February 2018 Auction Ends Thursday, February 22nd, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/22/2018
Years before the catch-phrase of ''fake news'', Wilbur Wright blasts the Editor of the New York ''Independent'' in this typed letter signed, accusing the publication of outright plagiarism and lying in their op-ed entitled ''The Experiments of a Flying Man''. This article, claimed to have been written by Wilbur Wright himself, was, according to Wright, in parts plagiarized from speeches given by Wilbur and his brother Orville Wright, and in parts entirely fabricated.
Composed two months after the Wright Brothers historic flight at Kitty Hawk in December 1903, Wright writes from Dayton, Ohio on 20 February 1904 in full, ''Your letter of the 23rd received. I wish to call your attention to the fact that the note in the INDEPENDENT last week contains no intimation that the main body of the pretended original article to which my name was attached consisted of verbatim extracts from copy-righted addresses published by the Journal of the Western Society of Engineers in 1901 and 1903. I am informed by the secretary, Mr. Warder, that its consent was not obtained for the reproduction of this matter in the INDEPENDENT. I also call your attention to the fact that your note makes no mention that the bogus article contains matter which never came from me directly or indirectly, and which is entirely false. Your note however is equivalent to an assertion that I furnished the matter for the article but objected only because my name was used. This is not true at all. Mr. Willey did not obtain copies of these addresses from me or my brother. Nor did we consent to the reproduction of extended verbatim extracts from them except on consent of the Western Society of Engineers, a condition which was not fulfilled. I must therefore ask you to explain to your readers that the article was in [handwritten] large part made up of matter stolen from the Journal of Western Society of Engineers, and in part of matter whose correctness I absolutely deny. / Your note of last week is not a true presentment of the facts in the case and is not satisfactory to me. / Yours truly / [signed] Wilbur Wright.'' Composed on two separate sheets of ''Wright Cycle Company'' stationery, ideal for framing. Some toning and chipping to corners, and archival tape repair to verso along folds; overall in very good condition. Accompanied by the original article published 4 February 1904, bound in Vol. LVI, no. 2879 of ''The Independent''.
Two Months After their Successful 1903 Kitty Hawk Flight, Wilbur Wright Excoriates a Newspaper for Lying: ''...the bogus article contains matter which never came from me...and which is entirely...
Click above for larger image.