News
Historic picture documents first English balloon race in 1906
Mirrorpix, the photographic archives of The Daily Mirror, has announced that it has established the provenance of a very old picture documenting the first competitive balloon race ever held in England (and you thought the World Cup is exciting). The image from the Mirrorpix photographic archive, was created on 7th July 1906 in the grounds of The Ranelagh Club in Chelmsford Essex, the historic race was contested by five balloons for a cup offered by the Evening News (newspaper) valued at fifty guineas*.
John Mead, Archive Manager of Mirrorpix, had this to say about the image "As we explored the story behind this picture, we became aware that as a 'Gentleman's Sport' ballooning was immensely popular across Europe during the 1890's. No where more so than in France where the first Gordon Bennett Race was held in (September) 1906."
Click here to visit the Mirrorpix website. Click here to view the original image.
* Guineas are gold coins worth approximately one pound or one shilling.
Posted in: News, Photographers, Stock Art Buyers
Comments(1)
post a comment »Richard Soar, July 13, 2006 [#]
The caption for this picture is a little misleading as the photograph was probably taken in the grounds of the Ranelagh Club at Barn Elms in Barnes, SW London prior to the flight to Chelmsford in Essex.