This folded letter originated from the Paris office at Rue Serpente on December 1, 1870, (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 arrival datestamp of December 7, 1870, it is likely that this letter was carried out of Paris by the balloon Franklin.
The Franklin carried 100 kilograms of mail and had an uneventful voyage, landing safely in an unoccupied region of France, southwest of Nantes.
