SIC ITUR AD ASTRA
Sic Itur Ad Astra
Visual history of The Hague Balloon Club, est. 1936

Language: English & Dutch
The history of gas ballooning in the 20th century
Collector's item: edition limited to 200 books
Incl. autographed historical balloon mail envelope and certified piece of gas balloon fabric
'Sic Itur Ad Astra' is the titel of the new historical photo book about gas ballooning in the 20th century by The Hague Balloon Club (HBC). 

The HBC was a world-famous association of gas balloonists, founded by Jo (John, Jan) Boesman in 1936. Particularly in the fifties, sixties and seventies - when ballooning was still a rare phenomenon - the club realized first-ever balloon flights in many countries. Notably Jo's spouse Nini was renowned for being one of the most skilled gas balloonists in the world. 'Sic Itur Ad Astra' (Latin for 'Thus one goes to the stars') was the motto of the HBC.

The book contains previously unpublished historical photos out of the archives of the HBC and the photo archive of Henk Jan Rem, who was the regular photographer of The Hague Balloon Club.

Each book holds a unique and historical balloon mail envelope with an autograph of the famous late ballooning-couple Jo and Nini Boesman (envelope autographed by either one or both of them). Furthermore an original piece of balloon fabric that once belonged to one of the HBC gas balloons is inserted in the book. Both balloon mail and fabric have been donated by the legacy of the HBC, to support an enduring memory of the dissolved club via this book.

The book in short:
- Hard cover | full color | 24 x 28 cm | 168 pages | 250+ photos
- Both in the English and Dutch language 
- Limited edition: 200 copies only
- Incl. autographed HBC balloon mail 
- Incl. original piece of HBC balloon fabric
- Preface by Pamela Visscher, president of the Association for Aviation History 
- Published: September 2019

Order the book here

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Price

The price of the book is Euro 49,95 excl. shipping costs.

Shipping charges (per book)
Netherlands: 1 book: Euro 6,75  |   2 books: Euro 3,00/book |   3+ books: free shipment (Netherlands only!)
Europe: 1 book: Euro 12,50 |  2+ books: Ask for shippping charges
USA: 1 book: Euro 23,00  |  2+ books: Ask for shippping charges
Other regions: Ask for shippping charges

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About the author
Author Han Nabben is a balloonist himself and editor of the quartely periodicle Ballonstof Magazine of the Dutch and Belgium national ballooning associations KNVvL and KBBF. Han previously published two books about ballooning: Lichter dan lucht, los van de aarde (in Dutch)  and Catch the Sun (in English).
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