Balloonist Collection

The Schneider Trophy, presented by French industrialist Jacques Schneider, himself a record- breaking balloonist; his aim, to encourage aviation. The cup is worth 67000 euros

Alexander Friedman, Soviet cosmologist
Alexander Alexandrovich Friedman (1888-1925), Russian and Soviet cosmologist and mathematician. Friedman, who lived and worked in Leningrad, is considered the founder of modern cosmology

Illustration from the childrens book The Adventures of Uncle Lubin, 1902. Artist: W Heath Robinson
Illustration from the childrens book The Adventures of Uncle Lubin, 1902. From a private collection

Robertsons Minerve balloon, 1804
Robertsons Minerve balloon. Historical artwork of La Minerve, an extravagant balloon design proposed in 1804 by the French engineer E. G. Robertson

US Civil War observation balloon, 19th century artwork. The balloon, near Gaines Mill, Virginia, USA, is being inflated by gas being piped through tubes from the containers at left

Royal Vauxhall pre-flight consultation. Historical artwork depicting a meeting held prior to the flight of the Royal Vauxhall in 1836

F H Butler (Vanity Fair)
FRANK HEDGES BUTLER, noted balloonist, looks down from the hot air balloon basket he is riding in and prepares to speak through his megaphone

G-F Tournachon Ka Nadar
NADAR, proper name Gaspar-Felix Tournachon French photographer, balloonist &c

Andre Jacques Garnerin, French aeronaut and the first parachutist, c1800 (1910). Garnerin (1769-1823) became a balloon inspector in the French Army in 1793

Aerostation out at Elbows or The Itinerant Aeronaut, 1786. Artist: Thomas Rowlandson
Aerostation out at Elbows or The Itinerant Aeronaut, 1786. Illustration from Social Caricature in the Eighteenth Century

Gaspard-Felix Tournachon, aka Nadar, French photographer
Gaspard-Felix Tournachon (1820-1910), aka Nadar, French photographer, caricaturist, journalist and balloonist. Date: circa 1860s

BALLOON ACCIDENT 1899
A balloonist dies in an accident at Beuzeville, France. Date: 1899

Andre-Jacques Garnerin, balloonist and the inventor of the frameless parachute, from Les Merveilles de la Science
2619138 Andre-Jacques Garnerin, balloonist and the inventor of the frameless parachute, from Les Merveilles de la Science, published c.1870 (litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection

Ernest Petin
3733670 Ernest Petin. by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: Portrait of Ernest Petin (1812-1879) a French milliner and balloonist. Dated 19th century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Henry Tracey Coxwell, 1819 -1900. English aeronaut. From The Strand Magazine, published 1896 (litho)
709576 Henry Tracey Coxwell, 1819 -1900. English aeronaut. From The Strand Magazine, published 1896 (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection

Professor Thaddeus S. C. Lowe, between 1855 and 1865. Creator: Unknown
Prof. Lowry [sic] i.e. Lowe, between 1855 and 1865. [Balloonist, inventor, aeronaut, scientist: pioneer of military aerial reconnaissance]

Professor T. S. C. Lowe, between 1865 and 1880. Creator: Unknown
Lowe, Prof. T.S.C. (military balloonist), between 1865 and 1880. [Balloonist, inventor, aeronaut, scientist: pioneer of military aerial reconnaissance]

The Perilous Situation of Major Mony, When He Fell into the Sea with His Balloon, June 24, 1789. Creator: John Murphy
The Perilous Situation of Major Mony, When He Fell into the Sea with His Balloon on the 23rd of July, 1785, Off the Coast of Yarmouth; Most Providentially Discovered and Taken Up by the Argus Sloop

First aerial voyage under the direction of Monsieur Mongolfier, engraved by Nicolas Delaunay (1739-92)
3869788 First aerial voyage under the direction of Monsieur Mongolfier, engraved by Nicolas Delaunay (1739-92), 1783 (engraving) by Lorimier

A view of the balloon of Mr. Sadlers ascending with him
4072603 A view of the balloon of Mr. Sadlers ascending with him and Captain Paget of the Royal Navy from the gardens of the Mermaid Tavern at Hackney on Monday, August 12

First manned hydrogen balloon flight, 1783 (print)
3869793 First manned hydrogen balloon flight, 1783 (print) by French School, (18th century); (add.info.: Depiction of the hydrogen flight launched and manned by Jacques Charles (1746-1823)

Hanging by one hand between the tender and the luggage-van, he
3501811 Hanging by one hand between the tender and the luggage-van, he... from Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (1828-1905) engraved by Louis, 1873 (engraving) by Benett

The Great Salt Lake, from Around the World in Eighty Days
3501807 The Great Salt Lake, from Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (1828-1905) engraved by Prevost, 1873 (engraving) by Benett

Jean Passepartout, from Around the World in Eighty Days
3501766 Jean Passepartout, from Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (1828-1905), engraved by Louis Dumont (b.1822) 1873 (engraving) by Neuville

French balloonists of the First Republic, 1790s (colour litho)
6032923 French balloonists of the First Republic, 1790s (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: French balloonists of the First Republic)

The Montgolfier Brothers (chromolitho)
1094155 The Montgolfier Brothers (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Montgolfier Brothers)

The Montgolfier Brothers first balloon ascent, 1783 (chromolitho)
1094135 The Montgolfier Brothers first balloon ascent, 1783 (chromolitho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Montgolfier Brothers first balloon ascent, 1783)

Ballooning (chromolitho)
2817131 Ballooning (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ballooning. Educational card, late 19th or early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

How aeronauts are welcomed in France (colour litho)
2779665 How aeronauts are welcomed in France (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: How aeronauts are welcomed in France)

A terrible parachute descent (colour litho)
2779632 A terrible parachute descent (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A terrible parachute descent)

La Fin D Un Aeronaute (engraving)
2789079 La Fin D Un Aeronaute (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: La Fin D Un Aeronaute. Illustration for Journal Des Voyages, 16 February 1890)

Chez Les Orientaux (engraving)
2789010 Chez Les Orientaux (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Chez Les Orientaux. Illustration for Journal Des Voyages, 15 June 1884)

A balloon crash-landing on the rooftops of Paris (colour litho)
2818521 A balloon crash-landing on the rooftops of Paris (colour litho) by Lix, Frederic Theodore (1830-97) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: A balloon crash-landing on the rooftops of Paris)

Ascent of the Nassau Balloon, Royal Gardens, Vauxhall, August 7, 1838, pub
2962411 Ascent of the Nassau Balloon, Royal Gardens, Vauxhall, August 7, 1838, pub. 1838 (lithograph) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Charles Green (1785 - 1871)

Apparatus used for the preparation of the hydrogen gas, by the action of sulfuric acid
2619142 Apparatus used for the preparation of the hydrogen gas, by the action of sulfuric acid on iron, when filling a balloon, from Les Merveilles de la Science

Hans Georg Friedrich Gross, German balloonist and airship constructor (b / w photo)
3104728 Hans Georg Friedrich Gross, German balloonist and airship constructor (b/w photo) by German Photographer (20th Century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Glaisher and Coxwell balloon flight, 1862
Aeronaut Henry Coxwell and meteorologist James Glaisher prepare the balloon car ready for one of their scientific observation expeditions. Date: 17th July 1862

Sophie Blanchard in the basket of her balloon during her Milan flight in the presence
4072602 Sophie Blanchard in the basket of her balloon during her Milan flight in the presence Napoleon, 1811 (lithograph) by Rados

Giovanni Battista Luder, standing in a balloon basket during an ascent over Florence
908391 Giovanni Battista Luder, standing in a balloon basket during an ascent over Florence, 1795-1850 (etching) by Lasinio

Francois Pilatre de Rozier, c. 1785 (engraving)
908388 Francois Pilatre de Rozier, c.1785 (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: French chemistry)

The balloon man, caricature of the balloonist Montgolfier
The balloon man, l homme aux ballons, caricature of the balloonist Montgolfier by Jean-Baptiste Letourmy of Orleans, 18th century

Vincent Lunardi about to take off (engraving)
559688 Vincent Lunardi about to take off (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Vincent Lunardi about to take off)

Searching for Andree, News! illustration from Le Petit Journal
REV287772 Searching for Andree, News! illustration from Le Petit Journal: Supplement illustre, 4th September 1898 (colour litho) by Meaulle

Terrible death of a balloonist at Beuzeville (colour litho)
2819069 Terrible death of a balloonist at Beuzeville (colour litho) by Tofani, Oswaldo (1849-1915) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Terrible death of a balloonist at Beuzeville, France)

Hugh Willoughby, American balloonist (chromolitho)
2817130 Hugh Willoughby, American balloonist (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hugh Willoughby, American balloonist)

He Steers his Flight Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air that felt unusual weight. 1810 (etching)
3869782 He Steers his Flight Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air that felt unusual weight. 1810 (etching) by Gillray, James (1757-1815) (after); (add.info)

First aerial crossing of the English Channel (engraving)
3869766 First aerial crossing of the English Channel (engraving) by Unknown artist, (18th-19th century); (add.info.: First aerial crossing of the English Channel, 7th January 1785)

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"The Balloonist: A Journey through Time and Space" Step into the fascinating world of balloonists, where adventure knows no bounds. From the early days of aerostation to modern-day explorations, these fearless individuals have captured our imagination throughout history. The Schneider Trophy, a prestigious air race in the 1920s and 1930s, showcased the incredible skills of balloonists as they pushed the limits of speed and innovation. Their daring feats inspired awe and admiration. Alexander Friedman, a Soviet cosmologist, saw balloons as more than just vessels for flight. He envisioned them as tools for scientific exploration, allowing us to reach new heights and uncover secrets hidden in the skies above. In "The Adventures of Uncle Lubin, " an enchanting children's book from 1902 illustrated by W Heath Robinson, we are transported to a whimsical world where balloonists embark on magical journeys filled with wonder and excitement. Dating back even further is Robertson's Minerve balloon from 1804—a testament to humanity's enduring fascination with flight. This pioneering creation paved the way for future advancements in aviation technology. During the US Civil War, observation balloons played a crucial role in gathering intelligence on enemy movements. These floating platforms provided valuable insights that shaped military strategies during this tumultuous time. Before taking off on their daring expeditions, balloonists would consult with experts at Royal Vauxhall—an iconic pre-flight ritual that ensured safety precautions were meticulously followed before embarking on their airborne adventures. F. H Butler was one such intrepid individual who graced Vanity Fair magazine's pages—an esteemed recognition for his contributions to ballooning history. His passion for flight propelled him skyward amidst an era defined by courage and audacity. Gaspard-Felix Tournachon—known as Nadar—was not only a renowned French photographer but also an avid supporter of ballooning endeavors. Through his lens, he captured breathtaking images that immortalized the spirit of these airborne pioneers.