Before the dirigible was the air ship of 1608, reproduced in History of the Parish Church of Saint Michael and All Angels, Chipping Lambourn by John Footman, 1894.

An illustration from a 1907 issue of The Strand magazine.

The patron saint of the balloonist:  an illustration from a 1907 issue of Life magazine.

An illustration from an 1869 issue of Harper's magazine.

An illustration from an 1869 issue of Harper's magazine.  The caption reads: "Heroic self-sacrifice."

An illustration from an 1869 issue of Harper's magazine.  The caption reads: "Philosophy in the air."

An illustration from a 1907 issue of Century Illustrated magazine.  The caption reads: "All around the great shadow balloon was a radiant lunar rainbow."

From Prof. Oddfellow's sketchbook: