The Montgolfier brothers and the earliest balloon flights...
Item # 709624
·
THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, a pair of issues dated Feb. 3 and 7, 1784 This was the era of the "air balloon" when flight by balloon was first achieved.
The entire front page and one-third of page 2 of Feb. 3 are taken up with: "AIR BALLOONS" "A Brief Historical Account of the Various Experiments lately Made with the Aerostatic Machine in France". The lengthy & detailed report concludes on page 4 of the Feb. 7 issue.
This article focuses on the work of the Montgolfier brothers and is wonderful in reporting the very first flights. A few bits include: "...The 5th of June 1783 [Wikipedia says the 4th] was fixed on for the display of this singular experiment...on a sudden this immense mass ascended in the air with such a velocity than in less than ten minutes it appears to be about 1000 toises above the heads of the spectators...". Then details of a ascension on August 27, and then: "...we come now to the experiment made on the 10th of September in the presence of the King and Queen...Its power of ascension, allowing for a wicker cage, containing a sheep, a cock, and a duck..." with more detail.
Than a report on manned flight: "...On the 15th of October, M. Pilatre de rosier, no doubt the most intrepid philosopher of the age, placed himself in the gallery, ascended about 80 feet from the ground, and there kept the balloon afloat for some time..." with more.
There is much more to this lengthy & detailed account of the birth of aerial flight, as seen in the photos.
Eight pages, 8 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches, great condition.
The entire front page and one-third of page 2 of Feb. 3 are taken up with: "AIR BALLOONS" "A Brief Historical Account of the Various Experiments lately Made with the Aerostatic Machine in France". The lengthy & detailed report concludes on page 4 of the Feb. 7 issue.
This article focuses on the work of the Montgolfier brothers and is wonderful in reporting the very first flights. A few bits include: "...The 5th of June 1783 [Wikipedia says the 4th] was fixed on for the display of this singular experiment...on a sudden this immense mass ascended in the air with such a velocity than in less than ten minutes it appears to be about 1000 toises above the heads of the spectators...". Then details of a ascension on August 27, and then: "...we come now to the experiment made on the 10th of September in the presence of the King and Queen...Its power of ascension, allowing for a wicker cage, containing a sheep, a cock, and a duck..." with more detail.
Than a report on manned flight: "...On the 15th of October, M. Pilatre de rosier, no doubt the most intrepid philosopher of the age, placed himself in the gallery, ascended about 80 feet from the ground, and there kept the balloon afloat for some time..." with more.
There is much more to this lengthy & detailed account of the birth of aerial flight, as seen in the photos.
Eight pages, 8 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches, great condition.
Item from our most recent catalog - #370 - released for September, 2026
Category: British
Price
$117
100% Authentic: Original printing, never a reproduction.