This listing is for a genuine piece of linen fabric from the original Wright Flyer, displayed on a framed art print. This fabric was present at Kitty Hawk and accompanied the Wright brothers as they successfully made their first flight on December 17, 1903. The artifact measures approximately one square inch, and the accompanying art print measures 11x17". This item also comes with a Certificate of Authenticity adhered to the back of the frame.

Following their historic first flight, the Wright brothers disassembled the aircraft and put it in storage, in order to begin work on more advanced models. For several years, the Wright Flyer was stored in crates at their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. In 1913, the Miami River overflowed and Dayton was flooded under 10 feet of water for several weeks. When the floodwater receded, the aircraft was recovered and later restored. During this process, the linen fabric of the wings was completely replaced, as the original fabric had been heavily stained by mud and water. The original 1903 fabric was kept in storage.

After the death of the Wright Brothers, their estate was handled by their niece, Ivonette Wright Miller. The restored Wright Flyer was gifted to the Smithsonian, and Ivonette sent several large pieces of the original flood-damaged 1903 fabric to various museums and institutions. One of these pieces was eventually obtained by Ron Cole, the owner of an aviation museum and art gallery in Ohio.

In 2023, Cole released a series of 60 art prints, each featuring a square inch of the fabric. These are now long sold out. This one is #59/60. These originally cost $1000, but I'm selling this one at a discount because part of the fabric was trimmed. When I originally received this, it had almost double the amount of fabric advertised. I left a full square inch of fabric here, and used the remainder to make smaller displays for sale. So you're still getting the full inch of fabric, but I didn't want to charge the full price for an item that I'd slightly altered.

The winner will receive the exact item in the photos. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Thank you for viewing this listing!