{"product_id":"orville-wright-s-personal-bankbook-1912-1918-more-than-1-25-million-in-deposits","title":"Orville Wright’s Personal Bankbook, 1912–1918—More Than $1.25 Million in Deposits","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAn extraordinary original financial record belonging to \u003cstrong\u003eOrville Wright\u003c\/strong\u003e, co-inventor of the world’s first successful powered airplane.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eIssued by \u003cstrong\u003eThe Winters National Bank of Dayton, Ohio\u003c\/strong\u003e, this personal deposit and check book begins on \u003cstrong\u003eOctober 26, 1912\u003c\/strong\u003e, and continues through \u003cstrong\u003eApril 4, 1918\u003c\/strong\u003e. Its sixteen pages record more than five years of Orville Wright’s financial activity during a transformational period in his life and in the history of aviation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eFrom “Wright Brothers” to Orville Wright\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe opening date is especially significant. A surviving Wright Brothers joint account book at the same Dayton bank concludes on \u003cstrong\u003eOctober 26, 1912\u003c\/strong\u003e. This individual Orville Wright account begins on that exact date.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eWilbur Wright had died of typhoid fever on May 30, 1912. The closing of the brothers’ joint account and opening of Orville’s individual account several months later provide a poignant documentary record of the legal and financial transition following Wilbur’s death.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eMore Than $1.25 Million in Deposits\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAccording to the accompanying collection summary, deposits recorded in the book total an extraordinary \u003cstrong\u003e$1,253,936.54\u003c\/strong\u003e. The largest individual deposit—\u003cstrong\u003e$257,910.94\u003c\/strong\u003e—was entered on October 25, 1916.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThese substantial transactions date from the period in which Orville withdrew from active aircraft manufacturing, disposed of his interests in the Wright Company and continued to benefit from investments, contracts and aviation-related patent rights. The book potentially offers valuable primary-source evidence concerning the financial results of the Wright Brothers’ invention and Orville’s transition from industrialist to independent researcher.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe account’s last entry is dated \u003cstrong\u003eApril 4, 1918\u003c\/strong\u003e, and records a remaining balance of approximately \u003cstrong\u003e$382.53\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eOrville Wright’s Name Incised into the Cover\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe words \u003cstrong\u003e“Orville Wright”\u003c\/strong\u003e are faintly carved or scratched into the leather cover beneath the printed words “In account with.” The accompanying collection description attributes this inscription to Orville Wright himself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe cover inscription is conservatively described as \u003cstrong\u003eattributed to Orville Wright\u003c\/strong\u003e pending examination by a recognized handwriting authority. The more formal account name inside, together with the dates, deposits and balances, appears to have been entered by Winters National Bank personnel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe original flexible leather cover exhibits extensive rubbing, fading, staining and edge wear consistent with prolonged practical use. The incised name is faint but visible under suitable lighting. The interior pages show expected toning and handling, but the manuscript entries remain substantially intact and legible. The worn condition gives the book the unmistakable character of a frequently used personal financial record.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAn exceptional primary-source artifact documenting Orville Wright’s financial life immediately after Wilbur’s death, the conclusion of the Wright Brothers’ partnership and Orville’s emergence as the sole surviving inventor of the airplane.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAccount holder:\u003c\/strong\u003e Orville Wright\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBank:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Winters National Bank, Dayton, Ohio\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDates:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 26, 1912–April 4, 1918\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eContents:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 16 completed ledger pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReported total deposits:\u003c\/strong\u003e $1,253,936.54\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLargest reported deposit:\u003c\/strong\u003e $257,910.94, October 25, 1916\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal balance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately $382.53\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCover inscription:\u003c\/strong\u003e “Orville Wright,” traditionally attributed to Orville Wright\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Heavily used, with substantial exterior wear; interior entries generally legible\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/strong\u003eMiller sale.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52922893369626,"sku":null,"price":29000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_3231.jpg?v=1790001591","url":"https:\/\/www.thearchiveauthority.com\/products\/orville-wright-s-personal-bankbook-1912-1918-more-than-1-25-million-in-deposits","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}