Finding Aid
1 - Pen and watercolour on parchment. Hand drawn. 15th March, 1784. Milan. Indicates Don Paolo Andreani in his solo ascension.Italy. “Globo Areostatico del Sign. Don Paolo Andreani Milanese Ascensione del 15 marzo 1784” (“globo di 66 piedi diametri”). Exterior frame dimensions 18.5 cm x 25.5 cm. Provenance, ex Christies London.
2 - Hand drawn sketch of pencil with watercolour highlights.“Volo su Roma della aeronauta Sig. Antonio Comaschi il 3 ottobre del 1842”. Antonio Comaschi in his ascent over Rome on October 3, 1842. This illustrates the flight over Rome by Sr. Comaschi. By drawing a Ruins of Rome scene complete with cartouche, the artist is trying to give it a ‘classical’ flavor. Italy. Provenance, ex Christies London. Exterior frame dimensions 29.5 cm x 23 cm.
3 - Hand drawn sketch of crayon and pencil. Franco-Prussian War dated 1870. “Guerra Frnco-Prussiana Pallone osservatore Pierre Goupil 1870”. Shows observation balloon and calvary. Images dominated by Prussian Hussars, some on horseback. Provenance, ex Christies London. Exterior frame dimensions 27 x 19 cm.
4 - PRINT - THE ARIEL published by Ackerman in London on March 26th, 1843.By Permission of the Patentees, this Engraving of THE FIRST CARRIAGE, THE “ARIEL”.Early depiction of motorized winged aircraft. ORIGINAL PRINT of the period. Frame dimensions 45” x 40 cm. ENGLAND. Reproduction.
5 - “Sunset”, lithograph. Image over the CHICAGO WORLD’S FAIR in 1894. By André Castaigne. Printed by George Barrie. Done for ART AND ARCHITECTURE. Size is 29.5 x 43 cm.
6 - “L’artillerie de siege est destine à faire évacuer les forteresses et à opépere sur les derniètes de l’ennemi”. A. Desperet. Lithograph de Delaporte. Franco-Prussian War. La Caricature, no. 83. [11 August 1831]. General on a hypothermic needle suspended in the air.
7 - ENGRAVED Print. Note balloon in window to left. A CONSULTATION PREVIOUS TO AN AERIAL VOYAGE FROM LONDON TO WEILBURG IN NASSAU ON THE 7th DAY OF NOVEMBER 1836. Engraved by J. H. ROBINSON, Painted by J. HOLLINS, A.R.A. Published by Graves on Nov. 7, 1843. Size is 36.5 x 31.5 cm.
8 - Coloured ENGRAVING by Aubert & Co. and drawn by Ch. Jacque. LA MACHINE AERIENNE. Flapping Winged Carriage. Humorous picture. Size is 30 x 23.5 cm. From La Mode, May 5th, 1843. Number 10.
9 - ENGRAVING by KIRKWOOD & Sons, Edinburgh. Hand coloured. Circa 1850. AERONAUTICS, PLATE III. Shows balloons by MONTGOLFIER, LANA, BLANCHARD & ROBERT.Size of print is 22 x 28 cm.Mounted on board.
10 - PRINT – “A FLIGHT ACROSS THE HERRING POOL” plate no. XVI - Hand colored etching. Disparaging against the Monarchy. Ca 1810.
11 - COPPER ETCHING – [circa 1909]. “DER EROBERUNG DER LUFT”. Early Bi Plane. Reverse reads in German OR French (as imaged) Fr. SIMON (?). Plate is 19 x 16.5 cm and printed on a 28 x 36 cm paper
12 - Poem, broadside. Up in a Balloon.P. Brereton, 1 Lr. Exchange St., Dublin. Circa 1850. Others by this printer in National Museum of Scotland and Bodleian (Oxford).“One night I went up in a Ba[l]loon | On a voyage of discovery to visit the moon | …. Up went the balloon quickly higher & higher | Over house top & chimney pot tower & spire….” 11 x 28 cm.
13 - Up in a Balloon. London & New York: Valentine & Sons of Dundee, [circa 1895]. Chromolithographs.
14 - The Magazine Antiques from November 1941. 25.5 x 32 cm. Cover and article on BALLOONING COLLECTIBLES. Prints, Picture Puzzles, art etc.
15 -Balloons. London: The Ariel Press, 1956. Elephant folio. Contains 12 full page coloured plates of the earliest and most interesting Balloons. Notes by C. H. Gibbs-Smith. Card Wraps. Text and plates remain bright. The book covers early balloon flights, from the Montgolfier brothers designed balloon in 1783, the first channel crossing by air in 1785, through to Margat’s ascent in 1817, astride a white stag. Individual prints per page. Printed in London with prints done in Germany.
16 - Catalogue – Ballooning Collection of M. Léon Barthou.Collection dite “Au ballon” appartenant à M. Léon Barthou. Paris at the Hotel Drouot on the 8th, 9th & 10th of May, 1935. Lists Prints, Lithographs, Autographs, Documents, Paintings, Statues and Figures, Porcelains, Memorabilia, Objects of Art, Furniture etc. Lists of important historical significance. Even some Lindberg. Size is 18.5 x 26 cm. 86 pages.
17 - Brass box with hinge lock, circular handles and lions paw feet. Identified owner: C. BILLINGHAM. Engraved with man on top of a winged balloon over the countryside. Lions Paw feet. Reference is to Francois Letour who was killed on a parachute glider in 1854. Of the period. Size is 16.5 x 7 x 8.5 cm. Uniform wear.
18 - Brass box with engraved words “MODERN PROPHECY”. Images winged Air Ship. Hinged. Size is 7.7 x 9.5 x 2.3 cm. Circa 1850. Nicely made.
19 - Wood box. Hand painted burled walnut. Top painted. View of the ascent of the sheep, the cock and the duck in the Montgolfier balloon from Versailles on 19th September 1783. Exterior of top is 8.3 cm. Ex Christies Historic Aeronautical sale of October 1st, 1987.
20 - Compensated barometer.4.5 cm. Probably English circa 1860. Original case is 9 cm tall. Case has top missing. Barometer is in excellent condition.
21 - Stereo card. Ballooning ascent. Hand coloured circa 1860. Unmarked. 17.3 cm x 8.6 cm.
22-Stereo card. Tissue with hand colour when held with light to background. FRANCE. Illustrates the preparation for a Balloon ascent.Circa 1860. 23 and 24.
23 -Stereo cards. 2 cards of the Boer War.Lord Roberts’ Infantry crossing the Zand River 1900 and Lord Roberts’ and the Balloon Corps (1901).Both Underwood and Underwood.
24 - See above.
25 - Chromolithograph trade card for Liebig Extract. 10.4 x 6.5 cm. Circa 1900
26 - Post card. At WORTHING “ Captivated with the Scenery” is similar to a WW 1 (the Great War) Observation Balloon. Circa 1918.Not postally used.
27 - Coin token – For Isaac Earlysman, dated 1825. Reverse reads Ironmonger Bishopsgate. England.This for the flight of the balloon Sparrow. Example in the Smithsonian Institution isinventory number: A19720152000. Size is 2.3 cm. With original patina.
28 - James Gillray, engraving featuring a cardinal in a balloon above a crowd with prelates and churches in background (MILES from OXFORD to ROME on a signpost), c. 1810 but plate from the Bohn edition, 1851.
