Lot
73 
1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, guideline single tied by "Paid" in circle handstamp with red "Providence R.I., Aug 30, 1858" cds at right on cover showing Professor James A. Allen Balloon in Flight illustrated corner card featuring an eagle & shield adorned balloon in flight, Very Fine and rare, a very early and possibly unique James K. Allen illustrated balloon cover, ex-Piller. Scott No. 26 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
James A. "Professor" Allen was the patriarch of the Allen family of balloonist from the Providence, Rhode Island. Allen was an assistant to Prof. Thaddeus Lowe in the Union Army's Balloon reconnaissance corps and played an important roll during the Civil War flying an Observation Balloon as a member of Union Army's "Balloon Observer Corps" (March 23, 1862 to Jun. 1863).
Realized: $3,250