FIRST HISTORICAL EDITION of the Montgolfier brothers' experiments with hot air balloons and the first public demonstrations in Paris, and other experiments carried out in other European cities such as Milano, Torino, Alicante, London etc... "Description des expériences de la machine aérostatique de MM. de Montgolfier" by Barthélemy FAUJAS DE SAINT-FOND. Published in Paris by Cuchet, 1783-84, and in TWO volumes. FIRST COMPLETE EDITION with 16 fascinating full-page engravings: one of these depicts the experiment held in Versailles on September 19, 1783, during which the first living aeronauts, a sheep, a rooster and a goose flew. The balloon reached a height of about 500 meters, traveled 3.2 km and the flight lasted about 8 minutes. Also present at the event were King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette, the Dauphin and Benjamin Franklin. This date marks the real beginning of the history of manned flight. The book explains through fine illustrations, tables, mathematical formulas, and experiments on various gases and hot air the science and technology used at the time to be able to fly. Hardcover in excellent condition, this is a beautiful well-established copy. The first edition itself is on sale for 5.200 euros, here it is offered at a fraction of that price. Title: Description des expériences de la machine aérostatique de MM. De Montgolfier et de celles auxquelles cette découverte a donné lieu. Et première suite de la description...(Description of the experiments with the aerostatic machine of MM. of Montgolfier and those to which this discovery gave rise. And first continuation of the description), by Barthélemy FAUJAS DE SAINT-FOND. Published in Paris by Cuchet, two volumes 1783-1784. Text in French. Description & Condition: in 8vo size H 218 x W 148mm or 8.6 by 5.8 inches. First volume: XL + 299 pages + 3 pages for King's privilege. Second volume: 1 sheet for title and preface + 366 pages + 1 sheet for errata. Each volume with different title and date. 16 illustrations + 1 folding table in two volumes with modern marbled rigid cardboard, contemporary marbled paper cover and some marginal restorations, with brown plug and gilt titles on the spine. When volume 2 was published the following year volume 1 was reissued with a 4-page supplement, describing the voyage of November 20, 1783 as in this set. Pages and illustrations in very good condition, the text clean, fresh, and well-margined, the engravings with excellent impressions, rare imperfections and very few water stains. Illustrations by M. Delaunay. The photos are very accurate, so please review carefully. References: Dibner, Heralds of Science 179; Printing and the Mind of Man, nº 229: "It is the first serious treatise on aerostation as a practical possibility"; Brockett 302; Davy, Interpretive History of Flight 37-41; Duveen & Klickstein, p. 261-262; Norman I 769; Sparrow, Milestones of Science 179; Tissandier 21; Cohen, Les Livres à gravures du XVIIIe siècle, 372; "Faujas de Saint-Fond, Barthélemy" Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 205–206. Author: Barthélemy Faujas de Saint-Fond (1743-1819), scientist and professor at the Natural History Museum in Paris known mostly for his studies in geology and paleontology, he was at the same time active financier and timely chronicler of the experiments of the Montgolfier brothers. One of his most important works was "Recherches sur les volcans éteints du Vivarais et du Velay", which appeared in 1778. This publication documented his astute observations allowing Faujas to develop a theory about the origin of volcanoes. Faujas was appointed the first professor of geology at the Jardin des Plantes in 1793, a post he held until he was nearly eighty years of age. The mineral faujasite is named after him. Author: The Montgolfier brothers – Joseph-Michel Montgolfier (1740-1810) and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier (1745-1799) were aviation pioneers, balloonists and paper manufacturers from the commune Annonay in Ardèche, France. They invented the Montgolfière-style hot air balloon, globe aérostatique, which launched the first confirmed piloted ascent by humans in 1783, carrying Jacques-Étienne. Joseph-Michel also invented the self-acting hydraulic ram (1796) and Jacques-Étienne founded the first paper-making vocational school. Together, the brothers invented a process to manufacture transparent paper. Shipping: via UPS, DHL, National Postal Services, protected, INSURED and fully tracked package. Estimated time for Europe 3-5 working days. Shipping within one working day, you can combine shipping if you purchases several items from us, saving money and time.