Graf Zeppelin October 1928 Flight Cover From San Juan Puerto Rico

I purchased this cover of the October 1928 Graf Zeppelin flight from New Jersey to Germany and the seller described it as "zeppelin intended flight / never flown". I imagine his conclusion is because there is no cachet in the cover. Looking the back of the cover I see the November 1st receipt which is the correct date the covers for this flight were cancelled in Germany. I wonder if because there is no cachet he can conclude that the cover was not flown on the zeppelin.

Hard to tell for certain, but my guess is that yes, it was flown on the Zeppelin that left Lakehurst, New Jersey on October 28 and arrived at Friedrichshafen on November 1, 1928. A small amount of covers unfortunately did not get the cachet and since this one was mailed so far in advance it likely sat around the Lakehurst post office for a while and that may have contributed to it not getting the cachet. Covers are found mailed from a great many different U.S. cities including San Juan and all went to Lakehurst to be put on the Graf Zeppelin. Some were sent too late to arrive in time to be flown and many of these have some markings about being "Too Late" and they do not have the November 1, 1928 Friedrichshafen back stamp. The lack of the cachet on this example makes it of lesser value than those from the various US cities that do have the cachet. The ones that are of highest value are the ones that are actually postmarked Lakehurst.

Agree with Kimo. To put it another way, it would not have been sent via Friedrichshafen/had its receiving cancel if it were not flown by the Graf Zeppelin. It is still an interesting Puerto Rico cover.

Thanks for your opinions. I agree with both.

Congratulations, Luisgo. You have acquired a quite valuable cover. The new edition of the Michel Zeppelin catalog lists a cover flown from San Juan with US franking on the 1928 Amerikafahrt as having a catalog value of 1,000 Euros!!

Wow 1,000 euros!! This cover was at eBay with a start bid of $80. I offered $50 and the seller sold me the cover. It appears that the cover was a remanent of an auction not sold. The description indicates that the receiving cancel was November 7. That is wrong, the date is November 1st. I have another cover from San Juan and stamps and cancels are smilar but it has the flight cachet. I am including a image of a cover received "too late". Mine does'nt have the too late mark.

You are 2 for 2! Not bad for $50!!

A sleeper, good work.

Anybody recognize the addressee, B(asil) L. Rowe?

Quite the Captain.

Yes, indeed! I'm surprised nobody twigged to that before.