Very rare, large albumen photograph showing aeronaut James Allen (pointing), with his gas balloon, photographed on September 9, 1890, in Newburyport, Massachusetts. The balloon is shown being inflated here; he eventually made an ascension and landed in Georgetown. During the Civil War, the pilot James Allen was ordered to make reconnaissance flights. Info found online: "Allen’s flight attempts were short and anything but sweet. On July 8, 1861, he was ordered to make reconnaissance flights over Confederate forces near Washington. Allen made an attempt to inflate one of his two balloons on July 9, but his gas generator failed to operate sufficiently to fill the vessel. Allen decided to use city gas to inflate his balloon and then transport the inflated balloon by wagon. During a subsequent inflation attempt on July 14, Allen’s smaller balloon burst. Later, his larger airship was inflated, and 60 men from the 11th New York Zouaves were assigned to move it by hand to Falls Church, Va. They had towed the balloon only a short distance when a gust of wind came up and blew it into a telegraph pole, destroying it." Large 10" x 8" albumen photo on its original 12" x 10" mat. The entire piece with the mat could not fit on my scanner, so it is not shown, however, the mat is in great antique condition, I am not hiding any damages! I can take a picture of the whole thing on request. In very good or better antique condition with light wear. Shipping: Boxed & signed shipping.
