Lot
4217 
1870 Engineers' Papillon to Amiens, datelined "le 26 7bre 70", probably carried inside of an envelope de ré-expédition; no arrival postmark in Amiens., Very Fine, carried aboard the 8th Engineers' balloon which departed on September 27. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Carried aboard the 8th Engineers' balloon which departed besieged Metz on September 27 and was recovered safely in occupied France with about 15,000 papillons. The papillons were carried across the lines to Mézières on September 28, and then to Lille.
The October 4 Moniteur Universel (Tours) contains a report on this balloon from the Prefect at Mézières (in the north of France) which read as follows:
"A balloon that left Metz on September 27 and carried a suspended package descended the 28th in the area of Bayonville (Ardennes). The package, opened at the office at Buzancy, contained about 15,000 letters of the garrison of Metz and the army of General Bazaine. The postmaster is organizing a service to have these letters sent to the addressees." .