Lot 1472
Wise Manned Balloon, handstamped cachet of manned balloon illustration with "Wise" inscription and flags, piece of orange cover bearing pen cancelled 3¢ rose (65), huge margins, s.e. at right, addressed in Wise's hand to Dabney D.C. at Sidney College Va., Very Fine.Estimate $200 - 300.
John Wise was the pre-eminent aeronaut of his time. He aspired to sail across the Atlantic Ocean in 1859. Starting from St. Louis for New York, Wise set a long distance record of 802 miles. From Lafayette, Ind. in the balloon "Jupiter", Wise carried 146 pieces of mail starting in August 1859. This example of Wise's handstamp is most unusual for being at the right side of this 1861 circa envelope.