Zeppelin Mail -- Graf Zeppelin (Lz-127)

As I stated in this thread, I recently received a copy of the K.B. Spezial Zeppelin Post catalog.

In the Zeppelin-Eckener-Spende section (Band I, p. 72), they included a photo of this guy.



Looks like the crewman who created these was a busy little beaver.

On 9 September 1930, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) departed Friedrichshafen for Moscow. It arrived on 10 September 1930, and stayed for only a few hours before beginning its return voyage to Friedrichshafen. It arrived in Friedrichshafen on 11 September 1930.

Outbound mail can be found with Friedrichshafen cancels or on-board cancels dated 9 or 10 September 1930, and should carry a red confirmation stamp.



This postcard was mailed on-board on 9 September 1930. It was canceled in Moscow upon arrival and on re-loading for the return voyage. Finally, it received a Berlin arrival cancel at the end of its long journey.






Return mail frequently bears a commemorative Russian stamp and a Russian zeppelin confirmation cachet.

On 30 June 1931, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) departed Friedrichshafen for a flight to Reykjavik, Iceland, and back. Mail was exchanged in Reykjavik, and the Graf Zeppelin returned to Friedrichshafen, arriving on 3 July 1931.

A green Islandfahrt confirmation stamp denotes mail that was transported on the flight.



Outbound mail typically bears a Friedrichshafen or on-board cancel.



Mail dropped in Reykjavik should bear a Reykjavik arrival cancel. Three types of arrival cancels can be found.



This postcard was postmarked in Friedrichshafen on 30 June 1931, and dropped in Reykjavik on 1 July 1931.





Icelandic mail on the return voyage typically features Icelandic stamps overprinted "Zeppelin / 1931" which were issued only for use on this flight.

From 25-28 March 1929, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) made a round-trip flight from Friedrichshafen to the Levant and back. Mail carried on-board typically bears cancels from either Friedrichschafen, or from the on-board canceller.


Friedrichschafen cancel

Mail carried on the flights bears an Orientfahrt confirmation stamp. Two versions exist — one applied in red-lilac ink with a rubber canceller, and one in cinnamon red ink applied with a steel canceller. They can be distinguished by the thickness of the canceller strike (rubber is thick, steel is thin), and on the rubber canceller version the front of the airship touches the "P".


Confirmation Stamp -- Rubber Canceller

One official mail drop was made at Er Ramle, though only a fraction of the dropped ail received an Er Ramle arrival backstamp. Unofficial drops were made along the route in Athens, Rome, Spit, Vienna, and Munich.

On 16 May 1929, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) departed Friedrichschafen for its first America Flight of 1929. The following day, 17 May 1929, the airship diverted to Toulon-Cuers, France, due to engine trouble. The flight to America was cancelled, and the mail carried on-board was held until the flight could be resumed.

A cachet was added noting that the flight was interrupted.



The flight resumed on 1 August 1929 from Friedrichschafen, arriving at Lakehurst, N.J., on 5 August 1929. Mail carried on both the original flight and the resumed flight carried a blue confirmation stamp.



The cover shown below was part of the original flight, as you can tell from the cancel date (15 May 1929) and flight interruption cachet. It bears an arrival cancel from New York, 5 August 1929.





The LZ-127 departed Lakehurst for Friedrichschafen on 7 August 1929, but the return flight is not considered part of the 1st America Flight of 1929. Rather, it was the first leg of the 1929 Round-the-World Flight (Lakehurst-Friedrichschafen-Tokyo-Los Angeles-Lakehurst-Friedrichschafen).

PostmasterGS: Nice display on your album sheets.It seems you were
inspired by the"Zepplin post Journal"? Interesting with all the cancel inserts
& related photo's.Nice & clean.....

From 23-25 September 1930, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) completed a trip around the Baltic Sea. The flight departed Friedrichschafen on 23 September 1930, then stopped at Berlin, Riga, Tallinn, Helsinki, and Stockholm, before finishing the flight with a second landing in Berlin.

Mail carried on board typically has one of three cancels — Friedrichschafen, Berlin, or on-board.


On-board Cancel

All mail carried on the flight received a green confirmation stamp.


Confirmation Stamp

On 24 July 1931, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) departed Friedrichschafen on a lengthy journey to the Arctic. The Graf Zeppelin stopped in Berlin, taking on a large quantity of mail, including mail from around the world which had been mailed to Berlin specifically for loading on the flight.



Mail from treaty countries could be franked with stamps from that country. For mail from non-treaty countries, German postage was added and canceled with one of two Berlin-Staaken cancels.



The flight then proceeded from Berlin to Leningrad, where mail was dropped, and additional Russian mail was taken on board. The LZ-127 then flew to Franz Josef Land, where it landed on the ice and delivered mail to the Russian icebreaker Malygin. Mail dropped at the Malygin received a transit cancel from the ship.



Mail dropped at the Malygin was then transported via icebreaker or dogsled back to land, where it was then forwarded to the addressees around the world.

Mail transported on the flight, whether from Friedrichschafen, Berlin, or on-board, received a red Polarfahrt confirmation stamp.



This postcard was mailed from Orono, Maine, to Orono, Maine, via Orono-Berlin-Leningrad-Malygin-New York-Orono.

On 27 August 1931, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) made a round-trip flight from Friedrichshafen to Lausanne, Switzerland, and back.

Mail carried on board bears either a Friedrichshafen or on-board cancel.


On-board cancel

Mail dropped at Lausanne bears a Lausanne arrival cancel.


On-board cancel





Click to enlarge

On 18 September 1931, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) departed Friedrichshafen for Recife, Brazil, on its second South America flight of 1931. Mail transported typically carries a cancel from either Friedrichshafen or on-board.


Friedrichshafen Cancel

The airship arrived in Recife on 20 September 1931. Mail dropped in Recife bears a Recife arrival cancel dated 21 September 1931.


Recife Arrival Cancel

All mail carried on the flight received a violet confirmation stamp.


Confirmation Stamp

The flight departed Recife on 25 September 1931 for its return to Friedrichshafen, arriving on 28 September 1931.

On 2 November 1929, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) made a round-trip flight from Friedrichshafen to Dübendorf, Switzerland, and back.

Mail carried on the flight can contain one of several cancels. The most common are a Friedrichshafen cancel, an on-board cancel, or a cancel made with a previous version of the on-board cancel which had been retired from on-board use but was still used in Friedrichshafen.


On-board cancel used in Friedrichshafen

All mail carried on the flight bears a red confirmation stamp.



Mail dropped in Dübendorf bears a Zurich arrival cancel.

July 1934 Switzerland Flights

From 10-12 July 1934, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) conducted a series of flights between Friedrichshafen and Zurich, Switzerland. The first flight on 10 July 1934 was a round-trip from Friedrichshafen with only a mail drop in Zurich. Mail carried on this flight can be found with Friedrichshafen or on-board cancels.



Mail from this first flight bears a Zurich airport arrival cancel.



Following its return form the first 10 July 1934 round-trip, the Graf Zeppelin made another round trip on the evening of 10 July, a round trip on 11 July, and two round-trips on 12 July. Mail on these final four flights can only be found with on-board cancels.

All mail carried should also bear a green confirmation stamp.

Here's another cover from the 2nd South America Flight of 1931 (for background, see previous post here).



This cover has a Berlin airmail cancel, MiNr D 4-07/a.


Berlin Airmail Cancel

Mail which arrived at Friedrichshafen via the Berlin connecting flight received a red connecting flight cachet.


Berlin Connecting Flight Cancel

This cover also bears the standard violet confirmation cachet for this flight.


Confirmation Cachet

Additionally, much of the mail carried on this flight was stamped with a red advertising cachet. The text translates roughly as "the airship Graf Zeppelin waits four days in Permambuco for your answer."


Advertising Cachet

And here it is on the album page.

1931 Ostseejahr-Rundfahrt (1931 Baltic Sea Circuit Flight)

On 12 May 1931, the Graf Zeppelin departed Friedrichshafen on a trip around the Baltic Sea. The flight itinerary was as follows:

• Friedrichshafen (12 May) – Staaken (13 May)
• Staaken (13 May) – Berlin Tempelhof (13 May) (1st Berlin Round Trip)
• Berlin Tempelhof (13 May) – Staaken (13 May) (2nd Berlin Round Trip)
• Staaken (14 May) – Lübeck (14 May)
• Lübeck (14 May) – Lübeck (14 May) (Round Trip over the Baltic Sea)
• Lübeck (14 May) – Friedrichshafen (15 May)

Mail can be found with origin cancels from Friedrichshafen, on board, and various treaty states.


On-Board Cancel

Mail dropped at the final stop in Friedrichshafen is marked with a Friedrichshafen arrival cancel.


Friedrichshafen Arrival Cancel

Mail transported on the flight carries a violet confirmation stamp.


Confirmation Stamp