Fine Books & Manuscripts

CURTISS, Glenn H. (1878-1930). Glenn Curtiss Extensive Photo Archive. Approximately 85 photos, several signed but unauthenticated. Some of the images include Alexander Graham Bell’s A & H Cygnet II, Curtiss with Augustus Post, Curtiss hydroaeroplane, Augustus Post’s Curtiss biplane, squadrons of Curtiss biplanes, Curtiss Training School with 3 hydroplanes and 3 “land machines, army aviation school practice machine, 1916 set of Curtiss passenger hydroplane construction research dept. photos, 6 detailed interior photos of manufacturing facility including assembly, machine shop, lathes, and workers, Curtiss “Scout” in patriotic parade, 6th baron Auckland at aviation school in early Curtiss (“wheels”), Model L triplane, Curtiss Military Tractor being flown by Curtiss, many hydroplanes, experimental tractor biplane driven by Lincoln Beachey, Curtiss demonstrating invention of dual control invention, group photo of students and instructors ca. 1910, including, among others, Curtiss and Japanese aviation pioneers Nakamura, Nagaya and Yanamaka. Curtiss Exhibition Co. photo, a group of Hugh Robinson “one of the best water flyers of the Curtiss School, including several of his take off, crash and rescue while demonstrating a Curtiss hydroplane in Nice, France, L. A. Vilas talking to Curtiss between trials for license, 4 Chicago flyers at Curtiss school posing next to Curtiss flying boat, Army flying boat, Augustus Post flying Curtiss over Lake Kenka, Stevenson, Curtiss pilot, race between Curtiss Military and Curtiss Flying boat at Hammondsport, Curtiss piloting a speed boat, Curtiss U.S. Navy H-16-A, Curtiss with employees and consultants at railroad depot, Curtiss with Dirigible engine, with Victor Carlstrom, Model R-2, Curtiss with airplane and army pilots in San Diego, portrait of Curtiss and spouse, parade in support of airplane manufacturing and the Curtiss Aviation School, and others. Largest 8 x 10”. Ex Henry Woodhouse collection, noted American aviation pioneering author and forger. Signature(s) likely in Woodhouse’s hand. Very good. American pioneer aviator, inventor and founder of the U.S. aircraft industry, Glenn Hammond Curtiss (1878-1930), worked with Alexander Graham Bell in an attempt to build flying machines. Beginning in 1904 he began building engines for airships, making the first officially witnessed flight in North America. His company, the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company built aircraft for the U.S. Army and Navy before and during WWI, and his experimentation and manufacture of hydroplanes made significant advances in naval aviation. Henry Woodhouse knew Curtiss well, and this is his contemporary photographic archive of Curtiss and his various aeroplanes.