Wonderful collection of original vintage photographs associated with Brazilian inventor and aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont (1873–1932), who made significant contributions to the development of both lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air aircraft. Includes:
A magnificent original vintage glossy 4.5 x 6.75 photograph by J. E. Arnoux depicting Santos-Dumont with officials before the liftoff of his balloon in Nice, France, in 1900, affixed to its original 7.5 x 9.75 mount.
An original vintage glossy 7 x 5 photo of Santos aboard his airship No. 4, seated on the bicycle-style saddle.
Four original vintage glossy 7 x 5 photographs of Santos aboard his No. 6 airship winning the Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe prize of 125,000 francs on October 19, 1901, for the first flight from the Parc St. Cloud to the Eiffel Tower and back in less than 30 minutes.
A very rare oversized original vintage glossy 11 x 8.5 photograph of Santos-Dumont on the 14-bis on November 12, 1906, just before making the first manned powered flight to be witnessed in Europe; Louis Bleriot, seen on the left of the photograph, was part of the competition but could not take off.
Four original vintage photographs, ranging in size from 5 x 3.5 to 6.75 x 4.75, of the 14-bis at Bagatelle in October 1906, plus one photograph of the machine used to start the engine of the 14-bis.
Three original vintage photographs, ranging in size from 4.25 x 3.25 to 6.5 x 4.5, showing the Santos No. 15, a tractor configuration biplane with top-mounted engine, at St. Cyr in March 1907.
Seven original vintage photographs, ranging in size from a 5.5 x 3.5 postcard to 6.5 x 4.5, of the Santos No. 19 'Demoiselle,' built in an attempt to win the Grand Prix d'Aviation, plus four original vintage 5.25 x 3.25 postcard photos of Maurice Clement with the 'Demoiselle,' which was built by Clement-Bayard.
Two original vintage photographs of the Hydroplane Santos-Dumont, including one 6.5 x 4.5 photo and one 5.5 x 3.5 postcard photo.
In overall very good to fine condition. Also includes a color 6 x 9.5 printed caricature of Santos-Dumont by Georges Goursat, known as Sem.