An old cigarette card (c. 1929) with a portrait of Jacques Alexandre César Charles (1746–1823) and an illustration of his hydrogen-gas balloon. Charles was a French inventor, scientist, mathematician, and balloonist. The pioneering use of hydrogen for lift led to this type of balloon being named a Charlière – as opposed to a Montgolfière which used hot air. In December 1783 a manned gas balloon flight was attempted. Jacques Charles was accompanied by Nicolas-Louis Robert in the 380-cubic-metre, hydrogen-filled balloon - a 2-hour 5 minute flight covering 36 km.
An old cigarette card (c. 1929) with a portrait of Jacques Alexandre César Charles (1746–1823) and an illustration of his hydrogen-gas balloon. Charles was a French inventor, scientist, mathematician, and balloonist. Charles and the Robert brothers launched the world's first unmanned hydrogen-filled gas balloon in Paris in August 1783. The Robert brothers invented the technique for the lightweight, airtight gas bag by dissolving rubber in a solution of turpentine and varnished the sheets of silk that were stitched together to make the main envelope. The pioneering use of hydrogen for lift led to this type of balloon being named a Charlière – as opposed to a Montgolfière which used hot air. In December 1783 a manned gas balloon flight was attempted. Jacques Charles was accompanied by Nicolas-Louis Robert in the 380-cubic-metre, hydrogen-filled balloon. The envelope was fitted with a hydrogen release valve and was covered with a net from which the basket was suspended. Sand ballast was used to control altitude. The flight ascended to a height of about 1,800 feet (550m) and landed at sunset in Nesles-la-Vallée after a 2-hour 5 minute flight covering 36 km. This card is from a 1929 set entitled 'Scientific Inventions and Discoveries' (35 cards in the series). The firm of R and J Hill Cigarettes was established on Shoreditch High Street, Hackney, London in the 1700s. In the twentieth century the company issued cards with their Sunripe and Spinet Oval cigarettes. The firm expanded to include H Archer and Co and issued cards, like this set, under 'The Spinet House' brand. The company no longer exists.
Size: 1974px × 3307px
Location: France
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1700s, 1793, 1800s, 18th, 19th, aeronautics, air, alexandre, aviation, balloon, baloon, brothers, card, century, charles, charliere, charliè, cigarette, early, eighteen, eighteenth, engineering, filled, flight, fly, flying, france, french, gas, historical, history, hot, hundreds, hydrogen, illustration, industrial, invent, invention, inventor, jacques, jaques, manned, nicolas-louis, nineteenth, portrait, robert, science, seventeen, technology, ésar
