Lot
2394 
Postal Card, 1873, 1¢ brown on buff, watermarked Small U.S.P.O.D., card flown by unmanned balloon from Brooklyn, N.Y. and received with finder's notation "New Utrechts, L.I., This balloon arrived at Mr. Geo. Van Barent on Monday Morning at 10 Ock Oct 5th." on reverse, addressed back to balloon experimenter Willie Hill in Brooklyn with New Utrechts, N.Y. duplex cancelling and bold receiver; card nick at top right from attachment to balloon, Very Fine for this. Scott Nos. UX3 Estimate $500 - 750.
In Catalog of Classic American Airposts and Aeronautica, 1784-1900 by Robert Schoendorf, he notes…"Willie Hill of Brooklyn…In these experiments unmanned balloons were release carrying 1¢ postal cards (Scott #UX3) addressed to Willie Hill, usually with the request on the reverse: "Finder of this balloon will please write on this where and when it was found and put it in the Post Office," and as an inducement to comply with this: "You may keep the balloon." Seven of such postal cards have turned up, flown in 1874 and 1875." .