Les nouveaux balloons

Paris: Societe Francaise de Navigation Aerienne, 1876. FIRST EDITION. With text illustrations (tissue guards preserved). Original printed wrappers, spine frayed, minor soiling. A very good copy. FIRST EDITION of a rare treatise which proposes some improvements and modifications for the design of hydrogen gas balloons. The author indicates how a much lighter and stronger balloon can be constructed by using "Japan Paper" as the material for the balloon sack. In addition, he describes methods of reducing the weight of other elements of the structure such as the gas valve, the rigging, the gondola, and the framework -- thereby rendering the structure easier to maneuver, and more economical to build. He concludes by comparing the relative weights of his balloon with contemporary models.