ORVILLE WRIGHT — Exceptional Triple-Signed $100 Check, July 14, 1914 — Winters National Bank, Dayton, Ohio
An exceptionally rare original bank check bearing three separate signatures of Orville Wright—two on the face and a third on the reverse endorsement—dated July 14, 1914, and drawn on the Winters National Bank of Dayton, Ohio. Provenance: Miller sale.
Exceptional Three-Signature Orville Wright Check | Winters National Bank, Dayton, Ohio
Date: July 14, 1914
Bank: The Winters National Bank, Dayton, Ohio
Amount: $100.00
Payable to: Orville Wright
Signatures: Three separate Orville Wright signatures
An exceptional original 1914 Orville Wright bank check bearing three separate signatures of Orville Wright—two on the face and a third on the reverse.
Drawn on The Winters National Bank of Dayton, Ohio, the check is dated July 14, 1914, only two years after the death of Orville's brother and aviation partner, Wilbur Wright. By this time, Orville was carrying forward the Wright family's aviation interests and business affairs on his own.
Three Orville Wright Signatures
The extraordinary feature of this document is the presence of three distinct Orville Wright signatures:
- “Orville Wright” appears on the payee portion of the check.
- A second, boldly written “Orville Wright” appears at lower right on the face.
- A third “Orville Wright” appears on the reverse as the endorsement.
The result is an unusually attractive multiple-signature Wright Brothers financial document, offering the collector three examples of Orville Wright's handwriting on a single original document.
Historical Significance
The check dates from an important transitional period in Wright history. Following Wilbur Wright's death in 1912, Orville became the surviving principal figure of the Wright aviation enterprise. A 1914 document therefore represents the Wright family's continuing financial and business activity during the formative years of American aviation.
The Winters National Bank connection is particularly appropriate. Located in Dayton, the bank appears on numerous surviving Wright Brothers financial documents and provides an authentic contemporary connection to the Wright family's home city.
A Remarkable Collectible
Unlike a detached autograph, this is a complete contemporary financial document, retaining its original banking characteristics, handwriting, cancellation perforations, and endorsement.
For the collector, it combines several desirable qualities:
Orville Wright autograph • three signatures • 1914 date • Dayton provenance • Winters National Bank • $100 transaction • original contemporary document
The cancellation perforations are characteristic of cancelled historical checks and do not materially interfere with the three Wright signatures.
Condition
Very good overall condition for a cancelled 1914 bank check, with expected folds, age toning, minor edge wear, cancellation perforations, and light handling wear. The paper remains substantially intact, and all three Orville Wright signatures are exceptionally clear and legible.
Collector's Note
This is not simply an Orville Wright signature on a cancelled check. It is an unusually scarce triple-signed Orville Wright document, preserving three separate examples of his signature on one original financial instrument.
An exceptionally rare original bank check bearing three separate signatures of Orville Wright—two on the face and a third on the reverse endorsement—dated July 14, 1914, and drawn on the Winters National Bank of Dayton, Ohio. Provenance: Miller sale.
Exceptional Three-Signature Orville Wright Check | Winters National Bank, Dayton, Ohio
Date: July 14, 1914
Bank: The Winters National Bank, Dayton, Ohio
Amount: $100.00
Payable to: Orville Wright
Signatures: Three separate Orville Wright signatures
An exceptional original 1914 Orville Wright bank check bearing three separate signatures of Orville Wright—two on the face and a third on the reverse.
Drawn on The Winters National Bank of Dayton, Ohio, the check is dated July 14, 1914, only two years after the death of Orville's brother and aviation partner, Wilbur Wright. By this time, Orville was carrying forward the Wright family's aviation interests and business affairs on his own.
Three Orville Wright Signatures
The extraordinary feature of this document is the presence of three distinct Orville Wright signatures:
- “Orville Wright” appears on the payee portion of the check.
- A second, boldly written “Orville Wright” appears at lower right on the face.
- A third “Orville Wright” appears on the reverse as the endorsement.
The result is an unusually attractive multiple-signature Wright Brothers financial document, offering the collector three examples of Orville Wright's handwriting on a single original document.
Historical Significance
The check dates from an important transitional period in Wright history. Following Wilbur Wright's death in 1912, Orville became the surviving principal figure of the Wright aviation enterprise. A 1914 document therefore represents the Wright family's continuing financial and business activity during the formative years of American aviation.
The Winters National Bank connection is particularly appropriate. Located in Dayton, the bank appears on numerous surviving Wright Brothers financial documents and provides an authentic contemporary connection to the Wright family's home city.
A Remarkable Collectible
Unlike a detached autograph, this is a complete contemporary financial document, retaining its original banking characteristics, handwriting, cancellation perforations, and endorsement.
For the collector, it combines several desirable qualities:
Orville Wright autograph • three signatures • 1914 date • Dayton provenance • Winters National Bank • $100 transaction • original contemporary document
The cancellation perforations are characteristic of cancelled historical checks and do not materially interfere with the three Wright signatures.
Condition
Very good overall condition for a cancelled 1914 bank check, with expected folds, age toning, minor edge wear, cancellation perforations, and light handling wear. The paper remains substantially intact, and all three Orville Wright signatures are exceptionally clear and legible.
Collector's Note
This is not simply an Orville Wright signature on a cancelled check. It is an unusually scarce triple-signed Orville Wright document, preserving three separate examples of his signature on one original financial instrument.
