1500

1926 May 27, Kenneth W. Montee, NAA #6413. Sold by HA, June 8, 2010.............................$836

1926 May 27, Kenneth W. Montee, NAA #6413. Re-sold by RR, Sept 22, 2011......................$1279

1926 James T. Young, FAI #6332, License #26. Sold by RR, Feb 9, 2011...............................$1548

1926 Sept 1, Ray Wm. McClenaghan, FAI, NAA #6522. Sold by RR, March 9, 2011.............$1142

1926 Aug 6, Emanuel Hahn, Cert #1045, License # 386. Sold by LA, Oct 21, 2018.................$750

Two licenses sold indicating one of the licenses has a printed OW signature. Both appear to be original signatures, not printed. License to the right authenticated by PSA/DNA.

1927 Wilmer L. Stultz, SL #620, FAI #6802. Sold by HA, Sept 25, 2024................................$4750

Included 1928 license SL #228, and other items. Stultz flew with Amelia Earhart across Atlantic.

1927 Warren Hallowell, SL #257, FAI #6637. Sold by HA, Apr 11, 2012... ..............................$1015

1927 Joseph William Esch., SL #215, FAI #6631. Sold by RR, Aug 14, 2013...........................$1348

1927 Edward G. Knapp, SL #479, FAI #4656, PSA/DNA encased. Re-sold by GWS Auctions, Nov 3, 2018...........................................................................................................................$2100

Encased in plastic by PSA/DNA. Not necessary in my opinion, but to each his own.

1927 Edward G. Knapp, SL #479, FAI #4656. Re-sold by RR, July 13, 2016............................$2231

1927 Edward G. Knapp, SL #479, FAI #4656. Sold by RR, March 12, 2014.............................$1142

1927 Clarence M. Young, SL #286, FAI #6291. Sold by RR, May 11, 2022..............................$3336

Was issued 2nd US Civil Air license in history. Pres. Herbert Hoover's aviation secretary, architect of the Federal airways system.

1927 January 17, Herman Halcolm Moore, NAA #6634. Sold by PP, July 28, 2018..................$2160

1927 January 21, Wallace F. Hope, FAI NAA #6636. Sold by EAH, Feb 23, 2019. In poor condition..........................................................................................................................$1200

1928 Miss Marjorie Stinson, FAI #308, SL #356. Sold E-bay, Dec 29, 2024..............................$1151

Marjorie Stinson was trained at Wright Flying School. License lacks photo.

1928 August 24, Charles Dycer, NAA #6916. Sold by HA, Nov 1, 2024...................................$1625

1928 Edmund W. Hill, FAI #930, SL #25. Sold by OKC, Oct 29, 2014......................................$1563

1928 Ed Nirmaier, SL #5, FAI #801, Hydro-aero. Sold by RR, Aug 15, 2012............................$1842

1929 George Wallace Rifley, SL #64, FAI #7007. Sold by UA, June 26, 2024..........................$4500

Encapsulated by PSA/DNA, graded Mint 9. Unfortunate we have to grade one of a kind historical items, but this is some collector's preference.

1929 Chester Brown Loomis, Jr., FAI #7058, License #217. Sold by IA, Aug 5, 2016..............$2338

1929 Feb 4, 1929, John Thomas Rogerson FAI, NAA #7039. Sold by OKC, June 21, 2012.....$1150

1929 July 17, Irving Gerard Hay, NAA #71--. Sold by HA, Nov 21, 2020...................................$3250

1929 July 17, Irving Gerard Hay, NAA #71--. Sold by HA, March 25, 2008................................$896

1930 January 18, Vernon Henry Ramsey, SL #472. Sold by Bonhams, Oct 17, 2006................$836

1930 June 7, Alexander T. Suchoff, NAA #7545. Sold by UA, Sept 18, 2024.............................$2800

1930 June 21, V. Edward Smith, NAA #7568. Sold by RR, June 16, 2010..................................$791

1930 V. Edward Smith, SL #427, FAI #7568. Re-sold by IA, Dec 16, 2012................................$2125

1930 V. Edward Smith, SL #427, FAI #7568. Sold by RR, Sept 15, 2010.................................. $871

1930 October 6, Fred Lorillard, NAA #7809. Sold by HA, June 13, 2014...................................$1140

1930 J. E. Thropp, 3rd, SL #106, FAA #6459. Sold by RR, June 18, 2008..................................$1163

1930 Miss Jean LaRene, SL #77, FAA #7218. Re-sold by IA, June 29, 2013..............................$2829

1930 Miss Jean LaRene, SL #77, FAA #7218. Sold by RR, Feb 13, 2013...................................$2455

1930 Sept 10, John Clair Cox, Jr., FAI NAA #7746. Author's collection......................................

1930 Sept 23, Paul Dewley, NAA #7799, plus archive of items. Re-sold by SA, Oct 26, 2023......$2400

1930 Sept 23, Paul Dewley, NAA #7799. Sold by SA, Sept 25, 2008..........................................$1680

Orville Wright served as Chairman of the Contest Committee for NAA from 1924 through 1932, inactive the last year. Due to scheduling conflicts, and not lack of interest, Orville wrote Senator Hiram Bingham in 1932, asking to be removed from the list of members of the contest committee.

1932 July 31 OW to Senator Hiram Bingham, 1pg, typed, Orville Wright letterhead, Orville wrote, ".....some additional delay in answering....is due to my general inability to get writing done. I am sorry that I will not be able to be in Washington for the N.A.A. meetings.....These come at an awkward time of the year for me. I have not been able to attend any of the meetings, nor race meets, since the time of holding them has been changed to August and September. My name has appeared as chairman of the contest committee this year, though I have not been present at a single meeting. My absence from meetings has been due to inability to be present, not from lack of interest. In a talk with you....I explained my attitude with regard to letting my name appear as a member of committee whose meetings I can not personally attend. At that time I agreed to let my name remain on the list of members of the contest committee until the next annual meeting of the Association, with the understanding that it would then be dropped without attracting the attention of certain enemies of yours and the Association's as might be attracted by a resignation. In appointing the next committee please omit my name entirely....." Letter sold by Christie's, December 18, 2003, $2390.

I will continue to add to this list as new sales occur, and older sales come to light.

Getting the story Wright

Blog Archive

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Collecting Pilot Licenses Signed by Orville Wright