Finding the Wright stuff

If you know where to look, you can still find original Wright brothers memorabilia

A FEW YEARS AGO, Microsoft wizard Bill Gates summed up the influence and inspiration of the Wright brothers by stating: "The Wright brothers created the single greatest cultural force since the invention of writing. The airplane became the first World Wide Web, bringing people, languages, ideas and values together." With all the 2003 events and publications celebrating the Centennial of the brothers' first flight, seasoned collectors are salivating at the thought of treasures to be revealed, while fledgling collectors are being drawn into the field amidst the exhibitions and the renewed appreciation of the men who forever changed our world.

The souvenirs and memorabilia that will be offered during these celebrations range from rare and valuable museum artifacts and documents to the more popular and affordable collectibles favored by autograph, coin and stamp collectors for generations. Wright memorabilia that has been stored in museum warehouses, backrooms and archives for decades is now being dusted off, exhibited and shared with great fanfare. Collectors may choose from a wide range of items offered by nearly every museum shop, Internet auction site and aviation and hobby publication; there's something to suit all tastes and interests.

An album full of commemorative covers (postal envelopes with artwork and postmarks celebrating the famous achievement) is every bit as fascinating and enjoyable as a rare photo or document. It is fairly easy to assemble a collection of these illustrated covers that have been issued all over the world on hundreds of occasions. They include beautiful art, sketches and prints of many of the significant events in the life of Wilbur and Orville. They were always so popular that most of them were issued in large quantities and are still available today for only a dollar or two. I have several albums full of them, and they are as enjoyable as artifacts that cost thousands of dollars more. Most of the designs issued for 2003 will cost a few dollars or less. Some will undoubtedly include hand-painted and original art, and those will be offered at a premium.

One nice album format is to combine groups of covers that were issued for the 25th, 50th and 75th anniversaries of flight with the new offers coming out this year. If you want to upgrade to especially rare and valuable issues and signed covers, such offerings are also out there. Purchasing them on eBay almost makes it too easy. For those who really enjoy the thrill of the hunt, it is great fun to try to find nice old issues at the many stamp and coin shows held regularly in almost every town and city throughout the year.

Our collection of autographed material includes a great many of the most famous pilots and designers, and I've always found it fascinating that Orville's signature is still in the mid-range of values and is very affordable. As soon as the world learned of the brothers' achievement, kings and commoners alike sought his autograph. He enjoyed a long and active life as a perpetual guest of honor at international aviation conventions and dinners and readily granted most requests. The simple rules of supply and demand ensure that the reclusive Lindbergh's autograph usually fetches two or three times that of Orville's, which goes in the $450 to $1,200 range. On the other hand, items signed by Wilbur are in great demand and are rarely found. Because he died early in 1912, Wilbur did not experience the decades of fame enjoyed by his brother. His autograph rarely surfaces, and it is uncommon to see a good example valued at less than several thousand dollars. The most important point to make here is that there are a great many fakes in the general autograph market, and if you don't have a lot of experience, it's best to try to purchase such treasures from longestablished dealers and collectors, who value their reputations far more than a few individual sales.

Among the most common forms of Orville's autograph are the hundreds of retired checks from his old Winters National Bank account in Dayton, Ohio. These make excellent presentations when framed and mounted with a Wright photo or drawing. Enough of them exist in the marketplace that authenticity is rarely a problem. The most sought-after checks are those that were signed and dated during the Wrights' involvement in building their original aeroplanes, or those issued by the Wright Cycle Co. Many more are available that are dated up to 1948, when Orville died, but they just don't have the same connection. To confuse matters even more, several hundred of these checks were reported stolen a few years ago, so they are subject to being reclaimed once rediscovered on the market. Any autograph collector will tell you that there is an almost spiritual connection when you hold the same piece of paper or photograph as this famous person once held and signed.

Coins and medallions that feature the 1903 flight have been issued on many occasions and anniversaries. These early issues may be found by searching for Wright Brothers Homecoming and The Wright Co. materials. One often overlooked source of interesting coins and medallions is dealers in local historical memorabilia of Ohio in general and Dayton, specifically. The official term for this field of collecting-and one to use in Internet and other searches-is "exonumia."