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Auction: 17016 - Bonds and Share Certificates of the World
Lot: 277

Compagnie Générale de Navigation Aérienne, Part de Bénéficiaire au Porteur, Paris 21 Novembre 1908, #1035, decorative certificate with image of a Wright-Model "A", at the back the Company's Articles of Association, with Coupons (starting with Coupon Nr. 6). This company was the first to use the Wright Brother's invention, the world's first airplane. Thus this rare certificate represents the earliest airplane item. In 1903, the brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright invented and built the world's first successful fixed-wing aircraft. But it was only in 1906 when they started their attempts to sell their airplane to U.S. and European investors. While Orville was in contact with the US Army, Wilbur concentrated his attention on Europe. In 1908, Wilbur travelled to France to market their invention and also shipped a newly built Model "A" Flyer. When he began official demonstrations near the town of Le Mans in August 1908, the French public was thrilled and flocked to the field by the thousands. The Wright brothers instantly became world-famous. A group of French investors formed this Compagnie Générale de Navigation Aérienne with a capital of 800.000 Francs for the construction and distribution of the Wright-airplanes in France. Its president was the well-known French Industrialist Jean Lazare Weiller (1858-1928). The Wright brothers sold their right to the company for F 500.000. Wilbur also made several long-distance demonstration flights for the company and trained its three French pilots. The Compagnie Générale de Navigation Aérienne soon sold five airplanes to the French army. The design of the airplanes was perfectly airworthy, however the engines where not up to the demand of the army and, as technical progress was very fast, the Wright airplanes quickly lost their technological lead. In 1910, the company ceased its activity. VF.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,200