St. James's Auctions
Auction 71 4 Feb 2023
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Postal History: France, the Siege of Paris, Balloon and Pigeon Postage, bronze medal, 1870-1871, by C. J. M. Degeorge, Lutetia seated on cannon, releasing a pigeon, balloon in the sky beyond, rev. pigeon flies from basket on which a blank tablet, COMMUNICATIONS AÉRIENNES, 62.5mm. (Mal 94; FM&B 12); smaller, similar medal, but CONCOURS DE L'ÉTAT, 50.5mm. (Mal. 95 var.; FM&B 13); the balloon 'Le Garibaldi', 22 October, 1870, balloon and details, rev. pigeon with spread wings, 28.5mm. (Mal. 53), first very fine, second better, last only fine (3)
First two ex. Baldwin Auction 35 (lots 1941, 1943, pt.)
During the Siege of Paris by the Germans in 1870-1871, messages were carried to and from the city by a combination of balloons and homing pigeons. Advances in the field of microphotography meant that each bird could carry thousands of messages at a time. One of the pigeons to survive the war is preserved in France's Museé de la Poste.
Estimate: 100 - 140 GBP
First two ex. Baldwin Auction 35 (lots 1941, 1943, pt.)
During the Siege of Paris by the Germans in 1870-1871, messages were carried to and from the city by a combination of balloons and homing pigeons. Advances in the field of microphotography meant that each bird could carry thousands of messages at a time. One of the pigeons to survive the war is preserved in France's Museé de la Poste.
Estimate: 100 - 140 GBP