American Aviator Pioneers Collage, with Signatures of Orville Wright, Eddie Rickenbacker, Charles Lindbergh, and Amelia Earhart

This aviation signature collage celebrates four great American pioneers of flight- Orville Wright, Eddie Rickenbacker, Charles Lindbergh, and Amelia Earhart. Orville Wright, along with his brother Wilber, invented the airplane and was the pilot of the first manned flight in 1903. Captain Eddie Rickenbacker was the most celebrated U.S. air ace of WWI. Charles Lindbergh was the first person to fly solo non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean, while Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly across both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.

At top left is a cut slip, signed “Amelia Earhart” in black ink pen. Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) was an American aviator who set many flying records and championed the advancement of women in aviation. On May 20-21, 1932, she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in a time of 14 hours and 56 minutes. In 1935, Amelia became the first person to fly from Hawaii to the American mainland. By doing so, she became not only the first person to solo anywhere in the Pacific, but also the first person to solo both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. During a landmark flight to circumnavigate the globe, Earhart disappeared somewhere over the Pacific in July 1937. Her plane wreckage was never found, and she was officially declared lost at sea. 

At top right is a cut slip, signed “Charles A. Lindbergh” in black ink pen. Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974) was an American aviator and the first mass media super star. Lindbergh is remembered for flying “The Spirit of St. Louis” on the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic in May of 1927. He departed on May 20th from Roosevelt Field, Long Island. After 33 hours in the air, flying solo, without sleeping, and coping with adverse weather conditions, he touched down at an airfield outside Paris. His feat astounded and delighted the world and secured his position as one of the most important figures in aeronautical history.

At bottom left is a Eddie Rickenbacker signed US Air Mail envelope. It is signed in blue ink "Captain Eddie Rickenbacker 1950." The envelope is illustrated with an Eastern Airlines plane flying over New York City. It is postmarked, "Philadelphia, PA September 22, 9 AM, 1950." It is also stamped "-First Day of Issue- American Air Mail Society- Convention Station-" over the red 6 cent Air Mail stamp. 

Captain Eddie Rickenbacker was the most celebrated U.S. air ace of WWI. In a time when aerial battles were novel, Rickenbacker became the nation’s first fighter squadron commander. He accumulated twenty-six victories and led the 94th Aero Pursuit “Hat-in-the-Ring” Squadron as the first all-American fighter squadron to engage in combat. Rickenbacker’s post-war years included endeavors in the automobile and commercial airline industries, including a long-time head of Eastern Airlines, but he will always be best remembered for his remarkable fighter pilot career. 

At bottom right is an Orville Wright signed US Air Mail envelope. The envelope is boldly signed "Orville Wright" in black ink, below a red and blue Air Mail illustration. The airmail envelope bears a Kitty Hawk, North Carolina postmark, dated May 19, 1938, which is National Airmail week. The envelope is made out to Tilden Helvenston of Xenia, Ohio. It is also stamped Dayton, Ohio, May 20, 1938 on the verso.

An aviation pioneer, Orville Wright (1871-1948) piloted the first powered aircraft, which he developed with his older brother Wilbur, at Kitty Hawk in 1903. The brothers were also the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed-wing powered flight possible. Autographs of either Wright brother are a staple of many great collections. 

These autographed items celebrate the ingenuity and bravery of four of America’s greatest early aviators. 

CONDITION:

Amelia Earhart: Original cut signature. Signed “Amelia Earhart” in black ink. Toning to paper. Light fading of signature. Signature is legible. 

Charles Lindbergh: Original cut signature. Signed "Charles A. Lindbergh" in black ink. Paper is very healthy, with no toning. Signature is legible and boldly signed. No smearing or fading of ink. 

Eddie Rickenbacker: Original signed Air Mail envelope with red and blue edges. Signed in dark blue ink "Captain Eddie Rickenbacker 1950” at the bottom right of the envelope. Signature is legible, without fading. The envelope has an illustration of an Eastern Airlines plane flying over New York City at left. The envelope is postmarked in a circle, "Philadelphia, PA September 22, 9 AM, 1950" at center. Stamped "-First Day of Issue- American Air Mail Society- Convention Station-" over red 6 cent Air Mail stamp. 

Orville Wright: Original Signed Air Mail Envelope with red and blue edges. Bearing a 1938 Kitty Hawk Cancellation Stamp.  The envelope is signed "Orville Wright" in black ink along the left side, below a red and blue Air Mail illustration. Signature is legible. The airmail envelope bears a Kitty Hawk, North Carolina postmark, and is dated May 19, 1938, which is National Airmail week. The envelope is made out to Tilden Helvenston of Xenia, Ohio. Green stamp adhered at upper left. Slight chipping along the edges and envelope is lightly faded around Wright's signature.

All autographed elements are archivally mounted and presented in a custom-built wooden frame, with acid-free mats, UV Plexiglas, and a custom plaque.

Framed Dimensions: 41 1/2" H x 31 1/4" W x 1 1/4" D.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.