Historic Ballooning Illustrations

Collection of 19th century engravings depicting various designs of aerostats, including steerable balloons and notable historical events.

Engraving depicting Giffard's Captive hydrogen balloon 'Captive' in the Cremorne Gardens, London. Dated 19th Century
Engraving depicting Giffard's Captive hydrogen balloon 'Captive' in the Cremorne Gardens, London. Dated 19th Century
146 assets in this story
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Engraving depicting the 'Comte d'Artois', Alban and Vallet's attempt to produce a steerable balloon. Dated 18th Century
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Balloon steering project by Tessiore in 1845 pulled by a tame vulture, France. Old 19th century engraving from La Nature 1887
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Balloon launched by Andre-Jacques Garnerin on the day of the coronation of Emperor Napoleon. Woodblock engraving from Louis Figuier's "Les Merveilles de la Science: Aerostats" (Marvels of Science: Air Balloons), Furne, Jouvet et Cie, Paris, 1868.
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Jean-Pierre Blanchard's balloon with flying boat, wings and rudder. Woodblock engraving from Louis Figuier's "Les Merveilles de la Science: Aerostats" (Marvels of Science: Air Balloons), Furne, Jouvet et Cie, Paris, 1868.
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Engraving depicting James Glaisher's balloon over Westminster. James Glaisher (1809-1903) an English meteorologist, aeronaut and astronomer. Dated 19th Century
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19th century illustration showing the Time Ball of New York. The purpose of the device was for people to set their watches to a standard measure of time.1883
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Engraving depicting Vincenzo Lunardi (1759-1839), an Italian aeronaut, making his first balloon ascent in England. Dated 18th Century
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The Zephyr hot air balloon by Coste, May 13, 1852, Paris racecourse, France, illustration from L'Illustration, Journal Universel, No 483, Volume XIX, May 29, 1852.
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Astronomy: a large refracting telescope, in a specially constructed observatory. Wood engraving, 1881.
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Engraving depicting Giffard's Captive hydrogen balloon 'Captive' in the Cremorne Gardens, London. Dated 19th Century
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An exact representation of Mr. Lunardi's balloon traveling with himself, 1786. Published in Edinburgh by J. Bell. 20.5 x 12 cm
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Balloon of Marquis dArlandes (1742-1809), a french ballooning pioneer. Illustration source: Scribners Magazine printed in 1870
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Balloon of Marquis dArlandes Balloon of Marquis dArlandes 1742-1809, a french ballooning pioneer. Illustration source: Scribners Magazine printed in 1870. Copyright: xZoonar.com/J.xSandvikx 2824655
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Jacques Garnerin descends by parachute from a released balloon, October 1797. Woodblock engraving by Mes after SKI from Louis Figuier's "Les Merveilles de la Science: Aerostats" (Marvels of Science: Air Balloons), Furne, Jouvet et Cie, Paris, 1868.
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Observation stand for a solar eclipse in Upper Egypt, around 1880, illustration of the instruments used, historical, digitally enhanced reproduction of a 19th-century original.
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Engraving depicting the filling of a balloon in England. Dated 19th Century
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An engraving depicting a 36-inch refractor at the Lick Observatory. One of the world's two largest refractors it is on a 'German' style equatorial mounting, with the axis parallel to Earth's polar axis supported on a high pillar. The counterbalance weight for the telescope shows clearly. Dated 19th century
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Hydraulic elevator from 1887. Old illustration by Louis Poyet (1846-1913) from La Nature 1887
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Illustration showing Hevelius observing with wooden tubed refracting telescope
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Engraving depicting the interior of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, an observatory situated on a hill in Greenwich Park, overlooking the River Thames. Dated 19th Century
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Engraving depicting François Laurent le Vieux d'Arlandes and Jean-François Piltre de Rozier in their Montgolfier balloon in which they made the first manned free balloon flight on 21 November 1783. François Laurent le Vieux d'Arlandes (1742-1809) was a French marquis, soldier and a pioneer of hot air ballooning. Jean-François Piltre de Rozier (1754-1785) was a French chemistry and physics teacher, and one of the first pioneers of aviation. Dated 18th century
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meteorologists, Glaisher and Coxvell making a scientific balloon ascent to make various observations, 1870
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Garnerin's Descent in a Parachute 1802 Andre Jacques Garnerin 1769 - 1823 French inventor of the frameless parachute From the book Wondeful Balloon Ascents or The Conquest of the Skies published c 1870
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Engraving depicting Scott's balloon. 18th Century
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Director of Cambridge Observatory, Massachusetts, using the reflecting telescope on the Rocky Mountains to watch the launch of the space capsule 'Columbiad'. From Jules Verne 'De la Terre a la Lune', Paris, 1865. Wood engraving.
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Mobile wings intended to be tested in still air. View of the device blown away by the wind. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1886
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The "North Pole" in the Airs, June 27, 1869 The "North Pole" in the air, June 27, 1869. Photography of Theodore Tileau. Draw on Albuminum Paper, 1869.
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An engraving depicting Lord Kelvin's mirror galvanometer, showing how the light source at D reflected off the mirror of the galvanometer onto the scale E, E. The angle of the mirror, and so the measurement read off the scale, depends here on the current flowing through the Wheatstone bridge. William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin (1824-1907) a Scots-Irish mathematical physicist and engineer. Dated 19th century
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Engraving depicting the interior of George Bishop's Observatory. George Bishop (1785-1861) an English astronomer. Dated 19th Century
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A flying machine 'fills its tanks' with solar power derived from the sun's energy. Date: 1898
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Street Telescope Exhibitor A young boy steps up for a telescopic view of the moon Date: circa. 1850
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Engraving depicting the photographic telescope within the Paris Observatory. Dated 19th Century
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Between Tunis and the desert. Jacob down based on his ass, vintage engraving. Between Tunis and the desert. Jacob down based on his ass, vintage engraved illustration. Journal des Voyages, Travel Journal, 1880-81. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10657033
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Lighting of parabolic water jets Bechmann system. Light source of the Universal Exposition of Paris, 1889. France. Europe
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Inflation of Charles and the Robert brothers' hydrogen balloon, 1783 (c1807). Artist: Unknown
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The inventor Alexander Graham Bell, flying his tetrahedral kite. Date: 1903 - 4
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Reconstruction of a Roman machine for shooting arrows wound up ready for the missile to be released, From Poliorceticon sive de machinis tormentis telis by Justus Lipsius (Antwerp, 1605), Engraving
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An engraving depicting the reconstruction of Onager, an imperial-era Roman torsion powered siege engine, used to fling stones. Dated 19th century
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James Glaisher and Henry Tracey Coxwell conducting meteorological observations in the nacelle (gondola) of their balloon. Woodblock engraving by M. from Louis Figuier's "Les Merveilles de la Science: Aerostats" (Marvels of Science: Air Balloons), Furne, Jouvet et Cie, Paris, 1868.
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An engraving depicting a floating lighthouse designed by M. A. Freyer, erected by the Admiralty in 1869 to guide shipping into the port of Liverpool. The bottom of the picture shows the method of anchoring the lighthouse to the seabed. Dated 19th century
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Mechanical crossbow on stand (euthytonon) attributed to Philo of Byzantium (active 150-100 BC). When arms CC wound back against skeins or sinews, the ends of ropes, here shown hanging down from ends of arms, were connected to hook, so holding arms back. Tension was increased by a ratchet, a large arrow was placed on front of arm and fired by releasing the rope. From Poliorceticon sive de machinis tormentis telis by Justus Lipsius (Joost Lips) (Antwerp, 1605). Engraving.
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Engraving depicting the varnishing of a balloon. Dated 18th Century
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Equatorial telescope at the time of the third contact, transit of Venus across the Sun, French scientific expedition on Saint-Paul island, illustration by Ferat from L'Illustration, Journal Universel, No 1676, Volume LXV, April 10 1875.
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An engraving depicting fermenting vessels in which cool beer or wort fermented with yeast. Dated 19th century
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Sic itur ad astra - Experience of the flying vessel of Mr Blanchard Rise at the Champ de Mars on March 2, 1784 between noon and 2 hours Claude-Louis Desrais (1746-1816). "Sic Itur Ad Astra - Experience of the flying vessel of Mr. Blanchard removed in the field of March on March 2, 1784 between noon and 2 hours". Print.
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Engraving depicting the image of the sun being projected through the hole of a camera obscura. Dated 19th century
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Engraving depicting a kite with a camera attached being used for aerial photographs. Dated 19th Century
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Engraving depicting a balloon falling into the sea. Dated 19th Century
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An engraving depicting James Nasmyth's 20-inch refractor, the base of which was mounted on a railway turntable. James Nasmyth (1808-1890) a Scottish engineer, inventor, and astronomer. With the extra mirrors, the observer's eye could remain stationary. This style of mounting pioneered new engineering methods for mounting telescopes. Dated 19th century
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Illustration depicting the Aurora Borealis observed from the HMS Daedalus. Dated 19th Century
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Cross-section of his bell, showing how it is proposed that the diver could emerge wearing a smaller bell on his head, sufficient for a brief period of exploration. Date: 1690
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Jet thruster by Just Buisson and Ciurcu, second arrangement of the jet thruster. Old 19th century engraving from La Nature 1887
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Engraving depicting a trebuchet - a war engine for projecting missiles. Dated 17th century
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Aerostatic machine of MMRS. Father Miolan and Janninet.
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Ascension of Blanchard in Nuremberg on November 12, 1787. Old illustration from La Nature 1887
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Sir WIlliam Herschel's telescope or the Great Forty-Foot reflecting telescope built between 1785 and 1789 at Observatory House in Slough, England. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by J. Farey from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1820.
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Scientific Excursion (registered title) | News. (Title of the set)
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Experimental descent by parachute from a balloon by the Jacques Garnerin, October 1797. Handcolored engraving by Bescherer from Sircos and Pallier's "Histoire des Ballons," Roy, Paris, 1870.
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'THE WAR OF THE WORLDS' The first Martian emerges from the cylinder Date: First published: 1898
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(VOYAGE AU CENTRE DE LA TERRE) Large crystal formations. Date: Circa 1870
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Illustration from Theatrum Machinarum Novum 1661 by Georg Andreas Böckler; An exploded view of a post mill
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Man standing on a platform manipulating a set of paddle-like wings for a hand-operated aeronautical propeller ca. 1850
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Transmission of force by electricity. Experiences of Marcel Deprez, between Creil and Paris. View of the generator at Creil station, France. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1886
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Hipparchos (146 - 127 BC) Impression of the Greek Astronomer, depicted in Alexandria
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Engraving depicting François Laurent le Vieux d'Arlandes and Jean-François Piltre de Rozier in their Montgolfier balloon in which they made the first manned free balloon flight on 21 November 1783. François Laurent le Vieux d'Arlandes (1742-1809) was a French marquis, soldier and a pioneer of hot air ballooning. Jean-François Piltre de Rozier (1754-1785) was a French chemistry and physics teacher, and one of the first pioneers of aviation. Dated 18th century
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The Montgolfier balloon le Flesselles, 1784. Woodblock engraving by A. de L. from Louis Figuier's "Les Merveilles de la Science: Aerostats" (Marvels of Science: Air Balloons), Furne, Jouvet et Cie, Paris, 1868.
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Engraving depicting Vincenzo Lunardi (1759-1839), an Italian aeronaut, making his first balloon ascent in England. Dated 18th Century
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A family enjoying a magic lantern show. The lanterns used differ little from Kircher's in the 17th century, consisting of a metal box with lamp placed in focus of a concave mirror.
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MR. GREEN'S SIGNAL BALLOON, DISPATCHES, AND PARACHUTE, FOR THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION
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The Montgolfier brothers' balloon launch from Versailles in the presence of the king, September 1783. Joseph-Michel Montgolfier and Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier. Lithograph from Paul Lacroix' The Eighteenth Century: Its Institutions, Customs, and Costumes, London, 1876.
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Aviation: the balloon by Henri Giffard, Aviation, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th century artwork, original date unknown
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Elevation of liquids by compressed air, systeme Sainte et March. Old 19th century engraving from La Nature 1887
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Early hot air balloon flight. This balloon Le Flesselles ascended over Lyon France on 1 January 1784 carrying seven passengers which included the French balloonists Joseph Montgolfier (1740 1810) and Jean Francois Pilatre de Rozier. Engraving by A. de L. "Les Merveilles de la Science", 1868. Color.
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Microscopy for the Millions': A member of the audience frightened by a lantern slide showing the forms of life in a typical drop of London water. Cartoon by Charles Samuel Keene (1823-1891) for 'Punch', London, 1878.
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The great Corliss engine displayed in the USA Date: 1876
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Engraving depicting the siderostat of the horizontal telescope. Dated 20th Century
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Fishing: trawling for shad, three-quarter view (top), and plan (below) Engraving, c.1762, by R. Benard after L.J. Goussier.
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Engraving depicting Jacques Charles and one of the Robert Brothers in his hydrogen filled balloon. Jacques Charles (1746-1823) a French inventor, scientist, mathematician, and balloonist. Dated 19th century
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Auslegen des Fischtorpedo von Giovanni Luppis und Robert Whitehead / Laying out the fish torpedo by Giovanni Luppis and Robert Whitehead, Historisch, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert, genaues Originaldatum nicht bekannt.
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Jean-François de Galoup, Comte de La Pérouse (August 23, 1741-1788) was a French explorer and naval officer. In 1785, the King of France commissioned La Perouse to head an expedition to explore the Pacific Ocean, to investigate whaling and fur prospects, and to establish French claims in this area. La Pérouse had admired the explorer James Cook, and wanted to continue his work. La Perouse was assigned two 500-ton ships called the Astrolabe and the Boussole. His crew of 114 included sailors, scientists, a physicist, three draftsmen, three naturalists, clergymen, and a mathematician. They left France in August, 1785. La Perouse mapped the west coast of North America in 1786, and visited Easter Island and Hawaii. His ships reached the west coast of Alaska in 1786 and did extensive mapping of the North American west coast from Alaska to Monterey, California. Next La Pérouse landed at Botany Bay (Port Jackson), Australia, before heading for the Solomon Islands. La Pérouse took the opportuni
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Etienne and Joseph Montgolfier's hot-air balloon 1, and brazier a, Professor Jacques Charles's balloon and gondola 2, hydrogen-gas mechanism b, and Jean-Pierre Blanchard with his parachute 3. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Friedrich Johann Bertuch's Bilderbuch fur Kinder (Picture Book for Children), Weimar, 1802.
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Long focal length refracting telescope, 1728. The lenses for this instrument were by Francesco Campani, Italian lens maker of Bologna. From 'Hesperi et Phosphori nova Phenomena' by Francesco Bianchini. (Rome, 1728). Engraving.
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Braun's electrodynamic airship, 1887. Artist: Unknown
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Exposition Universelle, Paris, 1889. Villard and Cotard's scale model of the Earth.
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Measuring the Blizzard's Rage. Shielded snow gauge in the Northwest to register snow-fall. In: 'The Boy with the U.S. Weather Men', 1917
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Astronomy: the open air observatory at Peking. Halftone after E.D.A..
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Engraving depicting the solar eclipse of 1875. Observing station on the Nicobar Islands where a joint Indian and Royal Society team set up an observatory. Dated 19th century
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meteorologists, Glaisher and Coxvell making a scientific balloon ascent to make various observations, 5 September 1852. At a height of 11,000 metres Glaisher passed out, but Coxvell was able to summon the strength to release the valve and so saved their lives. 1870
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'Skyhook' high-altitude weather balloons, such as these used by the U.S.Navy, were liable to be perceived as UFOs by witnesses unfamiliar with them Date: 1950
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1800S Illustration Of Man Riding A Steam Rocket In The Sky
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Engraving depicting the first marker buoy of the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph. The buoy was used in grappling for the cables . Dated 19th Century
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Angelot operating a magic lantern.
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Elektrotechnische Ausstellung in Frankfurt 1892, Deutschland, Historisch, digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert
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Illustration depicting Charles Green's balloon. Charles Green (1785-1870) a British balloonist. Dated 19th Century
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Andree Polar Expedition, Ballongondel, hydrogen balloon, Salomon August Andree a Swedish engineer, physicist, aeronaut and polar explorer, 1880, woodcut, Sweden, Europe
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Engraving depicting the Great Comet of 1882 seen from the Río de la Plata. Dated 19th Century
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Engraving depicting a refracting telescope on an iron stand and fitted with a finder. The instrument has two double convex lenses and is known as the astronomical telescope. Dated 19th Century
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An engraving depicting a helicopter powered by a petrol engine, designed by Robert H. Goddard. Robert H. Goddard (1882-1945) an American engineer, professor, physicist, and inventor. Dated 20th century
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Engraving depicting Terzuolo's navigable balloon. Dated 19th Century
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Captain Frassinetti's aeronautical experiments with a small model dirigibile, Milan, Italy, photograph by A Foli, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXXI, No 5, January 31, 1904.