Jun 12 at 12:00 PM - Sale 2708 -
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Sale 2708 - Lot 34

Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
(AVIATION.) Silk message carried aboard "The Graphic" on its doomed trans-Atlantic balloon flight attempt. Gilt printing on white silk, 5¼ x 8¾ inches; three folds, minimal wear. With original envelope printed with return address but no destination address; adhesion remnants and minor wear. New York, 10 September 1873
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Additional Details

The New York Daily Graphic began in March 1873, and to gain attention they sponsored the first attempt at a trans-Atlantic balloon flight, by aeronaut Washington Donaldson.

To please the philatelists of the world, a small amount of mail was gathered for the planned 10 September launch, including the piece offered here: a specially gilt-printed note on silk from a New York businessman to friends in Liverpool. It reads in its entirety: "Per Balloon 'The Graphic,' New York Sept. 10th 1873, to Mr. and Mrs. Byrne, Liverpool England, with complements of Mr. & Mrs. W.I. Russell." It is accompanied by an envelope printed with William I. Russell's address at 107 Beekman Street in the city, and his occupation of metal broker. The recipient's address may have been written on a separate panel which has since been removed.

The balloon suffered some weather and technological delays, and did not actually take off until 6 October. Donaldson and his two companions launched successfully from a baseball field in Brooklyn, but they soon lost control of the massive balloon above Canaan, CT, and jumped ship as it hurtled at low altitude through forest and farm. One of the aeronauts later died from his injuries. The remnants of the balloon were later found about a mile away from the evacuation point.

This silk message was likely on the doomed Graphic balloon. We presume it was found among the wreckage in Connecticut. One thing we can say with confidence: it never reached its destination in Liverpool.

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