Balloon Mail refers to the transport of mail (usually for weight reasons in the form of a postcard) carrying the name of the sender by means of an unguided hydrogen or helium filled balloon. Since the balloon is not controllable, the recipient of a balloon mail is left to coincidence. Often the balloon and postcard are lost. A found balloon should be returned to the sender (by conventional post) with an indication of the discovery site, so that the sender can determine how far their balloon flew. A balloon mail is an airborne "Message in a bottle". Frequently balloon mail is part of a balloon competition. General Name, Symbol, Number hydrogen, H, 1 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 1, 1, s Appearance colorless Atomic mass 1. ... General Name, Symbol, Number helium, He, 2 Chemical series noble gases Group, Period, Block 18, 1, s Appearance colorless Atomic mass 4. ... Balloons are often used or given on special occasions, like greeting cards or flowers. ... A message in a bottle is a form of communication whereby a message is sealed in a container (usually a glass bottle) and released into the sea or ocean. ... A balloon flight competition is a competition with which it counts to send balloon postal service over as greatly as possible distances. ...

Besides balloon mail has been used already for the spreading by information and propaganda materials, in particular for spreading propaganda to the population in countries with dictatorial governments. A balloon can be released from outside of the sphere of influence of these governments and during good wind direction quite the balloons can travel several hundred kilometers. North Korean propaganda showing a soldier destroying the United States Capitol building. ... Dictator was the title of a magistrate in ancient Rome appointed by the Senate to rule the state in times of emergency. ...

The address side of a balloon post card from the 1870 siege of Paris

During the siege of Paris between 23 September 1870 and 22 January 1871, 65 unguided mail balloons were discharged, of which only two went missing. Altogether became thereby beside official documents and newspapers (in photomicroscopy procedures mentioned auto+graphically on tissue paper were applied) Image File history File links Beschreibung: Französischer Ballonbrief 1870-1871 Quelle: aus: Das Buch von der Weltpost Verlag von Herm. ... Image File history File links Beschreibung: Französischer Ballonbrief 1870-1871 Quelle: aus: Das Buch von der Weltpost Verlag von Herm. ... The Siege of Paris lasting from September 19, 1870 – January 28, 1871 brought about French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and led to the establishment of the German Empire. ... September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... January 22 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

• 91 passengers
• 363 letter pigeons
• 2.5 million letters and postcards in the total weight of 10,000 kg carries.

The special balloon postcards were 10 x 7 cm largely, the balloon envelopes were manufactured of thin green paper and were not allowed a weight of 4 g not to exceed. Within France maps for 10 and letters for 20 cents postage were carried. For foreign post office usual postages had to be paid.