Lebaudy-Julliot Airship Postcards (SC-119)
Scope and Contents
This small collection consists of 26 different black and white, photographic postcards documenting the several flights of the "Lebaudy" airship in and around the Champ de Mars, Paris in November, 1903. The airship was moored in the hall of machinery building left over from the 1900 Paris Exposition at the Champs de Mars, near the Eiffel Tower. There is thus considerable visual documentation of the grounds of the Exposition. The pilot, M. Juchmès, and mechanic, M. Rey, are also pictured.
The postcards appear to be a nearly complete set from an issue of 30 postcards by an unknown photographer. Missing from the set are numbers 19 through 22. Number 5 appears to have been missed numbered as number 4. The first four postcards are autographed by "A. Salques" in the same hand of the addressor. All are addressed to a M. Martin at a Paris address. There are no messages so it might be surmised that the set was stamped, and cancelled, for purposes of adding to the potential financial value of the collection. All of the cards were mailed individually, but at the same time and day, January 24, 1904.
Dates
- Creation: 1903 Nov
Language of Materials
The materials are in French. Labels in French on the photographs provide good technical information, especially when read serially.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no known restrictions on the use of this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright ownership is uncertain because the name and date of death of the photographer is not known.
Biographical / Historical
The Lebaudy-Julliot I was designed by French engineer, M. Henri Julliot. It was commissioned by wealthy sugar manufacturers Pierre and Paul Lebaudy. A nickname, "Le Jaune", was also given to it because of the yellow color of the lead chromate paint on its cloth envelope. The airship introduced the rigid keel in the form of an oval truss from which the nacelle was suspended. The craft's first flights seem to have taken place in November 1902. The Lebaudy-Julliot I is considered to be one of the most successful dirigibles of its time, making 63 flights in all. It was flown to the Champs de Mars, near the Eiffel Tower, on November 12, 1903. On November 20, 1903, the airship was almost completely destroyed when it drifted into a grove of trees during a landing attempt after a flight from the Eiffel Tower to the Park at the Chalais Meudon. It was later rebuilt and in 1906 was sold to the French government. The Lebaudy-Julliot combine went on to build other airships for France, Russia, Austria and Britain. Quite complete technical specifications are included in an article appearing in Scientific American, December 5, 1903.
Extent
1 folder(s)
Abstract
Collection of photo postcards depicting several flights of the Lebaudy-Julliot airship in and around Paris in November 1903. Very little has been written about the Lebaudy airship, one of the first successful dirigibles. This collection of postcards provides good documentation of its early flights.
Custodial History
The Lebaudy-Julliot Airship postcard collection was purchased from New York City book dealer Gabriel Laderman (Zita Books) in early October, 1998. The collection's provenance prior to Laderman's is unknown, however it is said to have been purchased from France.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Lebaudy-Julliot Airship postcard collection was purchased from New York City book dealer Gabriel Laderman (Zita Books) in early October, 1998.
donor
- Zita Books (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Lebaudy-Julliot Airship Postcards (SC-119)
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- 2021 July 26
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Wright State University Libraries
Special Collections and Archives
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy
Dayton OH 45435-0001 USA
937-775-2092
library-archives@wright.edu
