Henry Gitner Philatelists, Inc.

France Ballon Monte: Le “Ville de Paris” VF complete folded letter, Dec 13, 1870 Paris cancel, no arrival mark on this flight. Carried 63 kg of mail. After a 5 1/2 harrowing hours trying to avoid Prussian held areas and fierce winds, the aeronauts landed in the trees in a precarious position. They avoided injury only to have the locals interrogate them and send them off to military prison for they landed in Prussia! The rest of the story involves a daring prison break and a difficult return trip to Paris. (BM42 €650)