AEROSTATION. COPY ENRICHED WITH A LETTER FROM JEAN-PIERRE BL - Lot 450

AEROSTATION. COPY ENRICHED WITH A LETTER FROM JEAN-PIERRE BLANCHARD. Barthélémy FAUJAS DE SAINT-FOND. Description des expériences de la machine aérostatique. From Cuchet, Paris 1783. In-8, basane spine in fair condition. First edition illustrated with 9 plates in fine, devoted to the aerostatic machine and the flying boat. The first and most important work on aerostation. It brings together several memoirs relating the first balloon flights (Sur le gaz inflammable, Observations faites par M. Jeaurat, Du caoutchoux, Relations des premiers vols à Annonay, au Champ de Mars...) Faujas de Saint-Fond, naturalist and geologist, financially supported the research of the Montgolfier brothers, paper makers, based on Cavendish's experiments and Pristley's work on hot air. Jean-Pierre François Blanchard (1753-1809) was a French aeronaut who, on January 7, 1785, made the first crossing of the English Channel in a balloon.