In 1916, Santos Dumont signed an autograph on top of the Eiffel Tower, when he won the Deutsch Prize.
Autograph of Alberto Santos Dumont for an admirer.
One page from Flying Magazine, in English.
20 cm x 28 cm.
1916, England.
Excellent condition.
Unique piece.
The Deutsch prize was an important milestone in Alberto Santos Dumont's life, perhaps the most significant. The prize was offered by the French businessman Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe in 1900, as a reward for the first successful flight of an airship from Saint-Cloud, around the Eiffel Tower, and back to Saint-Cloud, in thirty minutes.
On October 19, 1901, Santos Dumont flew his airship No. 6 and fulfilled the challenge requirements, despite great confusion upon arrival in Saint-Cloud. The prize consisted of 100,000 francs, which the Brazilian decided to donate to the poor of Paris: we have an incredible and unreleased document proving this unknown fact, which we will one day present to you...
This achievement marked a fundamental advance in the history of aviation, demonstrating the practical potential of lighter-than-air aircraft. It also catapulted Santos Dumont to international fame and solidified his reputation as one of the pioneers of aviation. These were his golden years.
Flying Magazine was an English aviation magazine, and it was in England that we found this beautiful autograph. The perfect signature, over such an iconic photograph of Santos Dumont circling the Eiffel Tower, and the perfect condition of the set make this a very special piece.
