On May 3, 1973, Gabon issued a set of six stamps featuring milestones in Aviation History. The 1-Franc stamp shows Montgolfier’s balloon, which achieved the first manned hot air balloon flight on the 21st of November 1783. The balloon was developed by the brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier. The balloon flew about 3,000 feet above Paris, traveled about 5.6 miles and the flight lasted about 25 minutes. (Though Gabon achieved independence from France in 1960, the design and printing of this stamp set was done in France.)
