This finding aid describes the more than 600 prints and ephemera contained within the Huntington Library’s Aeronautica collection. These materials date from 1762 to 1940 and document the early history of balloon flight primarily in France and England, as well as the use of aeronautical imagery in satirical, documentary, and decorative images. Item types consist primarily of prints, illustrations, and broadsides, but also include ephemera such as handbills, advertisements, original drawings and watercolors, invitations and tickets, handwritten notes, newspaper and magazine clippings, scraps of fabric from balloons and parachutes, and sheet music.

1 volume, 14 flat-top boxes, 2 portfolio boxes, and 22 oversized folders

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.