'Le Comte d'Artois' balloon. 19th-century illustration of the propeller-fitted balloon 'Le Comte d'Artois' built by chemical factory directors Leonard Alban (1741-1803) and his colleague Vallet in August 1785. The Alban and Vallet factory was at Javel, near Paris, France. The balloon was named for the Comte d'Artois, the future French King Charles X (1757-1836), who made numerous ascents in the balloon. Artwork from 'Aerostation - Aviation' (1911) by French civil engineer Max de Nansouty (1854-1913), part of the 'Les merveilles de la science' series of 1867-1891 by Louis Figuier.