1534) "Ballons Montes", Monaco: "150th Anniversary of the Balloon Post": A Stamp of 1.90 Euro issued by La Poste de Monaco (Monaco Post): Date of Stamp issue: 03.11.2020:

1534) "Ballons Montes", Monaco: "150th Anniversary of the Balloon Post": A Stamp of 1.90 Euro issued by "La Poste de Monaco" (Monaco Post): Date of Stamp issue: 03.11.2020:

1) A Special India Post Cover carried in a dedicated Hot Air Balloon during the Second Tamilnadu International Balloon Festival held at Pollachi has been released by the Department of Posts, India on 03.01.2016

About the Hot Air Balloon Mail - 1870:

During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, Paris was encircled by the Prussian Army. To re-establish communication with the outside world, the engineer and photographer Felix Nadar created the Company of Military Balloonists".

Together with Germain Rampont, Director General of the Post Office, he set up a camp at the foot of the Butte Montmarte, where the headquarters of airmail was born.

His gas balloons equipped with a gondola transported civilian and military mail, as well as, passengers and carrier pigeons to enable two-way communication.

A total of 66 balloons known as "ballons montes", left the capital. Some never reached their destination, while others were captured by the enemy.

Presently, letters which travelled by balloon are highly sought after by collectors.

The Stamp:

The 1.90 Euros Stamp is titled "1870 Lettre de Paris pour Monaco transportee par le ballon - le Victor Hugo - 150 anniversaire de la Poste par ballons montes". 

The stamp design shows a Hot Air Balloon mail being transported by a gondola steered by a military postman, a letter addressed to a lady in Paris and the fortified city of Paris.

The First Day Cover (FDC) is titled -"Principaute de Monaco - OFFICE DES TIMBRES 2020".

The postage stamp of 1.90 Euro is affixed at top right. The Special Cancellation Handstamp/Postmark  shows an image of a balloon post in the centre. The cancellation is dated - 04.11.2020.

A Full Sheet (FS) of 10 stamps.

Technical Details:

Stamp Issue Date: 03.11.2020

Designer: Pierre Albuisson

Colours: 6 colours

Stamp size: 40.0 mm x 31.77 mm

Stamp value: 1.90 Euros

Posts on Monaco on this Blog:

1) "Ancient Postal Routes - 18th Century", Monaco: EUROPA 2020 theme: A postage stamp of 1.40 Euro issued by "La Poste de Monaco" (Monaco Post) on 06.05.2020

2) 44th International Circus Festival, Monaco (16-26 January 2020), being held at Monte Carlo: The theme of this edition of the Curcus Festival is the - "HORSE": A Stamp of 1.40 Euro issued by "La Poste de Monaco" ( Monaco Post): Stamp issue date: 06.01.2020

3) "Ballons Montes", Monaco: "150th Anniversary of the Balloon Post": A Stamp of 1.90 Euro issued by La Poste de Monaco (Monaco Post): Date of Stamp issue: 03.11.2020