In 1907, Alberto Santos Dumont unsuccessfully developed the Number 18, a precursor to the seaplane.

• 19 original, period photographs, and an old postcard from issue number 8.
• Authors: Dazy, Itch, Branger, Rol & Co.
• France, 1907.
• Approximately 12 cm x 17 cm, except for two smaller ones measuring 9 cm x 11 cm.
• Notes in French on the back.
• Perfect condition.

The aircraft shown in the photos is the Santos-Dumont No. 18, an experimental seaplane developed by Alberto Santos Dumont in 1907. It was designed to take off directly from the water, something extremely innovative for the time. With a lightweight structure, floats, and vertically positioned propellers, the No. 18 was tested on the Seine River in Neuilly, near Paris. Although it never achieved a successful flight, the project marked an important step in Santos Dumont's search for new forms of air locomotion and anticipates the principles that would later be used in the first functional seaplanes.

These unique images of the Santos-Dumont No. 18 are remarkable for documenting one of the Brazilian inventor's most daring and little-known experiments: the creation of a motorized seaplane in 1907, at a time when few airplanes could even fly on land. The photos reveal impressive technical details, such as the torpedo-shaped central float, the three star-shaped propellers, the imposing 8-cylinder V-twin Antoinette engine, and the boat-like control surfaces. Some images show the aircraft being tested on the water, surrounded by mechanics and curious onlookers; others reveal public interest and press coverage. One of the most striking records shows the aircraft crashing, covered by a striped tarp, reflecting the difficulties faced by Santos-Dumont—but also his courage in exploring new frontiers. The image of him calmly sitting at the controls in the middle of the river, even after the failure, is a powerful symbol of his perseverance and innovative spirit.