Lot 297
Fifty-second Balloon of the Siege: 1870...
Stamps and Postal History of the World | 5930
Auction: 29 March 2022 at 01:00 BST
£300
Description
Fifty-second Balloon of the Siege: 1870 entire letter to Madam Gadala, Arcachon, par Bordeaux, franked by Napoleon III 20c Empire, neatly struck by red official cds for 28 Dec, carried by the Balloon 'Bayard' which departed Paris on 29 Dec, backstamped with Arcachon arrival marks for 31 Dec, most fine and attractive, offered with English translation of contents.
xxxx italics please: J Gadala was an officer during the siege and took the time to write to his wife almost every day, these letters offer an officer's insight to the siege, showing the defiant attitude towards the situation and reveals a 'softer' side as he often writes of his longing to be with his wife and family. He end his letters very touchingly often referring to his wife as 'his good friend' and ending with 'heartily yours' xxxxxx
