ROBERTSON: (1763-1837) Etienne-Gaspard Robert. Belgian stage Magician, Physicist and a pioneer in developing ...

ROBERTSON: (1763-1837) Etienne-Gaspard Robert. Belgian stage Magician, Physicist and a pioneer in developing phantasmagoria. Well remembered for his record on 18th July 1803 in Hamburg when he set an altitude record of over 8000 meters in a montgolfiere. He is also credited as the creator of the parachute. Rare A.L.S., `The physician E. G. Robertson pere«, one page, 4to, Paris, 30th July 1831, on the Tivoli, Pavillon Labouxiere, to Monsieur Monveau, in French. Robertson states `You have been so kind to make me expect few lines about my son at the Constitutionnel, I beg you to accord me this favour, here you have the article..« With blank address leaf, in the hand of Robertson, to Monsieur Monveau, owner and editor of the Constitutionnel. Small staining, and minor age wear. Small area of paper loss to the address leaf as a result of the opening. G £800-1000 The Tivoli, Pavillon Labouxiere, was the theatre that Robertson refurbished in 1826, between the Clichy and Blanche streets in Paris to perform his phantasmagoria shows. He used special lanterns on wheels which he called Phantascope, a forerunner of cinema. He scared the Parisians crowds with shadows in movement showing ghosts. Le Constitutionnel was a Parisian politics journal, created in 1815 during the Hundred-Days by Joseph FouchŽ 1759-1820, Duke of Otranto. Its first name was L«IndŽpendant.