Chateau Aerien, 1894

Visitors to the Antwerp World's Fair in 1894 this captive balloon demonstrate a method of moving adventurous travelers from the earth to the clouds. Alfred Tobiansky d'Altoff patented the device.

About 110 years earlier, French experimenters had designed the first successful lighter-than-air balloons, strong enough to support the weight of humans in a "gondola." The first ascents were in captive balloons, tethered to the ground.

Less than 25 years after this exhibition, balloons were used for a more serious purpose: observing the enemy and directing artillery fire during World War I.

Medium : 1 photomechanical print (poster): photolithograph, color.

Part of the Tissandier Collection of 975 images of early aeronautics

Housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress

Frame : Antique Gold, double matted : Size 17 x 21 1/4

Price: $140.00

Availability: Usually ships in one to two weeks

Product #: FR0012