Historical and Art Medals, Numismatic Books

France, Expérience Aérostatique au Champs de Mars, Paris, 1783, a bronze medal by N.M. Gatteaux, conjoined busts of Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier left, rev. balloon above clouds depositing rain over the Champ de Mars, 42mm (Malpas 3; BDM II, 210). Minor surface marks on obverse, otherwise very fine (£60-80)

Provenance:
H.-P. Wipfler Collection.

The world’s first hydrogen-gas balloon flight, on 27 August 1783, lasted for 45 minutes