Ballon Monte'.- Charles R. Shannon

Four autograph letters signed, all addressed to his brother Frederick ('Fred') and sent by balloons during the siege of Paris (1870-1871), when it was not possible to leave the city. The first letter says "All in pretty good health - nothing very new...Skirmishes almost every day but nothing important...We are as you may suppose dull enough, no kind of business. How long it will all last Lord only knows", one page, address leaf, 8vo, Paris, 14 October 1870; another one reads "Since my last, nothing new...For some days we all expected an armistice but during the week nothing has been said on the subject. I suppose you know about the new system of telegrams", one page, on " Dépêche-Ballon Journal des Évenements du Siège" headed paper printed with a summary of events, 8vo, 18 November 1870; the second letter reads "What a sad, sad Xmas and New Year...All the horrors of war and a most intense frost!...Do you think that thro' Prince Christian Augustenbourg...you could send me your letters - I knew him well when I was in Germany with his Uncle. One of our Clerks received a letter from London yesterday I suppose it came thro' Washburn the American Plenipotentiary in Paris", one page, on "Lettre-Journal de Paris" headed paper, with a printed summary of events by D. Jouast, integral address leaf, 8vo, 28 December 1870. The last letter reads "My dearest Fred, In spite of the abominable bombardment the Batignolles have been so far spared.. But should that quarter become dangerous we can go to some friends in the Rue des Petites Ecuries which is quite central. I was told yesterday that all the English in Paris had no kind of protection. I know that at the British Embassy no one has remained with the exception of the Porter and his wife. I always imagined that Washburne had taken charge of the British subjects but it would seem not. I shall go to the American legation and if what I am told is true I must say that I cannot understand the way in which England is acting thro' this frightful war! The letter addressed to the Prussians and signed by the neutral Representatives in Paris is the tamest stuff I ever read", three pages, address leaf, small hole near seal with loss, 8vo, 28 January 1871. (4)

***All letters are inscribed "Par Ballon Monté", a French expression meaning "balloon with pilot" which can be found on mail during the siege of Paris (1870-71) Balloons were used because there were no other way to leave the city as the Germans had surrounded the town. For sending letters "Par Ballon Monté" a higher rate of postage was charged.T he first ascent was made on 23rd September, 1870. The siege lasted until the 28th of January 1871.