BALLOONS

Dimensions 14 centimeters by 9 centimeters. In good condition, although grubby and with creasing to one corner and ink from postmark along one edge. Sepia photograph of airborne balloon with a tangle of guyropes and mass of people beneath it. Hangars in background. The airship pioneer August von Parseval (1861-1942) worked in partnership with the engineer Hans Bartsch von Sigsfeld and the businessman August Riedinge. The "Dragonballoons" (Drachenballone), which he designed for military observation, are predecessors of the present-day blimp.

Originally on a piece of paper roughly 405 x 315 mm, with the dimensions of the print roughly 295 x 250 mm. In poor condition: torn and stained and laid down on a piece of thin card, and with the extremities of the margins chipped. Loss to top-left and bottom-right corners. The loss to the top corner includes a corner of the print (roughly 40 x 20 mm), but this only features the sky. A scarce item, with the caption continuing 'The Balloon ascended at 3 O clock in the afternoon and descended safe near Tilbury Fort in Essex at 20 Minutes past four'.

Autograph items (all 12mo) very good; TLS (letter 7, quarto) aged and worn at extremities. All items bearing the Society's stamp, and most docketed as answered. Letter 1 (16 September 1901, three pages). Asks if Wood will 'act as Judge' at a 'Photographic Exhibition' held at 'a local Institution'. Letter 2 (23 September 1901, four pages). On behalf of Committee thanks Wood for agreeing. 'The Exhibition beings to take definite shape'. Suggests that 'one other Colleague to assist' may be needed, and suggests individuals. Letter 3 (27 September 1901, four pages).

Octavo, 48 pages. Stapled. In faded original orange printed wraps. Nine pages of illustrations, including three on wraps. Good, on aged high-acidity paper. Wraps a little stained. Unobtrusive ownership inscription at head of front wrap. Illustrations include two full-page balloons and 'A modern sea-plane: the Burgess-Dunne type'. Twelfth illustration (diving English biplane) on front wrap. Scarce: no copy on Copac.

Historian of aviation (1909-81) at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Eight items, various formats. Very good. LETTER ONE (two pages, octavo, 14 January 1949, on V & A letterhead): 'As a very new fellow of the Society I hesitate to burden you with reading the enclosed [an article on 'Father Gusmao: the first practical pioneer in aeronautics', not present], but I thought there might be some chance of its appearing in the Journal. It is too historical for the Roy. Aeronautical Society's Journal and too aeronautical for the others, so I am stuck!

Astronomer and meteorologist (1809-1903). One page, 12mo. "The Leicester committee having closed, The London Committee will meet at 3 & 4 Bishopsgate at Mr Silver's on Friday next at 4 o clock Feby 24 / Yours truly / James Glaisher". Glaisher and Henry Tracey Coxwell (1819-1900) made many pioneering ascents by balloon for meteorological purposes. Dusty and with fraying at the head.