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Menu page for a banquet honoring the Wright Brothers, held at the Hotel du Dauphin on May 1, 1909, and hosted by the Aero Club of Sarthe, one page, 4.75 x 6.5, signed in bold fountain pen, “Wilbur Wright” and “Orville Wright.” A printed dedication in French to the upper right reads (translated): “Banquet of May 1, 1909 offered to Messrs. W. & O. Wright on the occasion of the presentation of the Souvenir offered to the first Birdmen by their admirers from Le Mans.” The left side bears an affixed photograph of a bronze trophy that was presented to the Wright Brothers at the banquet. In very good to fine condition, with light overall soiling, and minor spreading to the signatures.
Accompanied by several pages of an article from the French publication L'Etoile Sportive from May 25, 1909, which discusses the banquet at length and contains several of the speeches presented in honor of the Wright Brothers. In part (translated): “On Saturday, May 1st…Wilbur and Orville came to spend the afternoon in Le Mans to attend a banquet organized by the Aéro-Club de la Sarthe. The banquet, served in the lobby of the Hôtel du Dauphin, was attended by 80 guests. Mr. Léon Bollée, president of the Aéro-Club de la Sarthe, presided, with Mr. Wilbur and Orville Wright at his side.”
Wilbur had arrived in Le Mans, France, in 1908 to conduct a series of public demonstration flights in order to secure a contract, which, after several breath-taking flights over Camp d'Auvours, he secured with ease. At the start of 1909, Orville, who had been giving similar demonstrations in the U.S., arrived in France, and the two traveled to Pau to train three selected French pilots. They then trained some military pilots in Rome before deciding to return to the United States, but first returned to Le Mans to say goodbye to their friends. At an honorary banquet on May 1, Leon Bollee presented them with an impressive bronze trophy symbolizing the Muse of Aviation on behalf of the Aero Club of Sarthe. This reception must have been where the famed brothers signed this menu.
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