^#1737 ^Lot 1797 Thaddeus S. C. Lowe

American balloonist (1832–1913) whose Union balloon corps tracked enemy movements, known as the father of military aerial reconnaissance in the United States. Very rare partly-printed DS, signed “T. S. C. Lowe,” one page, 8.5 x 4, May 7, 1896. Receipt issued to F. S. Dunn for a $22.00 deposit to the Mount Lowe Railway Company, signed at the conclusion by Lowe as the company’s president. Docketing over portion of document and beginning of signature, intersecting folds, uniform toning, and paper loss and a couple of tears to left edge, otherwise very good condition. In July 1861 Lowe was appointed Chief Aeronaut of the Union Army Balloon Corps by President Abraham Lincoln and performed aerial reconnaissance on the Confederate troops.