Snapshots of the Past

The first channel crossing, 1785 – Antique Print

The first channel crossing, 1785, [between 1900 and 1947] — historic photograph
The first channel crossing, 1785, [between 1900 and 1947]. Historic photograph from the Ballooning collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

Step back in time with The first channel crossing, 1785, a historic photograph rich in period detail. Sourced directly from the Library of Congress, it represents an authentic piece of documented history.

The framed print arrives ready to hang; the unframed option suits custom framing. A fine choice for anyone who loves history, and a gift that gets noticed. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Snapshots of the Past, founded in 2001, has served tens of thousands of customers worldwide.

The first channel crossing, 1785

Order a print

Secure checkout · SSL encryptedPowered by Stripe and PayPal

Free shipping in the lower 48 states. The checkout page shows the picture, size and price before you pay.

Sign up for our newsletter

Sent securely. No purchase needed. Unsubscribe anytime.

Ask about licensing or this print

Jean-Pierre Blanchard and his passenger, the American physician John Jeffries, lifted off from Dover on 7 January 1785 and drifted toward the French coast, the first crossing of the English Channel by air. To stay aloft they threw out ballast and, at one point, even their clothing, before landing in a forest near Guînes. The engraving behind this copy was made in the 1780s, while the photographic reproduction dates from the first half of the twentieth century, when images of early flight were widely reproduced in aviation histories. Blanchard went on to become one of the best-known balloonists of his era.

Created / published[between 1900 and 1947]
Medium1 photographic print.
GenreEngravings 1780-1790 Reproductions.Photographic prints 1900-1950.
NotesPlate 49. Photograph of engraving.
SubjectsBlanchard, Jean-Pierre,--1753-1809--Associated objects. Balloons (Aircraft)--1780-1790.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan4,096 × 3,270 px · prints to 14 × 11 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-181363

More from the Ballooning collection

Snapshots of the Past helps heritage brands, museums, historians and storytellers tell stories with history: historic prints, image licensing and historical storytelling drawn from more than 25 years of research and curation.