This beautiful 0.95 franc airmail stamp from France, issued in 1971, commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Balloon Post ("Ballons montés"), used during the Siege of Paris (1870–1871) in the Franco-Prussian War. When the city was cut off, mail was carried out by manned balloons—an early triumph of aeropostal ingenuity.

The design by Claude Béquet features a striking red-and-blue balloon ascending over the Paris Central Post Office, with the inscription “Centenaire de la Poste par Ballons Montés.” It celebrates the courage and creativity of postal workers who ensured communication despite wartime isolation.