Wright Brothers Check Collection—Orville Wright, Lorin Wright and Charlie Taylor, 1907–1920

An exceptional collection of four original canceled checks documenting the personal and business affairs of the Wright family. The group includes two checks written and signed by aviation pioneer Orville Wright, together with two checks written by his elder brother, Lorin Wright, one of which is endorsed by Wright Flyer engine builder Charles E. “Charlie” Taylor. The earliest check, dated July 16, 1907, is payable to William Tompkins for $2.60. It is written and signed by Orville Wright “Wright Cycle Co., O.W.” Dating only four years after the first successful powered flight and before the Wright brothers’ celebrated public demonstrations of 1908, it is a desirable early Wright aviation and business document. The second check, dated April 3, 1909, is payable to the West Virginia Spruce Lumber Company for the considerable sum of $622.30. Written by Lorin Wright, it is signed “Wright Bros., per L.W.” The payment may have related to lumber or materials acquired for Wright Brothers business purposes. The third check, dated March 20, 1913, is payable to Dr. L. E. Custer for $17.00. It is written and signed by Orville Wright with his complete signature, “Orville Wright.” The final check, dated May 22, 1920, is payable to Charles E. Taylor for $25.00. It was written by Lorin Wright, including the name “Orville Wright” on the signature line, and is endorsed by Taylor on the reverse. Taylor was the Wright brothers’ brilliant mechanic who designed and built the lightweight gasoline engine that powered the 1903 Wright Flyer. The checks bear expected folds, banking stamps, cancellation marks, perforations and handling wear. Cancellation perforations affect portions of some writing, but the historically important signatures and endorsements remain identifiable. A compelling Wright family archive combining two authentic examples of Orville Wright’s handwriting and signature with documents written by Lorin Wright and a check endorsed by Charlie Taylor—three central figures in the Wright brothers’ extraordinary story. Only the 1907 and 1913 checks contain Orville Wright’s handwriting or signature. The 1909 and 1920 checks are in Lorin Wright’s hand.