This folded letter originated from the Paris office at Rue Bonaparte on January 12, 1871, (fourth collection) and was prepaid 20 centimes for the French internal letter rate to Châlon sur Saône, “Par Ballon Monté.” Based on the date and time of collection, it is likely that this letter was carried out of Paris by the balloon Général Faidherbe.
The Général Faidherbe carried 60 kilograms of mail and five dogs intended to carry messages to their owners in Paris. An unsuccessful experiment, the dogs were released in an unfamiliar area and never seen again.
