Mabel Bell, Wife of Telephone Inventor, 2x Signed ALS With Great Early Aviation Content On WWI Cusp
Mabel G.H. Bell
[Washington, DC], March 2, 1916
Mabel Bell, Wife of Telephone Inventor, 2x Signed ALS With Great Early Aviation Content On WWI Cusp
ALS
A 2pp autograph letter signed by Mabel Gardiner Hubbard Bell (1857-1923), wife of telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell, signed twice by her: first when writing out the name of her husband as "Mr. Bell"; and second when signing the letter at its conclusion as "Mabel G. Bell." March 2, 1916. [Washington, DC] Inscribed on watermarked bifold paper with "1331 Connecticut Avenue" letterhead. The inner pages are blank. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds and a few corner wrinkles. A small closed tear is located along the top edge of the first page, and there are mounting traces on the letter back at upper right. Else very good. 4.875" x 6.5".
Mabel Bell almost certainly wrote this piqued letter to Alan R. Hawley (1864-1938), an early aviation enthusiast and balloon pilot currently serving as the president of the Aero Club of America. Evidently, Hawley had approached the Bells for a nominal donation to the National Aeroplane Defense Fund, established to increase public awareness of aviation as an important element of military preparedness. Mabel objected to this request on principle, citing her husband's numerous other contributions.
In part:
"Mr Bell has received a formal invitation to become one of those contributing two hundred and fifty dollars to the National Aeroplane Defense Fund for the purpose of arousing public interest in aviation work. But does it not seem to you and the other gentlemen of the Committee that my husband has already done his share in advancing the cause of Aviation, and that it is rather the tune now of others to carry on the work which he began somewhere in the eighties, and prosecuted with an increasing ardor and expense until quite lately? Should it not be remembered that he not only financed the experiments which culminated in the building of the 'June Bug' with which Mr Curtiss made the first public flight in America, but shared in them, and that his own genius was largely instrumental in making the machine a successful one…"
As she explains in the letter, Bell had already extensively contributed to the field of aerospace engineering. Not only had Bell actively supported airplane research and development through the Aerial Experiment Association (AEA), founded in Nova Scotia in 1907, but he (through his wife) had also provided most of its financing. Mabel herself had suggested that Bell and a few other American and Canadian aviation boosters establish the AEA as a research group. Under its auspices - and funded generously through Mabel Bell's personal donations - the AEA could take credit for Glenn Curtiss's first public flight in North America on July 4, 1908 aboard the "AEA June Bug." In addition to all of that, Bell had also taken a special interest in developing pioneering communications systems for early aircraft, especially hydroplanes.
This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.
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Mabel G.H. Bell
[Washington, DC], March 2, 1916
Mabel Bell, Wife of Telephone Inventor, 2x Signed ALS With Great Early Aviation Content On WWI Cusp
ALS
A 2pp autograph letter signed by Mabel Gardiner Hubbard Bell (1857-1923), wife of telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell, signed twice by her: first when writing out the name of her husband as "Mr. Bell"; and second when signing the letter at its conclusion as "Mabel G. Bell." March 2, 1916. [Washington, DC] Inscribed on watermarked bifold paper with "1331 Connecticut Avenue" letterhead. The inner pages are blank. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds and a few corner wrinkles. A small closed tear is located along the top edge of the first page, and there are mounting traces on the letter back at upper right. Else very good. 4.875" x 6.5".
Mabel Bell almost certainly wrote this piqued letter to Alan R. Hawley (1864-1938), an early aviation enthusiast and balloon pilot currently serving as the president of the Aero Club of America. Evidently, Hawley had approached the Bells for a nominal donation to the National Aeroplane Defense Fund, established to increase public awareness of aviation as an important element of military preparedness. Mabel objected to this request on principle, citing her husband's numerous other contributions.
In part:
"Mr Bell has received a formal invitation to become one of those contributing two hundred and fifty dollars to the National Aeroplane Defense Fund for the purpose of arousing public interest in aviation work. But does it not seem to you and the other gentlemen of the Committee that my husband has already done his share in advancing the cause of Aviation, and that it is rather the tune now of others to carry on the work which he began somewhere in the eighties, and prosecuted with an increasing ardor and expense until quite lately? Should it not be remembered that he not only financed the experiments which culminated in the building of the 'June Bug' with which Mr Curtiss made the first public flight in America, but shared in them, and that his own genius was largely instrumental in making the machine a successful one…"
As she explains in the letter, Bell had already extensively contributed to the field of aerospace engineering. Not only had Bell actively supported airplane research and development through the Aerial Experiment Association (AEA), founded in Nova Scotia in 1907, but he (through his wife) had also provided most of its financing. Mabel herself had suggested that Bell and a few other American and Canadian aviation boosters establish the AEA as a research group. Under its auspices - and funded generously through Mabel Bell's personal donations - the AEA could take credit for Glenn Curtiss's first public flight in North America on July 4, 1908 aboard the "AEA June Bug." In addition to all of that, Bell had also taken a special interest in developing pioneering communications systems for early aircraft, especially hydroplanes.
This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.
WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!
#SpaceAstronaut
Estimate
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Time, Location
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