This folded letter originated from the Paris suburb office of Les Ternes on December 10, 1870, (fourth collection) and was prepaid 20 centimes for the French internal letter rate to Dieppe, “Par Ballon Monté.” Based on the date of collection, it is most likely that this letter was carried out of Paris by the balloon Général Renault.
The Général Renault carried 102 kilograms of mail and completed a three- hour flight in bitterly cold weather. German soldiers fired upon the airborne balloon, but it managed to land safely in occupied territory and escape ahead of the pursuing troops.
