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THBBalloons that Escaped During the Siege of Paris, Important Postal History, Illustrated Broadside
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Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
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About Auction
LiveSep 8, 2017 - Sep 9, 2017
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
View Full Catalog (427)
- Lot Description
Lithographed broadside, 26 x 18.5 in. Liste de ballons sortis de Paris pendant le siège 1870-1871. Paris: E. Pichot, 1874. Includes a list of balloons that left Paris categorized by balloon name, size, owner, balloonist, and number of passengers and pigeons on board. Four illustrated vignettes show "Gonflement d'un ballon" (inflation of a balloon); "Descente au Montzid (Norwège)"; "Morte de Prince et LaCaze" (crash at sea); and "[A]grandissement des dépèches microscopiques a Tours & a Bordeaux par Dagron & ses collègues." This vignette illustrates a lecture given by photographer René Dagron in the form of a magic lantern slide presentation.
A rare broadside documenting one of the earliest examples of the practical use of balloons in military operations.
The Siege of Paris, which occurred from September 19, 1870-January 28, 1871 and concluded with the capture of the city by the Prussian Army, subsequently led to the defeat of the French in the Franco-Prussian War and the establishment of the German Empire. Paris was completely cut off by Prussian forces for four months, and balloons served as the only means by which the besieged city could communicate with the rest of France.
The balloons carried mail, important officials, and homing pigeons, which were used for pigeon post. This was the only way that the remainder of the country could correspond with Paris residents. Although the pigeon post was first limited to official correspondence, the government later allowed citizens to send brief messages, charging 50 centimes per word. Early photography was used to reduce as many as 150 messages to a small print measuring approximately 1.5 x 2.25 in. in size. Each homing pigeon could carry nine of the prints. French photographer René Dagron, represented in the broadside offered here, further refined the process used to photograph the messages, which allowed more to be carried. The Prussians caught wind of Dagron's actions, but before they could capture him, he was flown with his equipment out of Paris in mid-November, 1870.
During the four-month siege, approximately 66 balloons left Paris to carry information outside the German lines, and more than 100 passengers as well as 11 tons of mail were delivered.
Condition
Mounted on board.
Item is in good condition.
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