Beschreibung:

WRIGHT, Orville and Wilbur Wright. Menu signed ("Wilbur Wright", "Orville Wright"), from a banquet in their honor, [Paris], 1 May 1909. 1 page, 167 x 121mm (6.5/8 x 4¾in.), thick card with mounted black-and-white photograph of a bronze statue of the brothers, verso with evidence of mounting . Boldly signed in ink in blank portion. Accompanied by an article "Dans Les Airs", 25 May 1909, 3 pages , describing the banquet. THE WRIGHT BROTHERS IN FRANCE Wilbur Wright had first demonstrated the Wright Flyer to Europe in 1908. Visiting other European countries on his journey, he was joined by Orville and their sister Katherine in Paris, 29 April 1909. In Le Mans, they were honorary guests at a banquet given by the president of 'l'Aéro-Club de la Sarthe.' The caption on the menu for that occasion reads: "à l'occasion de la remise du Souvenir offert aux premiers Hommes-Oiseaux par leurs admirateurs Manceaux." (At the ceremony of awarding this Statue to the first Man-Birds by their Le Mans admirers). Some items on the menu have been carefully chosen: "Consommé aux Planés" (gliding soup), "vol-au-vent d'Auvours," "Glace à la Wilbur" (Wilbur ice-cream). The accompanying magazine article reports that Wilbur was offered the Légion of Honor, but refused to accept unless his brother was recognised also. Wilbur had been demonstrating their aircraft at the race course at Hunandrières near Le Mans, arousing the admiration and enthusiasm of thousands. "The French regarded the quiet and taciturn aeronaut...with reverence and awe. He made flights to altitudes of 300 feet and more, and concluded a satisfactory arrangement with a French syndicate for the construction of his machine in France." (DAB)