United States: Autographs, Manuscripts, & Ephemera Solomon Andrews, airship inventor, manuscri...

United States: Autographs, Manuscripts, & Ephemera
Solomon Andrews, airship inventor, manuscript letter signed,
to the firm of C. Schrack & Co of Philadelphia, datelined Perth Amboy, Jan 19th 1863, regarding balloon varnishing, and making reference to fellow pioneer balloonist John Wise having purchased material from their firm, signed "S. Andrews” in ink, a significant letter from an important figure in the history of aviation; Solomon Andrews, a medical doctor and three-time Mayor of Perth-Amboy, first flew his airship "Aereon" - which had three 80 foot balloons - in 1863. He later offered it to President Abraham Lincoln for use in by the Union Army. John Wise, a fellow balloonist, made over 400 flights throughout his life, and in 1859 on board his balloon "The Jupiter" carried the first official airmail delivery for the United States Post Office.