VOISIN GABRIEL: (1880-1973) French aviation Pioneer and the creator of Europe's first manned ...

VOISIN GABRIEL: (1880-1973) French aviation Pioneer and the creator of Europe's first manned, engine-powered, aircraft capable of a sustained circular, controlled flight, which was made by Henry Farman in January 1908. During World War one, the company founded by Voisin became a major producer of military aircraft. Voisin would later switch to the design and production of luxury automobiles under the name "Avions Voisin". A fine A.L.S., ` Gabriel Voisin´, two pages, 4to, Villefranche-sur-mer, 4th December 1960, on his personal printed stationery, to " My dear President´, in French. Voisin refers to an invitation received from his correspondent for a charity journey, stating in part ` Où puisez-vous votre influence? Le télégramme a réussi au-delà de mes espérances - je serai les 10, 11 et 12 Décembre à cette fête de charité, et s´il se trouve des amateurs de mon "ouvrage", je signerai avec dédicace...´ (Translation: " Where do you draw your influence? The telegram has succeeded beyond my hopes - I will be at this charity event on December 10th, 11th and 12th, and if there are any fans of my "work", I will sign with inscriptions...") Further Voisin lists what he will require, saying ` 1) Entrer en contact avec mon éditeur..., 2) Me préparer, sur une estrade (14 marches) la table Louis XV qui, vous le savez, se trouve au Louvre, 3) Empiler les 10.000 cerf volants...´ (Translation: " 1) Get in touch with my publisher..., 2) Prepare, on a platform (14 steps) the Louis XV table which, as you know, is in the Louvre, 3) Stack the 10,000 kites...") Before concluding, Voisin writes a lengthy joke relating to a monkey´s graft. VG