Basil Smith: L'armee de La Loire Balloon

Artist: Basil Smith
1925 -
Nationality: British
Artwork Year: 1981
Image Size: 7 by 6 inches
Overall Size: 10 by 9 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Hot Press Illustration Board

In 1870, during the Siege of Paris, the valiant city was tightly surrounded and eventually defeated by the Prussian forces. However, though the Parisians were hopelessly hemmed in, vital communication to the outside world remained steady throughout the siege, thanks to the hot air balloon and French ingenuity. When the Siege of Paris began, there were only seven existing hot air balloons in the city, and most of them were in disrepair. But within two days of the Prussians closing their ring around the city, the first was prepared for flight. And indeed, on September 23, 1870, the first badly needed flight out of the city was made. Thereafter, balloons were manufactured and flown out of Paris at a rate of two or three per week, delivering urgent messages throughout Europe. The majority of the balloons landed safely in friendly territory, though five were captured, and one was discovered drifting helplessly over Norway. In all, 54 official balloons conveyed over 2,500,000 official and private letters from besieged Paris throughout Europe. One letter -- inscribed "Par Ballon Monte" -- was posted in Paris on December 29, 1870, and addressed to Madame Cook de Jersey. The letter arrived in Jersey on January 4, 1871, and to this day, is preserved in the local museum. Thus, to the credit of the Loire Forces, this letter has the distinction of being the first known "Air Mail' letter to arrive on the lovely island of Jersey.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® Trains & Boats & Planes & More Collection Description Card for the L'armee De La Loire.

Artwork Copyright © 1981 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB07403

US$ Price: $950.00

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