RECORD OF AN AERONAUT Being the Life of John M. Bacon by Bacon Gertrude - 1907

London: John Long, 1907. First edition. With a portrait frontispiece with printed inscription and 62 illustrations on plates which include some very early examples of aerial photography. 8vo, publisher's original blue cloth with gilt lettering and gilt rules on the spine. 358 pp., including index. A very fine, bright copy, especially well preserved with little evidence of age. A FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION. This scarce biography of the aeronautical and ballooning pioneer John Bacon is a fascinating recollection of personal accomplishments. The author, Bacon's eldest daughter, often accompanied him in his ascents and eclipse expeditions, and also wrote scientific texts on ballooning. Bacon developed the forerunner to our modern hot air balloons. The use of balloons in warfare had been limited due to the use of coal gas and because expeditionary forces had severe logistical problems with producing hydrogen in the field or transporting heavy compressed-gas cylinders. Bacon promoted the concept of performing military observations with hot-air balloons that would burn petroleum. The book includes a chapter on the balloon in warfare. Bacon also made important contributions to aerial scientific observation, astronomy and photography.