This folded letter originated from the Paris office at Rue Serpente on January 1, 1871, (sixth collection) and was prepaid 20 centimes for the French internal letter rate to Alençon, “Par Ballon Monté.” Based on the date and time of collection, plus the Alençon arrival datestamp of January 6, 1871, it is likely that this letter was carried out of Paris by the balloon Newton.
The Newton carried 310 kilograms of mail, and the flight occurred in heavy rain and fog. The balloon landed in a German-occupied region, and with the help of local citizens, the aeronauts and mail bags were smuggled into unoccupied France.
