DECLARING THE RESULT OF THE PLEBISCITE IN PARIS 1870 VICTORIAN ENGRAVING

Original 15 3/4 inch x 11 1/2 inch Engraving titled DECLARING THE RESULT OF THE PLEBISCITE IN PARIS.

Engraving by Godefroy Durand (1832 - 1896). A German-born French illustrator and draughtsman, who worked in both France and Great Britain. He moved permanently to London in 1869 to take up full-time illustrative work for the newly established illustrated weekly newspaper The Graphic, where he became a "special artist." The obituary by his former employer noted how he had been with the British newspaper "from its inception" on 4 December 1869 for several decades until the 1890s.

From a sketch by Balloon Post.

Historically, balloons were used to transport mail from Paris during the Siege of Paris of 1870-71. About 66 unguided mail balloons were released from Paris to communicate with the outside world, of which the great majority succeeded in delivering their cargo.

From The Graphic November 19, 1870

The engraving is in very good condition.