Pseudonym of Gaspard-Félix Tournachon (1820–1910), a French photographer, caricaturist, journalist, novelist, and balloonist. ALS in French, signed “Nadar,” one page, 5.25 x 8, Nadar Photographie letterhead, no date. Brief letter to his assistant Camille. In full (translated): “Will you arrange to have the balloon inflated at about noon?” In good condition, with central horizontal and vertical fold, some paper loss along left edge, scattered spotting, and some creasing and soiling. The text is largely unaffected by the flaws. Accompanied by an unsigned carte-de-visite of Nadar in a balloon basket. In 1859, Nadar was the first to take aerial photographs from the basket of a balloon. Many of his ideas were used by the US Army Balloon Corps for enemy reconnaissance during the Civil War. RR Auction COA.
