Apr 12, 2018 - Sale 2473

Sale 2473 - Lot 41

Unsold
Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200
(AVIATION.) [Hare, James H. "Jimmy."] Photograph of Wilbur Wright at a public aircraft demonstration for the United States Army. Printing-out paper print, 5 x 7 inches, captioned in pencil on verso "Wilbur talks to Governor Flower of N.Y., trial tests of plane, Ft. Myer 1908"; minimal wear. Fort Myer, VA, [1909?]

Additional Details

The caption raises more questions than it answers. The man on the right does bear a slight resemblance to Governor Roswell Flower of New York, who unfortunately passed away in 1899. A Wright Brothers plane was demonstrated for the United States Army in Fort Myer, VA in 1908--but mustachioed Orville Wright was there to make the flight, and this does appeas to be Wilbur Wright, as stated in the caption. Wilbur was in Europe in 1908. However, he did return to participate in the July 1909 tests at Fort Myer; we have not identified the men talking with Wright. Colliers photographer Jimmy Hare was at both the 1908 and 1909 tests. Provenance: Swann sale, 6 October 1993, lot 269.