Nadar [Gaspard-Felix Tournachon] — Memoires Du Geant

Paris, E. Dentu, 1865 . Cloth. The second edition of Nadar"s vivid memoir of "Le Geant," his colossal experimental balloon, a presentation copy, signed by the author. In a contemporary green quarter cloth binding with marbled paper boards, with the original wraps bound in.  Illustrated with a folding map and a folding engraved plate. Collated, complete.  The second edition, following the 1864 first edition. Inscribed by Nadar to the half-title: "A Monsieur de La Chauffee, souvenir cordial, Nadar, Xbre 64."  Nadar recounts the construction and two Paris ascents of Le Géant, culminating in its violent landing near Hanover in October 1863. Nadar, the pseudonym of Gaspard-Felix Tournachon (1820-1910), was a French photographer, journalist, caricaturist and aeronaut. In 1858, he became the first person to take aerial photographs. An appealing presentation copy of this work of early aeronautical literature.  In a contemporary green quarter cloth binding with marbled paper boards, with the original wraps bound in. Externally, sound. Slight rubbing and bumping to extremities, resulting in minor loss to paper, more so to corners. Slight fading to spine. Endpapers age toned with light scattered spotting. Internally, the title page, dedication, and four pages of the introduction are full detached but present, with strain and wear to the hinge. With this exception, text block firmly bound. Pages characteristically age toned with one or two light spots. Author's ink presentation inscription to half-title. Good . Ill.: None Stated. Good .