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The First Aircraft Sold in France Archive: Chanute Octave

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:4,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
The First Aircraft Sold in France Archive: Chanute Octave

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Auction Date:2015 Jan 22 @ 13:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Small archive of material related to Octave Chanute and the first-ever sale of an aircraft in France, comprised of two ALSs in French by Chanute, a shipping invoice, and three photographs. Both letters are to aviator Jacques Balsan, who had ordered an aircraft in 1903. The first is signed “O. Chanute,” one page, 8.5 x 11, personal letterhead, December 21, 1904. In part (translated): “The glider you ordered on November 6, 1903, was finished (except for the fabric) in March 1904, the time at which you were coming to America. Receiving no letter from you, I had to take the glider at my own expense.” He then says he covered the glider, and that it was flown by William Avery at the St. Louis World's Fair in September of that year, continuing, “I received your telegram of September 24, 1904, and I replied that I would be in St. Louis from October 3 for a week. When I arrived, you already left for New York. The glider is back here (in Chicago), it is in good shape, but it will cost you 500 francs if you want it.” This letter was clearly successful, as the second ALS, also signed “O. Chanute,” one page both sides, 8.5 x 11, personal letterhead, February 28, 1905, offers detailed information about the shipping of the glider to Paris. The invoice is for crating an airplane and initialed by Chanute, “O. C.,” adding a note reading, “Freight prepaid Chicago to New York.” The three photos, all measuring 2.5 x 2, depict the Chanute-Herring glider. In overall very good to fine condition.

The aeronautics display held at the 1904 World’s Fair was largely arranged by Chanute, who set up an electric winch to launch the glider from level ground. Using this method, Avery was able to fly about 70 feet into the air and travel over 300 feet. After one of the launches, Avery crashed and broke his right foot and the aircraft suffered minor damage. However, it was easily repaired and the glider was sent to Balsan overseas in February 1905. After flying it for many years, he donated it to the Paris Air Museum in 1925, and it remains on display at Le Bourget. A rare, historically significant archive in the development of manned flight.