[Departure of Jacques Charles and Marie-Noel Robert's 'aerostatic globe' balloon from the Jardin des Tuileries, Paris, on Dec. 1, 1783]

Drawing shows Jacques Charles and Nicolas Marie-Noel Robert standing in their hydrogen-filled balloon waving flags, beginning their ascent from the Tuileries Gardens, Paris, with the Versailles Palace in the background. Thousands of spectators are gathered in the foreground to witness the first manned gas balloon flight.
"Anonymous engraving on the same lines, with print entitled 'To the honour of Messrs. Charls and Robert'" typed on accompanying note.
Possibly drawn by Antoine François Sergent-Marceau who engraved a pair of balloon prints "Expérience de Charles et Robert dans le jardin des Tiuleries, 1 décembre 1783" and "Descente de l'aérostat dans la prairie de Nesles."
Title from accompanying note.
Tissandier collection.
Published in: The tradition of technology : Landmarks of Western technology ... / Leonard C. Bruno. Washington, D.C. : Library of Congress, 1995, p. 109 & 210.
Published in: Viewpoints; a selection from the pictorial collections of the Library of Congress .... Washington : Library of Congress ..., 1975, no. 32.
Credit line: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Tissandier Collection, [Reproduction Number].