Blanchard's first balloon flight in England...

Item # 697982

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October 19, 1784

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, October 19, 1784 The entire front page and most of page 2 are taken up with: "Further Particulars of Mr. Blanchard's Aerial Excursion on Saturday last".
Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard was one of the earliest pioneers in manned balloon flights. He moved to London in August 1784 where he took part in a flight on October 16 with John Sheldon, just a few weeks after the first flight in Britain (and the first outside France), when Italian Vincenzo Lunardi flew from Moorfields to Ware on September 15, 1784. Blanchard's propulsion mechanisms - flapping wings and a windmill - proved ineffective, but the balloon flew some 115 km from the military academy in Chelsea, landing in Sunbury and then taking off again to end in Romsey. This issue reports on this October 16 flight.
The coverage is extremely detailed & great to have in a British newspaper. A very significant issue covering the earliest days of manned balloon flights.
Eight pages, never bound nor trimmed, very nice condition.