WAR 1870. L.a.s. by Jules BOURSE, [Paris] January 12-13, 1871, to his wife in Langrune (Calavados); 2 pages in-8 on linen paper, address with stamp and postmarks. Letter by mounted balloon (probably the Vaucanson balloon), with departure postmark Paris Bd Beaumarchais 13 Jan. 71 and arrival postmarks Luc s/mer 19 Jan. and Cherbourg. The shells fell on the family home: "The wall was first pierced in the height and in my poor father's room a cupboard full of linen which was in the passage of the shell was pulverized. The shell took a slanting direction and exploded on the corner of the overmantel [...] pulverizing the secretary, the chest of drawers, most of the objects [...] The bombing of Paris is odious, it will cover Germany with shame. Hatred is in all hearts"...