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Collection of documents and letters concerning the publication of Igor Sikorsky’s 1938 book The Story of the Winged-S, an autobiography tracing the development of his many groundbreaking aircraft designs during his long career in Russia, Europe, and the United States. By 1938, Sikorsky had established himself as one of aviation’s foremost innovators, having designed some of the first successful multi-engine airplanes in Russia and later pioneering large flying boats in the United States that opened the era of long-distance transoceanic air travel, just as he was turning his attention toward the practical development of the helicopter. The collection includes two DSs and five TLSs, each signed either “I. Sikorsky” or “Igor I. Sikorsky,” totaling eight pages and ranging in size from 8.5 x 11 to 8.5 x 14, dated between 1936 and 1958. The material spans Sikorsky’s initial publishing agreement with Dodd, Mead & Company to the planned release of a new edition distributed by the Sikorsky Aircraft Company.
The earliest DS, dated May 13, 1936, is a contract between Sikorsky and Dodd, Mead & Company, with the former agreeing to grant and assign the sole and exclusive right to print and publish the work “Reminiscences (title undetermined),” to consist of not less than 80,000 words, with illustrations to be supplied by the author. Notably, in the opening section concerning publishing rights, a typed addition—“except Russia”—is inserted into the list of countries approved for publication.
The second DS, dated April 16, 1958, consists of an official letter of agreement allowing the Sikorsky Aircraft Company to purchase 2000 copies of a “new edition of The Story of the Winged-S.” Interestingly, it notes: “In addition, it is understood that no royalty will be paid you on the 2000 copies sold to the Sikorsky Aircraft Company. Dodd, Mead is, of course, printing additional copies for general trade consumption, the retail price of which will be $4.00. We will pay you a ten-per-cent royalty or 40 cents per copy on those books which are sold through regular book channels.”
The five TLSs, each one page, are all typed on period letterhead, both personal and business, which include the companies “Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft” and “Sikorsky Aircraft,” both a “Division of United Aircraft Corporation.” The correspondence is addressed to his publishers at Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. – Frank C. Dodd and Edward H. Dodd, Jr — and reflects on details regarding revisions and royalties for new editions of the book. The letters read, in part:
September 3, 1941: “I would like to see the book continued in print…[and] to guarantee the purchase of 300 copies within the next six months, from the time the book becomes available, at a price of $1.80 net each, and to exempt the first 1000 copies from royalty payment…. 1 fully agree…it would be desirable to add a chapter on our helicopter and to illustrate it with two or three photographs.” [Sikorsky's letter was written in response to Dodd's inquiry about a new edition; and in a later letter, Dodd is "delighted" with Sikorsky's consensus on the new edition and proceeds “with the manufacture of the book at once, so that we may fill your orders…during the fall and Christmas season.”]
September 5, 1941: “I feel that 300 copies of the book would be somewhat more than what I can expect to dispose of. I hope it will be possible to reduce this number to 200 copies.” [Dodd agrees to Sikorsky's request, confirming that the 200 copies, purchased at a discount of 40%, will be billed "immediately on completion of the new edition.”]
September 12, 1941: “I am glad to confirm…that I am willing to purchase two hundred (200) copies…I have already started the work on the chapter on the helicopter and hope to have it in your hands, together with the photographs, within three weeks.”
April 22, 1948: “I am glad that you have decided to reprint…The Winged-S, and I am willing to accept the royalty conditions which you mentioned. I would like to place an order for 100 copies of the new edition, and it is probable that I will have need for another hundred copies during 1949. I will start work immediately and hope to have the material and a few photographs in your hands by the middle or the end of May.” [Igor Sikorsky's reply was a reaction to Dodd's citing of slow sales, which called for "a special royalty" of $100 for the 500 copies to be printed.]
December 7, 1951: “Please accept my apologies for the delay in my reply…caused partly by the very heavy pressure of work and partly by my desire to give further thought to the subject of the book and of the possible revisions…I believe it may be simpler not to add the extra chapter as I had planned. Consequently, instead of corrections, we may add just one single page which would represent a certain important citation, plus two or four illustrations. Thus the book would be left essentially in its present condition and the cost of corrections would be eliminated…I would be glad to purchase 200 copies…at a net price of $2.16. I would further be glad to omit the royalty on this first 200 copies.” [Dodd's letter which had prompted Sikorsky's response noted that “you buy at least half of the copies that we sell and that the yearly sale is just about 100 copies, and evidently the 'trade sale' is scarcely sufficient to warrant investing in a new printing.”]
The collection is accompanied by numerous carbon copies of letters sent to Sikorsky by Dodd, Mead & Company, as well as several other documents related to the book’s publication, including the English contract for The Story of the Winged-S (March 30, 1939), the contract for the Dutch edition (March 7, 1956), and copyright registrations. The remaining correspondence pertains to the editing of the original manuscript, to revised editions of the book, and to an estate valuation for Igor Sikorsky. In overall fine condition.
