2026 Spring Auction
Thu, Mar 12, 2026 01:00PM EDT - Sun, Mar 29, 2026 10:30PM EDT
Timed Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Lot 282
Oct. 13, 1939 Orville Wright (1st Successful Flight) Autographed Check – BAS Mint 9
Starting Bid
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $50 | $5 |
| $100 | $10 |
| $200 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $30,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $25,000 |
| $500,000 | $50,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $100,000 |
| $2,500,000 | $150,000 |
It’s amazing to think about what Orville Wright’s thoughts must have been in 1939 as he looked back to 1903, when he and his brother Wilbur flew into history with the first powered heavier-than-air flight. The advancements in that short window were nothing less than miraculous – from that unsteady solo flight at Kitty Hawk to four-engine airliners that whisked passengers across oceans. The younger of the Wright brothers has signed this check thirty-six years after that historic flight. This signed check is even more important to aviation history due to the person it was made out to: Mabel Beck. Beck was a longtime employee of the Wright Brothers, serving as their secretary, archivist, and confidant, and accompanying them on overseas trips as they introduced their invention to the world. Beck remained with Orville until his death in 1948 and later played an important role in ensuring that the Smithsonian Institution properly recognized the Wright Brothers’ invention of powered flight. The Winters National Band and Trust check, dated October 13, 1939, has been signed by the aviation pioneer in black fountain pen ink. Mabel Beck’s signature is located on the reverse. The expected bank cancellation perforations and stamps do not intrude on this mint signature. The autographed check has been encapsulated and graded Mint 9 by BAS.
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