Location
Home / Original Rare Posters / Old Balloon Poster reprints / The First Aerial Voyage in Britain: 1784

The First Aerial Voyage in Britain: 1784

The First Aerial Voyage in Britain: 1784
The First Aerial Voyage in Britain: 1784
The First Aerial Voyage in Britain: 1784

It is perhaps to be regretted that the first aerial voyage in this country fell to the honour of a foreigner, Vincenzo Lunardi—himself a Tuscan who was the handsome Secretary to the Neapolitan Ambassador in London. Lunardi was later to be given an honorary commission in the Honourable Artillery Company, for it was from their ground at Moorfields in London that Lunardi took off on his historic journey on September 15th 1784.

Like all balloonists of the time, Lunardi took aboard an attractive assortment of goods, including livestock. His hydrogen "spherical" was a handsome affair of blue and red gores his next balloon was to bear a giant Royal Arms and took off on that fine September day bearing its pilot, a cat, a dog, a bottle of wine, a leg of chicken, and other provisions.

Lunardi first, and briefly, touched down at North Mimnis, where the cat which had decided it had had enough abandoned ship. The final landing was at Standon near Ware in Hertfordshire, after a voyage of 24 miles in 2¼ hours.

On the little stone monument, still to be seen there, are cut these lines:

"Let Posterity know, and knowing be astonished, that on the 15th day of September, 1784 Vincent Lunardi of Lucca in Tuscany, the First Aerial Traveller in Britain, mounting from the Artillery Ground in London and traversing the Regions of the Air for two Hours and fifteen Minutes, in this Spot revisited the Earth. On this rude monument for ages be recorded that wonderous Enterprise successfully achieved by the Powers of Chemistry and the Fortitude of Man, that Improvement in Science which the Great Author of all Knowledge, patronyzing by His Providence the Invention of Mankind hath graciously permitted to their Benefit and His own Eternal Glory."

C. H. GIBBS-SMITH

One of 12 prints from the Collections of the Royal Aeronautical Society reproduced by the Society to mark its Centenary in 1966 No. 9

Original size 38.5cm by 35.5cm

Free UK 2nd class recorded delivery - other options are offered

UK VAT included

The price you see is the price you pay!


Your Price:
£25.99 £13.79 Exc VAT, £16.55 Inc VAT (Save 47%)
Stock Info:
1 In Stock
Your Total:
Quantity:

Make your selection here

Also from our In House Printers
Original Antique 1955ish Balloon Poster (£16.99 Exc VAT, £20.39 Inc VAT)
A3 on Canvass (£49.99 Exc VAT, £59.99 Inc VAT)
A3 on Photo Papaer (£21.99 Exc VAT, £26.39 Inc VAT)
A4 on Canvass (£19.99 Exc VAT, £23.99 Inc VAT)
A4 on Photo Paper (£9.99 Exc VAT, £11.99 Inc VAT)
Fridge Magnet Approx 15cm by 10cm (£11.99 Exc VAT, £14.39 Inc VAT)
5 Greetings Cards (£4.99 Exc VAT, £5.99 Inc VAT)

Personalised Title and Message Options

Personalised Greeting Card Front Title
Personalised Greeting Card Inside Messag
Cookie Info

The cookie settings on this website are set to 'allow all cookies' to give you the very best experience.

If you continue without changing these settings, you consent to this. If you want, you can change your settings at any time by visiting our cookies page.

More About Cookies

Banner Adverts
Sidebar 1 Rotator 11
Sidebar 2
Sidebar 31
Worcester Enterprises Limited
Your Cart
Your Cart: Empty
Search
Categories
© 2024 Worcester Enterprises Limited, all rights reserved worldwide.
Software: Kryptronic eCommerce, Copyright 1999-2024 Kryptronic, Inc. Exec Time: 0.048542 Seconds Memory Usage: 1.392525 Megabytes
Kryptronic