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Original period photographs of the seaplane, the 18, by Alberto Santos Dumont (1907)

Original period photographs of the seaplane, the 18, by Alberto Santos Dumont (1907)

Regular price R$ 17.000,00 BRL
Regular price Sale price R$ 17.000,00 BRL

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Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Digital Warranty ©

In 1907, Alberto Santos Dumont unsuccessfully developed the number 18, the precursor to the seaplane.

  • 19 original period photographs and an old postcard of number 8.
  • Authors: Dazy, Itching, Branger, Rol & Co.
  • France, 1907.
  • +/- 12 cm x 17 cm, except for two smaller ones measuring 9 cm x 11 cm.
  • Notes in French on the back.
  • Perfect condition.

The aircraft shown in the photos is the Santos-Dumont No. 18, an experimental seaplane developed by Alberto Santos Dumont in 1907. It was designed to take off directly from the water, something extremely innovative for the time. With a lightweight structure, floats and vertically positioned propellers, the No. 18 was tested on the Seine River, in Neuilly, on the outskirts of Paris. Although it never made a successful flight, the project marked an important stage in Santos Dumont's search for new forms of aerial locomotion and anticipated the principles that would later be used in the first functional seaplanes.

These unique images of Santos-Dumont No. 18 are remarkable for documenting one of the Brazilian inventor’s most daring and little-known experiments: the creation of a motorized seaplane in 1907, at a time when few planes could even fly on dry land. The photos reveal impressive technical details, such as the torpedo-shaped central float, the three propellers arranged in a star, the imposing 8-cylinder V-shaped Antoinette engine, and the control surfaces similar to those of a boat. Some images show the aircraft being tested on the water, surrounded by mechanics and onlookers, while others reveal the public’s interest and the photographic coverage by the press. One of the most striking images shows the aircraft crashing, covered by a striped tarpaulin, reflecting the difficulties faced by Santos-Dumont — but also his courage in exploring new frontiers. The image of him sitting calmly at the wheel, in the middle of the river, even after the failure, is a powerful symbol of his perseverance and innovative spirit.

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