Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Keystone View Company Observation Balloon Fatally Pierced by Incendiary Bullets from American Plane.

NOT AVAILABLE DIGITALLY Online access and copy requests are not available for this item. If you would like us to notify you when it becomes available digitally, please email us at reference@gilderlehrman.org and include the catalog item number.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09584.159 Author/Creator: Keystone View Company Place Written: Germany Type: Stereocard Date: 1914-1918 Pagination: 1 stereocard ; 8.7 x 17.7 cm. Order a Copy

A view from the ground of a German observation balloon exploding after receiving fire from an American warplane. The silhouette of a passenger basket can be seen hanging from the bottom of the balloon.

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