9 - [AERONAUTICS]. PEYREY, François. The Idea of Flight. With the Wind.

[AERONAUTICS]. PEYREY, François. The Idea of Flight. With the Wind. First edition of this comprehensive historical and technical study of hot-air balloons, free balloons, and the rise of large airships, illustrated with 50 plates of period photographs depicting, in particular, the flights of the Wright brothers, Blériot, Farman, Voisin, and Ferber. Paris, Henri Guiton, 1909. In-4 (270 x 200 mm), half-shagreen with chocolate-colored corners, ribbed spine decorated with the title and author’s name in gold lettering, publisher and date at the bottom, speckled edges, covers preserved (modern binding). 302 pages, a few black-and-white illustrations in the text, and 50 photographic plates as inserts. Slight scuffs on the paper of the front cover; original loose covers. First edition of this historical and technical study on hot-air balloons, free balloons, and the rise of large rigid and semi-rigid airships (Zeppelin, Santos-Dumont, Lebaudy, La Patrie), written by the aeronaut François Peyrey (1873–1934) and with a preface by Count Henry de La Vaulx. It is illustrated with numerous diagrams and 50 plates of period photographs, notably depicting the landmark flights of the Wright brothers, Blériot, Farman, Voisin, and Ferber. A fine copy.