PAULHAN LOUIS: (1883-1963) French Pioneer Aviator, who in 1910 flew Le Canard, the world's first seaplane. A good, original 5 x 7 photograph by Meurisse of Paris depicting Paulhan standing in a full length pose with Captain Fulton. The two men engage in conversation as they stand close to an aircraft. The photograph would appear to have originally been part of Paulhan's personal archive and is annotated in his hand in blue fountain pen ink, in French, to the verso, 'Captain Fulton ''Royal Air Force'' with L. Paulhan, pilot and constructor of the Paulhan aircraft - licensed by H. Fabre - two examples sold to England'. Together with an A.L.S., L Paulhan, one page, oblong 8vo, St. Jean De Luz, 5th March 1960, to 'Mon cher ami' (A. R. Malfanti), in French. Paulhan offers his congratulations to Malfanti following his appointment as chairman of the French Aero Club's bibliography committee on history and art and continues 'Your abilities in this field are unquestionable'. Paulhan sends a few documents (no longer present), explaining 'They will give you a picture of what I was able to accomplish at that period, and will serve, if need be, to inform those with fickle memories.' Also including an original typescript signed by Malfanti, being a speech that Malfanti gave in honour of Paulhan on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the many aviation feats he achieved in 1910, including winning the London to Manchester Air Race. The typescript, of ten pages, has interesting content and is accompanied by a full English translation. Further including a good, interesting collection of original photographs (5 x 7 and smaller), newspaper articles and other printed ephemera relating to the aviation career of Louis Paulhan, the images depicting the pilot in his cockpit, Paulhan's manufacturing stand at an aeronautical exhibition, an aircraft in flight etc., a copy of the Los Angeles Examiner, 19th January 1910, with headline Paulhan Smashes Record in Gale, also including an A.L.S. by J. B. Malon of the Aero Club of France to Paulhan, 30th April 1910, a few obituaries etc. The lot also features Emile Aubrun (1881-1967) French Pioneer Aviator. L.S., E Aubrun, the text in the hand of his wife, on two sides of a correspondence card, Marsillac Lanville, 29th September 1960, to 'Mon cher ami' (A. R. Malfanti), in French. Aubrun thanks his friend for his letter and 'the two delightful volumes', further referring to a broadcast which he understood was to take place at the Aviation Museum. Together with an A.L.S. by Aubrun's wife, also to Malfanti, providing a holograph list of flight achievements made by her husband, and also including two original telegrams of congratulations sent to Aubrun on 17th September 1910, accompanied by a further letter from Aubrun's wife sending the telegrams ('which seem to me to be of value to a collector'), an original vintage 6.5 x 5 photograph of Aubrun flying a plane etc. G to VG, 42