1900 Wilbur Wright’s “Belief That Flight Is Possible” Letter to Octave Chanute — Complete Five-Page Vintage Facsimile, May 13, 1900
Wilbur Wright’s “Belief That Flight Is Possible” Letter to Octave Chanute — Complete Five-Page Vintage Facsimile, May 13, 1900
A complete five-page lithographically printed facsimile of Wilbur Wright’s historic May 13, 1900 letter to aviation pioneer Octave Chanute, preserved by the Wright family and subsequently sold in the Miller sale of material from the Orville Wright estate.
Written more than three years before the Wright brothers achieved powered flight at Kitty Hawk, the letter begins with one of the most prophetic statements in the history of invention:
“For some years I have been afflicted with the belief that flight is possible to man. My disease has increased in severity and I feel that it will soon cost me an increased amount of money if not my life.”
In this remarkable letter, Wilbur sets forth his developing theories of human flight. He discusses the shortcomings of Otto Lilienthal’s weight-shifting method, the way birds restore lateral balance, the torsion or twisting of wings, movable control surfaces, and a proposed 150-foot practice tower that would permit an operator to remain aloft for extended periods.
Wilbur describes a double-deck flying machine resembling the gliders previously tested by Chanute and his associates. His proposed system permitted the wings to be moved independently to obtain lateral control—an early explanation of the wing-warping principle that became essential to the Wright brothers’ eventual success.
The letter concludes with Wilbur asking Chanute to recommend a suitable experimental location where winds of approximately fifteen miles per hour could be expected without excessive rain or severe weather. That search ultimately led the Wright brothers to the winds and dunes of Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.
This letter began the historically important correspondence between Wilbur Wright and Octave Chanute. Chanute became one of the brothers’ most important early advisers, supporters and contacts within the international aeronautical community.
Printed on five separate blue-gray sheets, the facsimile reproduces the illustrated Wright Cycle Company letterhead, Wilbur Wright’s complete handwritten text, manuscript corrections, closing signature, page numbers and the Library of Congress ownership stamps found on the original manuscript.
The visible lithographic halftone pattern confirms that this is a printed facsimile rather than Wilbur Wright’s original letter. The Library of Congress stamps are part of the reproduced image and were not separately applied to these sheets. The original manuscript is preserved in the Octave Chanute Papers in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress.
What distinguishes this example is its Wright family provenance. The set was sold in the Miller sale of material descended from the estate of Orville Wright. Harold S. Miller, husband of the Wright brothers’ niece Ivonette Wright Miller, served as co-executor of Orville Wright’s estate. Harold and Ivonette preserved a substantial archive of Wright family papers, photographs and memorabilia.
Although it does not contain an original Wilbur Wright autograph, this is an important Wright-family association copy of the document that initiated the Wright–Chanute relationship and helped set the brothers on their path to Kitty Hawk.
PROVENANCE: The estate of Orville Wright; by descent through the Wright family; Miller sale.
CONDITION: Complete in five consecutively numbered sheets. Light handling, minor marginal wear and gentle creasing, as illustrated. The sheets retain a pleasing, uniform blue-gray color.
Please note: This is a lithographically printed historical facsimile. Wilbur Wright’s handwriting and signature, as well as the Library of Congress stamps, are reproduced as part of the printed image
Wilbur Wright’s “Belief That Flight Is Possible” Letter to Octave Chanute — Complete Five-Page Vintage Facsimile, May 13, 1900
A complete five-page lithographically printed facsimile of Wilbur Wright’s historic May 13, 1900 letter to aviation pioneer Octave Chanute, preserved by the Wright family and subsequently sold in the Miller sale of material from the Orville Wright estate.
Written more than three years before the Wright brothers achieved powered flight at Kitty Hawk, the letter begins with one of the most prophetic statements in the history of invention:
“For some years I have been afflicted with the belief that flight is possible to man. My disease has increased in severity and I feel that it will soon cost me an increased amount of money if not my life.”
In this remarkable letter, Wilbur sets forth his developing theories of human flight. He discusses the shortcomings of Otto Lilienthal’s weight-shifting method, the way birds restore lateral balance, the torsion or twisting of wings, movable control surfaces, and a proposed 150-foot practice tower that would permit an operator to remain aloft for extended periods.
Wilbur describes a double-deck flying machine resembling the gliders previously tested by Chanute and his associates. His proposed system permitted the wings to be moved independently to obtain lateral control—an early explanation of the wing-warping principle that became essential to the Wright brothers’ eventual success.
The letter concludes with Wilbur asking Chanute to recommend a suitable experimental location where winds of approximately fifteen miles per hour could be expected without excessive rain or severe weather. That search ultimately led the Wright brothers to the winds and dunes of Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.
This letter began the historically important correspondence between Wilbur Wright and Octave Chanute. Chanute became one of the brothers’ most important early advisers, supporters and contacts within the international aeronautical community.
Printed on five separate blue-gray sheets, the facsimile reproduces the illustrated Wright Cycle Company letterhead, Wilbur Wright’s complete handwritten text, manuscript corrections, closing signature, page numbers and the Library of Congress ownership stamps found on the original manuscript.
The visible lithographic halftone pattern confirms that this is a printed facsimile rather than Wilbur Wright’s original letter. The Library of Congress stamps are part of the reproduced image and were not separately applied to these sheets. The original manuscript is preserved in the Octave Chanute Papers in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress.
What distinguishes this example is its Wright family provenance. The set was sold in the Miller sale of material descended from the estate of Orville Wright. Harold S. Miller, husband of the Wright brothers’ niece Ivonette Wright Miller, served as co-executor of Orville Wright’s estate. Harold and Ivonette preserved a substantial archive of Wright family papers, photographs and memorabilia.
Although it does not contain an original Wilbur Wright autograph, this is an important Wright-family association copy of the document that initiated the Wright–Chanute relationship and helped set the brothers on their path to Kitty Hawk.
PROVENANCE: The estate of Orville Wright; by descent through the Wright family; Miller sale.
CONDITION: Complete in five consecutively numbered sheets. Light handling, minor marginal wear and gentle creasing, as illustrated. The sheets retain a pleasing, uniform blue-gray color.
Please note: This is a lithographically printed historical facsimile. Wilbur Wright’s handwriting and signature, as well as the Library of Congress stamps, are reproduced as part of the printed image
