The early history of the art -- The invention of the air balloons -- Montgolfieres, Charlieres, and Bozieres -- The theory of the balloon -- The development of the dirigible balloon -- The history of the dirigible balloon, 1852-1872 -- Dirigible balloons from 1883-1897 -- Dirigible balloons from 1898-1906 -- Flying machines -- Kites -- Parachutes -- The development of military ballooning -- Ballooning in the Franco-Prussian war -- Modern organization of military ballooning in France, Germany, England, and Russia -- Military ballooning in other countries -- Balloon construction and the preparation of the gas -- Instruments -- Ballooning as a sport -- Scientific ballooning -- Balloon photography -- Photographic outfit for balloon work -- The interpretation of photographs -- Photography by means of kites and rockets -- Problems in perspective -- Carrier pigeons for balloons -- Balloon law -- Index.