***This is the 1st EVER appearance of a Jules Verne story
in English anywhere/any time***
La science en famille. Un voyage en ballon.
(Réponse à l'énigme de juillet.) - 1851
Un Drame dans les air (dans Docteur Ox) - 1874
A Voyage in a Balloon / A Drama in the Air - 1852
(1874 in Dr Ox's Experiment)
This listing is for the individual publication of the short story A Drama in the Air.
In French and in English, it is usually published as one of the short stories in Dr Ox's Experiment
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French
(J-M Margot) |
Jules Verne
Encyclopedia
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Myers
Bibliography
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Galagher
Bibliography
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DA
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V012
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n/a
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A2
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Alternate English Titles:
- A Voyage in a Balloon
- Voyage in a Balloon
- A Drama in the Air
- A Drama in Mid-Air
- Drama in the Air
- A Balloon Adventure
- Un Drame dans les airs
Plot Synopsis:
(courtesy of D. Kytasaari - http://epguides.com/djk/JulesVerne/works.shtml)
In Germany a man plans to take some passengers on a ride in his balloon. When they don’t show, another man quickly jumps into the basket as the balloon begins its ascent. The unexpected passenger's only intent in his ride is for the pilot to take the balloon as high as it will go.
Book Collecting Information:
***IMPORTANT History***
A Voyage in a Balloon first appeared in French under the Title:
La science en famille. Un voyage en ballon. (Réponse à l'énigme de juillet.)
Musée des familles, seconde série, vol. 8, no. 11 (August 1851), pp. 329-336 with 5 illustrations by A. de Bar, two chapters.
(source: http://JV.Gilead.org.il/biblio/stories.html)
Its' first appearance in English, was in Sartain's Union Magazine of Literature and Art,
Philadelphia, May 1852, Vol X, No. 5,pgs 389-395, 0 illustrations. and titled A Voyage in a Balloon.
This makes it the first appearance in English of any Verne story, anywhere!!!
It was translated from French by Anne T. Wilbur, for whom I have created a special page.
It was also reprinted in the UK in The Working Man's Friend and Family Instructor,
London, July 24, 1852, pgs 282-286, 0 illustrations, under the title Voyage in a Balloon.
This makes it the first appearance in the UK of any Verne story!!!
Read on below for further appearances of this story
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This listing contains ALL Jules Verne Encyclopedia bibliographic entries for this book.
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| French:
  
 
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La science en famille. Un voyage en ballon. (Réponse à
l'énigme de juillet.)
Musée des familles, seconde série,
vol. 8, no. 11 (August 1851),
pp. 329-336
5 illustrations by A. de Bar, two chapters.
To the left, an example of a bound volume, with Page 329 and Page 336
Images courtesy of Philip Hollaway
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1852 - May (on newstands by at least April 20)
*** First English Appearance of a Jules Verne story - EVER:
First US Edition:
Above 1852 leather + gilt vol x + xii (!)
Below is another example of the Sartains Magazine which contains the story, bound into a volume
 ................ 
Title Page .......... First Story Page (pg389)
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***This is the 1st appearance of a Jules Verne story in the English Language, EVER***
Jules Verne Encyclopedia:
"The May 1852 issue of Sartain's Union Magazine of Literature and Art, which was published monthly in Philadelphia, contained A Voyage in a Balloon, translated by Amme T. Wilbur, on pages 389 to 395. This first English translation of Un Voyage en Ballon (1851) ... This was apparently the first time Verne ever appeared in English."
A Voyage in a Balloon
IN: Sartain's Union Magazine of Literature and Art,
1852, May
Philadelphia
Vol X, No. 5,
pgs 389-395,
0 illustrations, two chapters.
Translated from the French by Anne T. Wilbur
The Text starts:
" In the month of September, 1850, I arrived at Frankfort-on-the-Maine. My passage through the principal cities of Germany, had been brilliantly marked by aerostatic ascensions; ..."
And ends:
"May this terrific recital, while it instructs those who read it, not discourage the explorers of the routes of air."
Note, though the story itself lists Jules Verne as the author, the index states: "By Anne T. Wilbur"
When was the May issue of Sartains available?
(and the answer is important!)
The May issue was available at least by April 20, 1852
The below Newsstand ad, was published on April 20, 1852, page 4, in the Richmond Dispatch, Richmond Virginia, announcing that the May Sartain's Magazine was now available.
2nd Example Collection Andrew Nash
***This is the 1st appearance of a Jules Verne story in the English Language, EVER*** |
1852 - July 31
***1st appearance of a Jules Verne story in the UK - EVER
First UK Edition:
Above is an example of the Working Man's Friend Magazine, which contains the story, bound into a volume
 ......... 
Title Page ................ Story First Page (pg282)
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***This is the 1st appearance of a Jules Verne story in the UK, EVER***
Jules Verne Encyclopedia:
"The July 31, 1852 issue of The Working Man's Friend and Family Instructor, a one penny double column weekly from England, contained Voyage in a Balloon, from the Wilbur translation, on pages 282 to 286. This story was later retitled Un Drame dans les airs (1874), or A Drama in the Air, for book publication."
Voyage in a Balloon
The Working Man's Friend and Family Instructor,
London, Saturday July 31, 1852,
New Series - Vol II., No. 44, pgs 282-286,
0 illustrations, two chapters.
Translated by Anne T. Wilbur
The Text starts:
" In the month of September, 1850, I arrived at Frankfort-on-the-Maine. My passage through the principal cities of Germany, had been brilliantly marked by aerostatic ascensions; ..."
And ends:
"May this terrible recital, while it instructs those who read it, not discourage the explorers of the routes of the air!"
Note, that neither the index nor the story identifies the translator.
This is a reprint of the Anne T. Wilbur translation.
Collection Andrew Nash
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***This information published here, April 1, 2021***
2nd U.S. publication?
1852 - April 22 - Chapter 1
1852 - April 29 - Chapter 2
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***This information published here, April 1, 2021***
The short story, published over 2 weeks as Chapters 1 & 2
Ed: Although the date of the first chapter is April 22, the Sartains Above RETAINS the crown as the FIRST English publication of a Jules Verne story, because an advertisement indicates Sartains was on the newsstands April 20, 1852
[From Sartain's Union Magazine for May]
A Voyage in a Balloon: Chapter I
1852, Thursday April 22
(Published Weekly)
Vol. III No. 29
The Brandon Post
Brandon, Vermont
By Jules Verne
Translated from the French by Anne T. Wilbur
page 1 (3 columns) + page 2 (1 column)
[From Sartain's Union Magazine for May]
A Voyage in a Blaloon: Chapter II (Ed: Yes, a typo in the Title)
1852, Thursday April 29
(Published Weekly)
Vol. III No. 30
The Brandon Post
Brandon, Vermont
By Jules Verne
Translated from the French by Anne T. Wilbur
page 1 (3 columns) + page 2 (1 column)
Ed: YES, the title of Chapter II is misspelled Blaloon!
Re Library of Congress:
The Brandon Post (Brandon, Vt.) 1849-18??
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Other Editions:
| 1852 July 10 |
***Unseen / Maybe the Jules Verne story? ***
A Voyage in a Balloon
1852, July
Home Circle
The Leicestershire Mercury and General Advertiser For The Midland Counties
10 Jul 1852, Sat · Page 4
"The Home Circle for July contains several additional chapters of Lover's amusing Handy-Andy, and exciting account of A Voyage in a Balloon, besides the other usual constituents of brief tales enigmas, crochet patterns etc."
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***This information published here, Nov 4, 2022***
1852 Aug 26
A Balloon Adventure
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***This information published here, Nov 4, 2022***
AD for & A Balloon Adventure ending
The North Devon Journal-Herald
Aug 26, 1852, Thurs, Page 6
AD for
The Home Companion.
Part 9. September, 1852. London: John Bennett.
The text reads:
This is "a weeky magazine of the amusing and the useful," chiefly the former. The part before us opens with "A Voyage in a Balloon," a thrilling narrative of a terrible adventure in the upper regions. The writer ascended from Frankfort, with a madman; who jumped into the car just as the balloon was ascending, being there, as he told the other, "by the right of your inability to turn me out." The aeronaut did not discover the insanity of his companion till they were up high in mid air. Strange scenes were enacted between them. Here is the conclusion: --"
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***This information published here, April 1, 2021***
1852 - September 4
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***This information published here, April 1, 2021***
A Voyage in a Balloon
IN: The Home Companion
A Weekly Magazine of the Amusing and the Useful
1852, Saturday September 4
No. 36 Vol. I
Published at 69. Fleet Street
London
Price One Penny
Pages 751 to 754
1 Illustration
Note on Vol 1 No 1:
First Impression of 500,000 Gratis;
Subsequent Numbers, 1d
Ed: The magazine and the story does NOT credit Jules Verne, OR Sartain's Magazine.
Collection Andrew Nash
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***This information published here,
April 1, 2021***
1852 - September 24
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***This information published here,
April 1, 2021***
A Balloon Adventure
1852, September 24
Vol. XXVII - No. 1322
The North Wales Chronicle
and Advertiser for the Principality
Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales
Byline: Home Companion
Price fivepence
Page 3
This short story is published in 1 block
(no paragraph breaks)
in the "Literary Extracts" column.
It is the end of A Voyage in a Balloon - About 8 paragraphs!
The Text starts:
"The balloon entirely unballasted, we were borne to incredible heights...."
Ed: NO mention of Verne
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**** This information Published here, April 19, 2020 ****
1861
   
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**** This information Published here, April 19, 2020 ****
***Not mentioned in the Jules Verne Encyclopedia.
Uncredited to Jules Verne OR Anne T. Wilbur
A Voyage in a Balloon
IN: The Sixpenny Magazine
A Miscellany for All Classes and All Seasons
1861
Volume 1, Page 514 to 520
Ward and Lock
158, Fleet Street
London
Wilmer and Rogers
New York
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| 1894
 
 
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Jules Verne Encyclopedia:
"In 1894, A Drama in the Air was published in Twenty Complete Novelettes by Popular Authors."
A Drama in the Air
IN:
Twenty Complete Novelettes
By Popular Authors
1894, August
F M Lupton
106 and 108 Reade St.
New York
No. 33 - Special Number
Price, 25 cents
The People's Handbook Series
The Text begins:
"In the month of September, 185_, I arrived at Frankfort-on-the-Main. My passage through the principal German cities hae been brilliantly marked by balloon ascents; but as yet no German had accompanied me in my car, ..."
Story begins on Page 115
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| NOT in English, BUT used as a "Learn to read French" volume with extensive notes re French words and phrases
 
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Un Drame dans les air
Arnold's French Reading Books
nd (inscribed 1876, but doodling?!)
Edward Arnold
41 & 43 Maddox Street, Bond Street West
London
Arnold's French Reading Books
Edited with Notes Vocablary etc.
by I. G. Lloyd-Jones
Assistant Master at Upingham School
General Editor (of the series): L von Glehn
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| 1926, November
 
 
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Jules Verne Encyclopedia:
"The November 1926 issue of Amazing Stories carried "A Drama in the Air."
A Drama in the Air
IN: Amazing Stories
1926 - Nov, Vol 1 No. 8
Park Place
New York
1 illustration
pgs 758 to 765, in 2 column format
The Text begins:
"In the month of September, 185_, I arrived at Frankfort-on-the-Main. My passage through the principal German cities hae been brilliantly marked by balloon ascents; but as yet no German had accompanied me in my car, ..."
There is an introduction in the middle of page 759.
Introduction:
"This was one of the very first stories published by our well-known author, appearing soon after 1850. It is perhaps not of the fine quality of some of Verne's later works, but it is a little gem in itself, because, without a doubt, it holds your interest, short as it is, has plenty of excitement and a good deal of action. More-over, it is not only probable, but in a newspaper account some years ago, the identical thing happened in a slightly different setting. It probably will happen again. We know that you will like A Drama in the Air."
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