The story of a gas balloon crossing the Atlantic for the first time, and taking only three days, was first published on April 13, 1844 in the New York Sun. There is one problem with the story however, and that is it was a hoax. Known to history as ‘The Balloon- Hoax’, the story was written by the American author, poet, editor, and literary critic Edgar Allan Poe, (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849). Published as a true story and causing great sensation it was retracted two days later. Poe was heavily influenced by the story of Charles Green, Monck Mason, and Robert Holland’s balloon flight, as told in Mason’s 1836 book ‘Account of the Late Aeronautical Expedition from London to Weilburg’, and a previous journalistic hoax in the Sun known as the ‘Great Moon Hoax’, written it is suspected, by Poe’s editor Richard Adams Locke. The text in the recreation is from the original story with ofgraveconcern original illustrations.
The Extra Sun. Report of Balloon crossing the Atlantic. 1844
Recreation of titlepage with added historical elements. Printed on handmade paper resembling the look and feel of paper from the period the work was produced (8.5" x 11").