Ascent of the Royal Nassau Balloon, Lithograph of 1837 Engraving Mounted on Board lid with handle which somehow makes me feel

which somehow makes me feel a bit more industrious

First two images show one side then the other

Looks nice hanging

I am not entirely sure whether this little fan is Japanese or Chinoiserie

I love knowing the history but it's the drawing I love- especially that pair of snakes with faces formed by their intertwining

Ascent of the Royal Nassau Balloon, Lithograph of 1837 Engraving Mounted on Board lid with handle which somehow makes me feelWhat magical feeling things hot air balloons are, and certainly they felt all the more so in the 1830s! I believe this is a slightly later lithograph of an 1837 wood engraving by British engraver John Thompson (17851866), described as the most distinguished wood engraver of his time. It portrays the 1836 launch of the Royal Nassau Balloon from Vauxhall, in central London a record breaking 480 mile, 18 hour flight with three passengers, which stood as