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Auction: 369 - Autographs & Documents e-Auction featuring the Mike Roth Aviation Collection Part II
Lot: 30

1925 Collier Trophy Award. Important group of Correspondence between Sylvanus Albert Reed, developer of the modern metal aircraft propeller, who would become the recipient, and the Collier Committee, NAA, etc. 1) Ten-page typed award claim from Sylvanus Albert Reed, laying out why his development should receive the award, accompanied by two photos of the Curtiss Reed Metal Propeller Type A and the first test flight utilizing the propeller. Reed signs "S. Albert Reed" at end; 2) One-page typed letter from Reed, NY Dec. 3, 1926 noting that the trophy "now in my possession" has no base nor inscriptions and suggests that Curtiss Co contribute the base and the FAA contribute the engraving; 3) Copies of NAA President Porter Adams Dec. 6 and 7, 1926 letters in reply; 4) Dec. 9 and 22 typed letters signed by Reed to Adams regarding the base and plates with copies of the reply; 5) Handwritten letter, 1 ½ pages, on Union Club, NY stationary, Feb. 17 from Reed to Cabot telling him he has been "so busy with my foreign matters" that his trip to Washington for the trophy presentation will have to be delayed along with copy of Cabot's reply; 6) Handwritten 3 ½ page letter on 113 East 55th Street, New York letterhead note paper, March 4 from Reed to Cabot telling him he is ready to go to Washington whenever Cabot fixes date, and requests to be considered "just as plain Mr." not Doctor. "I am going to mention a trifling personal matter, not for publication. Although I received in 1880 - a Ph.D. from Columbia for researches in Physics I have carefully suppressed the title "doctor" - as I found that in the U.S. unless one is connected with a college - or is perhaps a Chemical Engineer - it handicaps a man in general engineering and conveys the idea of learning without much practical sense."; 7) Handwritten note from Reed, March 8 acknowledging Cabot's letter (copy included) and saying that he expects to go Washington "this week "; 8) Typed letter, March 21 signed by Reed to Cabot regarding presentation of the award and the creation of a die for a medal, with copy of reply; 9) March 25 note from Reed to Cabot; 10) Typed copy of March 25 letter from the Smithsonian regarding Reed's offer (copy included) to lend the 1925 Collier Trophy to the national collections, with response letter; 11) March 30-April 6 correspondence; 12) Copy of Cabot letter to Reed informing him that "We plan to have the Collier Trophy presented to you by Mr. Orville Wright, chairman of our Contest Committee"; 13) Handwritten, one-page letter, on Reed Propeller letterhead, Jan. 3, 1927 from Reed to C.F. Schery, Collier Committee telling him the trophy base and plates are finished and giving a new estimate for the engraving, with copy of response; 14) Four further January letters from Reed (3 typed, one handwritten) to the committee regarding the trophy, with responses; 15) Reed's typed replies to Cabot's Collier presentation address with copy of Cabot's remarks; 16) Original news clipping of winning of the award, and presentation at Bolling Field; 17) Handwritten letter from Sylvanus' son Latham G. Reed, January 5, 1945 thanking the NAA for the Trophy Certificate to his father for the development of the propeller. Very Good to Fine.

Estimate

Starting price
$300