Description
France, War of 1870 mounted balloon, The Newton, 20c blue Seat cancelled star 1, C. PARIS/PL. DE LA BOURSE of December 31, 1870 on a large color map of Paris and its 9 sectors by handwritten "balloon" for Blois in the occupied zone, with on the back the LA ROCHELLE postmark of January 11, 1871. These large plans in colors are extremely rare having traveled. Here, quite exceptionally, the plan flew directly franked and cancelled, without being placed inside a mail, without even the sender writing a text. Let us notice the care to indicate "by mounted balloon" in margin of the plan, vertically, not to alter the document. Absolutely superb, some known pieces. The Newton, piloted by Ours accompanied by the passenger Amable Brousseau, rises at night from the Orleans train station, on Wednesday January 4th, in a thick fog. Blinded and without any landmarks, the crew landed a few hours later in Eure-et-Loir at a place called Champtier-de-la-Gabrielle, near Digny, in the occupied zone. Disguised as farm workers and with the unfailing assistance of the locals, Brousseau was the first to cross enemy lines. Bear had to wait until January 6 to finally hand over the bags of mail to the postmaster of Longny, who transmitted them to the post office of Mortagnesur-Huine (Orne) on January 9. Yvert 36
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France, War of 1870 mounted balloon, The Newton, 20c blue Seat cancelled star 1, C. PARIS/PL. DE LA BOURSE of December 31, 1870 on a large color map of Paris and its 9 sectors by handwritten "balloon" for Blois in the occupied zone, with on the back the LA ROCHELLE postmark of January 11, 1871. These large plans in colors are extremely rare having traveled. Here, quite exceptionally, the plan flew directly franked and cancelled, without being placed inside a mail, without even the sender writing a text. Let us notice the care to indicate "by mounted balloon" in margin of the plan, vertically, not to alter the document. Absolutely superb, some known pieces. The Newton, piloted by Ours accompanied by the passenger Amable Brousseau, rises at night from the Orleans train station, on Wednesday January 4th, in a thick fog. Blinded and without any landmarks, the crew landed a few hours later in Eure-et-Loir at a place called Champtier-de-la-Gabrielle, near Digny, in the occupied zone. Disguised as farm workers and with the unfailing assistance of the locals, Brousseau was the first to cross enemy lines. Bear had to wait until January 6 to finally hand over the bags of mail to the postmaster of Longny, who transmitted them to the post office of Mortagnesur-Huine (Orne) on January 9. Yvert 36
