Description

[003779] [Ballooning Hand Bill] Under the Especial Patronage of His Majesty, Royal Gardens, Vauxhall. Another Ascent of the Vauxhall Royal Balloon Which Ascended on September 21st, with Twelve Persons, Will Take Place Next Thursday, October 6, 1836, at Three o’clock. London: Balne [Printer], 1836. First Edition. 4to. Unbound. Ephemera. Good. Single sided printed hand bill, approximately 95mm x 265mm in size

Browned, trimmed quite closely, some creasing and a couple of tiny nicks

The printer was probably [Giles] Balne (fl.1799-1838) of Gracechurch Street, London (BBTI)

The ‘Mr. Green’ was almost certainly Charles Green (1785-1864), a professional balloonist between 1821 and 1840, this being his two hundred twenty-fourth aerial voyage. Later that year (November 1836), Green, with Mason and Holland, flew from Vauxhall Gardens London in the Royal Vauxhall. The flight covered a record distance (until 1907) of 480 miles, landing in Germany after eighteen hours. Green was the first to use “coal-gas” for lift (1821), the first to use a drag rope for ballast and he made five cross-channel attempts, with three being successful, and two ending in the sea (information from ballooninghistory). Admission was two shillings and sixpence, with the Coldstream and Quadrille bands also attending

See Altick, The Shows of London, page 322