At the request of an acquaintance, Alphonse de Montgolfier created Catalogue des Livres des Aérostats in 1883. Handwritten in French cursive, the catalogue begins with an introductory letter and then alphabetically records materials held in the Montgolfier family archives relating to Aérostats and their inventors - items likely amassed by his aviation ancestors Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier.
Scope and Contents:
This collection contains one hardcover, bound book titled Catalogue des Livres des Aérostats on the spine. Created in 1883 by Alphonse de Montgolfier, the catalogue recorded materials in his custody that related to Aérostats and their inventors. When compiled, the term Aérostats described 1700s and 1800s ballooning as well as other lighter-than-air aircrafts. Items in this catalogue mostly consist of books and other published materials; however, some unpublished works such as correspondence, essays, and papers are also included and annotated. The inventory is listed on 40 pages and arranged alphabetically by the author's surname then title (or title if no author identified).
de Montgolfier also provided a four-page introductory letter noting the catalogue's inception for an acquaintance requesting aeronautics titles in de Montgolfier family archives. Although unidentified, it can be speculated that the acquaintance and recipient of this letter was French chemist, aviator, and editor Gaston Tissandier (1843-1899).
This catalogue is completely handwritten in French cursive. Two bookplates pasted in the inside front cover: one stating "Ex Libris Gaston Tissandier" and the other "The Library of Congress / The Daniel Guggenheim Fund."
Arrangement:
Alphabetically arranged by the author's surname then by title. If no author or title listed, alphebetically arranged by type of material.
Biographical / Historical:
The National Air and Space Museum Archives received this catalogue as a transfer from the Smithsonian Institution Libraries, who first obtained it - as a gift or purchase - from the Library of Congress. This transfer likely happened in 1966. From its second bookplate, it can be assumed that the Library of Congress procured the catalogue with the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for Aeronautics. The Library of Congress used this fund between 1926 and 1930 to facilitate technical development, improve safety, and expand the popularity of aviation. In 1930, the fund purchased books, manuscripts, and illustrations of The Tissandier Collection from Maggs Brothers of London.
From the "Ex Libris" bookplate, it can be postulated that the bibliographic inquest resulting in this catalogue came at the request of French chemist, aviator, and editor Gaston Tissandier (1843-1899) while collecting information for his aeronautic bibliography later published in 1887. The preface of this bibliography, titled Bibliographie aéronautique: catalogue de livres d'histoire, de science, de voyages et de fantaisie, traitant de la navigation aérienne ou des aérostats, further supports this conclusion when Tissandier cited consulting the catalogues of various private holdings and specifically noted the library of "M. le colonel de Montgolfier."
Alphonse de Montgolfier (1831-1897) was a lieutenant-colonel, public figure, and great-grandnephew of the aviation pioneers Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier. As the head of the eldest branch, de Montgolfier became the heir of his family's heritage and memories, which he maintained at his historical property Varagnes-le Bas, colloquially known as Varagnes-les-Annonay, in their small ancestral town of Annonay in southern France. Although written by de Montgolfier in 1883, it was likely his aviation ancestors who collected the materials itemized in Catalogue des Livres des Aérostats.
Provenance:
Library of Congress, Transfer, Unknown date, NASM.XXXX.0955.
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
This collection consists of a scrapbook, largely concerned with ballooning in France. Many items in the scrapbook are illustrations of early balloon flights, and there are illustrations of imaginary air vehicles, some of which are quite fanciful. The scrapbook also contains content pertaining to airships and aircraft.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of a scrapbook, largely concerned with ballooning in France. Many items in the scrapbook are illustrations of early balloon flights, and there are illustrations of imaginary air vehicles, some of which are quite fanciful. Most of the text in the scrapbook is in French, although some of the text is in English and there is a very small amount in German. The scrapbook also contains some material on early aircraft and aviation up through the early 1930s. The scrapbook features information on balloons and ascensions relating to Sadler (James), Coutelle (Jean), Garnerin (André), Garnerin (Elisa), Blanchard (Jean-Pierre), Blanchard (Madeleine-Sophie), Blanchard-Jeffries, Nadar (Félix Tournachon), and the Montgolfier Brothers. Content also pertains to airships, including Renard (Charles) & Krebs (Arthur), "La France;" SCA (Stabilimento di Costruzione Aeronautiche), N.1 "Norge;" and the LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin." Aircraft shown in the scrapbook includes the Dewoitine D.1 C1, Blériot XI, Blériot XII, Curtiss and Wright biplanes, Breguet-Richet Gyroplane, Breguet Bre.280 T, Dornier Do R Superwal (Super Whale), and the Short S.5 Singapore Mk.I. Notable people depicted in the scrapbook, other than those previously listed, include Ernst Udet, Dieudonné Costes, Jacques-Louis Dusmesnil, Richard Evelyn Byrd, Georges Pelletier d'Oisy, and Maurice Bellonte.
Note: Blank pages have not been digitally reproduced in slideshow, any gaps in numbering are due to their omission. Pages have been rotated to the orientation of their contents for easier viewing.
Arrangement:
Collection is in original order.
Provenance:
F. R. Wright, Purchase, 1943, NASM.XXXX.0254.
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
1.09 Cubic feet ((1 records center box) (1 flatbox))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Publications
Clippings
Postcards
Date:
[ca 1600s-1930s]
Scope and Contents:
This collection includes early ballooning material as well as photographs of early 20th century French pilots. The ballooning material includes material from Jean-Pierre Blanchard, Joseph Montgolfier and Eugene and Louis Godard. The early photographs include the following aviators: Louis Blériot, and Jules Védrines. The following types of material are included: photographs, newspaper clippings, postcards, and books.
Biographical / Historical:
Georges Naudet (June 9, 1900 - May 22, 1983) was a French businessman who was passionately interested in the early history of ballooning and aviation. An amateur in the field of aviation history, he became an avid collector and author.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
George Naudet Estate, purchase, 1984, XXXX-0479, NASM
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Description des expériences de la machine aérostatique de MM. de Montgolfier : et de celles auxquelles cette découverte a donné lieu : suivie de recherches sur la hauteur à laquelle est parvenu le ballon du Champ-de-Mars ... ouvrage orné de neuf planches en taille-douce, représentant les diverses machines qui ont été construites jusqu'à ce jour, particulièrement celle de Versailles, & c...
Author:
Faujas-de-St.-Fond cit (Barthélemy) 1741-1819 Search this
Former owner:
Brière de Mondetour-Valigny, Louis DSI Search this
Description des expériences de la machine aérostatique de MM. de Montgolfier : et de celles auxquelles cette découverte a donné lieu : suivie de recherches sur la hauteur à laquelle est parvenu le ballon du Champ- de-Mars ... ouvrage orné de neuf planches en taille-douce, représentant les diverses machines qui ont été construites jusqu'à ce jour, particulièrement celle de Versailles,& c...
Author:
Faujas-de-St.-Fond cit (Barthélemy) 1741-1819 Search this
Description des expériences de la machine aérostatique de MM. de Montgolfier : et de celles auxquelles cette découverte a donné lieu : suivie de recherches sur la hauteur à laquelle est parvenu le ballon du Champ-de-Mars : sur la route qu'il a tenue : sur les différens degrés de pesanteur de l'air dans les couches de l'atmosphère : d'un mémoire sur le gaz inflammable & sur celui qu'ont em...
Author:
Faujas-de-St.-Fond cit (Barthélemy) 1741-1819 Search this
Descrizione delle esperienze della macchina aerostatica dei signori di Montgolfier : e di quelle, alle quali ha dato motivo questa scoperta : seguita, Da ricerche sopra l'altezza, alla quale giunse il pallone del Campo di Marte; sopra la carriera da esso tenuta; sopra i differenti gradi di gravità dell'aria negli strati dell' atmosfera : da una memoria sopra il gaz infiammabile, e sopra quello im...
Author:
Faujas-de-St.-Fond cit (Barthélemy) 1741-1819 Search this
Der Herren Stephan und Joseph von Montgolfier Versuche : mit der von ihnen erfundenen aerostatischen Maschine / ein Auszug aus der französishen Beschreibung des Herrn Faujas de Saint-Fond von C.G. von Murr ; mit acht Kupfertafeln
Author:
Faujas-de-St.-Fond cit (Barthélemy) 1741-1819 Search this
Murr, Christoph Gottlieb von 1733-1811 Search this
Versuch über die neuerfundene luftmaschine des herrn von Montgolfier, besonders in wie fern solche in der kriegskunst eine aenderung machen, und einem staate nüzlich und nachtheilig seyn könne. Von J.C.G. Hayne ..
Description des expériences de la machine aérostatique de MM. de Montgolfier : et de celles auxquelles cette découverte a donné lieu : suivie de recherches sur la hauteur à laquelle est parvenu le ballon de Champ-de-Mars; sur la route qu'il a tenue; sur les différens degrés de pesanteur de l'air dans les couches de l'atmosphère : d'un mémoire sur le gaz inflammable & sur celui qu'ont empl...
Author:
Faujas-de-St.-Fond cit (Barthélemy) 1741-1819 Search this
Former owner:
United States Patent Office Scientific Library DSI Search this
[Beschreibung der Versuche mit der Luftkugel, welche sowohl die Herren von Montgolfier, als andre aus Gelegenheit dieser Erfindung in Frankreich gemacht haben. Uebers. von Abbé Uebelacker. Mit einer Abhandlung desselben, wodurch erwiesen wird, dass ein deutscher Physiker vom XIIII. Jahrhunderte der Urheber dieser Erfindung sey
Author:
Faujas-de-St.-Fond cit (Barthélemy) 1741-1819 Search this
Montgolfier'sche Luftkörper, oder, Aerostatische Maschinen : eine Abhandlung, worinn die Kunst sie zu verfertigen und die Geschichte der bisher damit angestellten Versuche beschrieben werden / von Friedrich Ludwig Ehrmann ... ; nebst einer Beschreibung der zwo ersten Reisen durch die Luft, und Hrn. d. Würtz Gedanken über die Ursachen des Steigens dieser Luftkugeln, welche er in dem Musee zu Par...
The Montgolfier brothers and the invention of aviation, 1783-1784 : with a word on the importance of ballooning for the science of heat and the art of building railroads / by Charles Coulston Gillispie
Des ballons aérostatiques, de la manière de les construire, de les faire élever: avec quelquesvues pour les rendre utiles. On y a joint l'histoire des ballons les plus singuliers, soit par la manière dont ils furent construits, soit par l'élévation où ils sont parvenus, & leur capacité.Orné de planches en taille-douce
Author:
Faujas-de-St.-Fond cit (Barthélemy) 1741-1819 Search this
