Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Type
ART-Prints, Original
Medium
Print, Relief on Paper, Uncolored
Physical Description
Uncolored relief print of Mr. Giffard's balloon preparing for ascent in Paris. The balloon is shown tethered to the ground with numerous figures holding ropes attached to the balloon.
Baptiste Henri Jacques Giffard (February 8, 1825 – April 15, 1882) pioneered the airship (1852) and built and flew giant, tethered passenger carrying balloons. In Paris (1867) he built the 176,500 cubic feet L'Entreprenant. It burst at Le Havre in September 1868 prior to an attempt to fly the Channel. In London (1868), he constructed at Chelsea the Total Career. It was later reassembled and flown in Paris under the name, North Pole. Then again in Paris, he built l'Exposition Universelle (1878), the most successful of the giant tethered balloons. It operated for three months from the Court of the Tuileries.
'Sceaux.--Imp. Charaire Et Fils.'
Dimensions
2-D - Unframed (H x W): 36.2 × 50.8cm (14 1/4 in. × 20 in.)
Inventory Number
A20140656000
Credit Line
Gift of the Norfolk Charitable Trust
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.