£50
Ballooning history relating to the Spencer and Bacon scientific balloon flight on the 16 Nov. 1899. Confirmed by Gertrude Bacon's 1905 book Balloons, Airships and Flying Machines. Details relating to the flight are included with the lot and a photograph of the slide contents. A photographic slide approx. 3in x3in. The flight was intended to observe a meteor shower but unfortunately the occupants became in danger of being blown out to sea as they couldn't descend and started to throw press telegrams out of the balloon basket to try and alert the authorities to their plight and in the hopes, they could be rescued. In Gertrude Bacon's book she relates writing on the only thing they had to hand which were Press Telegrams. The one she mentions is entitled: "Large balloon from Newbury overhead, above clouds. Cannot descend. Telegraph to sea coast (coast guards) to be ready to rescue. Bacon and Spencer, 11am. Nov. 16". This slide contains a similar image of a press telegram containing the same details and is timed 11.15am Thursday.
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