Wright, Orville (ON HOLD)
$650.00
Signed 1932 Kitty Hawk Wright Memorial dedication cover
Description
Type: Signed Cover
Description: (1871-1948) American inventor and pioneer aviator, with brother Wilbur invented 1st successful heavier-than-air power-driven airplane. Orville piloted the 1st manned flight at Kitty Hawk, No. Carolina on Dec. 17, 1903.
3 ¾ x 6 ¾ US 5c airmail envelope (with 3c Washington stamp affixed) with red circular “Dare Chamber of Commerce Seal/Dedication/ Wright Memorial/Kitty Hawk, N. C./Nov. 19, 1932” stamp at left side. At lower right is typed legend: “COMMEMORATING THE FIRST/ SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT BY AIRPLANE./ WILBUR and ORVILLE WRIGHT.” at lower right. Envelope is signed by Orville Wright between red stamp and typed legend. Comes with Wright Brothers National Memorial visitors brochure.
The Wright Brothers National Memorial is the site of the flight carried out by Orville & Wilbur Wright Dec. 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, No. Carolina. W. O. Saunders, editor of the Elizabeth City Independent, organized the Kill Devil Hill Memorial Association to ensure a proper commemoration of the Wrights’ 1st flight. No. Car. US Rep. Lindsay Warren introduced a bill for a Wright Memorial to Congress Dec. 17, 1926, 23rd anniversary of the 1st flight. Conn. Senator Hiram Bingham introduced a similar bill in the Senate that day. Investors donated the land at Kill Devil Hills. The Act passed and was signed by President Coolidge March 2, 1927, establishing the Kill Devil Hill National Memorial. The Act called for erection of a monument to honor the Wrights’ Kitty Hawk achievements.
The Memorial offered an incentive for tourism and provided justification for new roads and bridges. On Dec. 17, 1928, 200 delegates from the International Civil Aeronautics Conference and 3,000+ visitors dedicated a granite marker at the approx. location of the 1903 liftoff and laid the cornerstone of the monument to be placed on Kill Devil Hill.
Nov. 19, 1932, was selected as dedication day. Only 1,000 people showed up on a stormy and windy day. Orville Wright was guest of honor. President Hoover was unable to attend but a letter from him was read. This was a rare time when one of the persons to whom a memorial was dedicated (Orville Wright) was alive.
Condition: Very good, light tan stain at lower right affects part of typed legend.
