"The First Major International Flying Meet"

[ 1909 Aviation Meet Reims, France ]

[ Textiles, Aviation ] Air Meet Flag for the 1909 Aviation Meet in Reims, France

[ Reims, France ]: [ no publisher ] 1909. First Edition. Oblong. Approximately 19 x 15 1/2 inches. Stitched together linen cloth. Some burn-through from the black ink used to print "Rue SEMAINE D'AVIATION | 1909 | REIMS". Flag colors are blue/purple, white, and a faded red. Several patches of matt board stuck to back of flag. The second example we've ever owned. Good. [28242]


Officially known as "La Grande Semain d'Aviation de Champagne" (the meet was sponsored by several Champagne makers), the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum calls this the First Major International Flying meet: "On this day in 1909, some of the world's leading aviators met at a racetrack in Reims, France, to compete in the first organized international air meet. Between August 22 and August 29, the “great aviation week,” as it was called, featured many contests, including those for the best flights of distance, altitude, and speed. Many famous early pilots, including Louis Blériot, were present. However, to the disappointment of organizers, the Wright brothers did not participate...The first of its kind, the Reims air meet was the grandest aviation event of its time with more than 200,000 spectators in attendance during the week. A miniature city was created for the event including a 600-seat restaurant and even a barbershop. In total, 38 airplanes registered for the meet, but only 23 made flights." (Smithsonian)

A Wiki commons image shows these flags being flown on the spectator pavilions (search for "Grande semaine de l'aviation parade affiche couleur jpg"). We've likewise seen a few postcards which show the flags in the distance (most photographs were taken of the planes not the spectators). Unlike ephemera which has survived in some quantity these flags made must have been very small.

A fine addition to any aviation collection.

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