Lot
4094 
1870 (Nov. 28) Paris to Evron (Crashed Mail), blue printed Bouquillard lettersheet, postmarked "Paris (60), 28 Nov. 70" double circle postmark, cancelled with Paris star where the adhesive has fallen off due to crash in the England Channel, backstamped by "Falmouth, DE 2, 70" British transit and "Evron, 6 Dec. 70" arrival cds, corner fault at top right due to immersion in the sea, Very Fine and rare, carried by the Jacquard, ex-T. Steinway; with 1948 P.F. certificate. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A VERY RARE BALLON MONTÉ CARRIED ON THE ILL FATED "JACQUARD", PARTICULARLY WHEN SHOWING THE BRITISH TRANSIT BACKSTAMP.
A few balloons the flights ended in tragedy; the most famous of which was the "Le Jacquard " piloted by a young sailor called Alexandre Prince. It was last seen from the lighthouse at Plymouth as it headed out into the Atlantic. A few sacks of mail were salvaged by fishermen, dried as best they could and dispatched to their intended recipients by a local priest.
Realized: $2,000