Lot
4213 
1870 Pharmacists' Papillon to Domérat, onionskin paper 10 x 5 corner margin (paper and dimensions typical of the papillons de Metz) datelined "sous Metz 10 7bre 1870" by a cavalry officer with manuscript endorsement "Armée du Rhin, Poste Aerostatique", no arrival Domérat postmarks, Contents in French include, "My Dear, I take advantage of a small balloon which should leave today…", Very Fine. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
The Pharmacists' Balloon Mail Service, September 5-15, 1870 In a ten-day period, the Pharmacists' service sent out 14 small unmanned balloons with an estimated 1,500 papillons carried. Only 24 papillons sent by this balloon service are known to collectors today. This service was superseded by the Engineers' balloon service on September 16.
Sent aboard the 8th Pharmacists' balloon which left besieged Metz on September 11 with only 90 papillons and landed near Elmstein, Germany. It was found on November 28 and had a packing slip that read, "Armée du Rhin Poste aérostatique de pharmaciens de la garde imp. Ballon No. 8 Metz 11 7bre 1870, 120 gram 90 de lettres." Since its mail was captured and never delivered, surviving examples show no postmarks.