Rare 18th Century Balloon Plate from Ebay site.

This is a rare 18th Century Balloon Plate commemorating a hot air balloon ride. In a previous blog post the frenchman, Jean-Pierre Blanchard, came to Philadelphia to continue scientific experiments with instruments donated by Benjamin Franklin. The Lilly library rare books department at the University of Indiana provided this from its collection. I am making connections from a European to early American scientific studies that place Charles Cist in the group of participants in Philadelphia.

This plate is a symbol of a letter that has been passed down through the generations. Symbols can be an object, a living breathing person, animal, or a letter. This is an example of an oral history informational letter. All these ways were used to communicate letters during Charles Cist's life.

An oral letter could have been written at the dinner table discussing more about where the hot air ballon was going to go. There were day and night trips. The Cists were involved with the building of the National road that continued westward through Ohio and Indiana and out west. Many individuals and families were involved with the direction of the national road. Both free men and slaves were participates.https://publicpleasuregarden.blogspot.com/2019/02/exhibitions-in-american-public-spaces_17.html

https://pewabicwriting.blogspot.com/2020/12/air-ballon-ride-45-acension.html