Zeppelin Mail -- Graf Zeppelin (Lz-127)

1929 Weltrundfahrt (Round-the-World Flight)

From 7 August-4 September 1929, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) made a round-the-world flight beginning in Lakehurst, NJ. The Graf Zeppelin flew east to Friedrichshafen, then to Tokyo, Los Angeles, Lakehurst, and back to Friedrichshafen.

Due to the volume of mail and the number of stops, numerous cancels and cachets exist.

Mail loaded in Lakehurst bears a purple confirmation stamp.



The largest quantity of mail (25,059 pieces) was loaded in Lakehurst and dropped at the first stop on the trip, the first Friedrichshafen landing on 10 August 1929. Much of this mail received an arrival cancel from Friedrichshafen.

Here are a couple new additions from the 1930 Netherlands Flight previously seen here.

This copy of Sieger 98 Aa is from a connecting flight. It was initially mailed in Triesenberg, Liechtenstein, and was loaded on-board in Friedrichshafen.







This copy of Sieger 98 Ab was canceled on board. It was sent to Newport, Rhode Island, and the recipients address is actually given in a round, blue cachet. It bears transit cancels from New York.

And a couple new additions from the 1932 Netherlands Flight previously seen here.

This postcard has an on-board cancel, and was not dropped in the Netherlands, but ended with the flight in Friedrichshafen.





This second postcard was posted in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and made the return flight to Friedrichshafen.



In Friedrichshafen, it was stamped with a new Friedrichshafen arrival cancel. This flight was its first use.

Here's another from the Graf Zeppelin's first North America flight of 1929, previously shown here.

This cover bears a machine cancel from Friedrichshafen.



It also has an arrival cancel from New York.



It also has the red interruption of flight cachet and blue flight cachet.

1933 Deutschlandfahrt (1933 Germany Flight)

On 1 May 1933, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) made a long, 2,200 km flight around Germany, leaving at just after midnight and landing at just after 10 P.M.

Mail carries cancels from either Friedrichshafen, on-board, or several treaty states.


Friedrichshafen Cancel


Sieger 201 Aa with Friedrichshafen Cancel


On-Board Cancel


Sieger 201 Ab with On-Board Cancel

A single mail drop was made at the Dresden airport. Mail dropped here should bear a Dresden Flughafen arrival cancel with a time of 17-18.



Copies do exist with an incorrect time, 16-17.



All mail carried on this flight should have a green confirmation stamp.

1931 Ungarnfahrt (1931 Hungary Flight)

On 28 March 1931, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) departed Friedrichshafen for Budapest. It landed in Budapest on the morning of 29 March, made a 9-hour round-trip flight over Hungary, then departed Budapest the same afternoon, arriving at Friedrichshafen on the morning of 30 March 1931.

Mail transported bears a cancel from Friedrichshafen, on-board, or one of nine treaty states.


Friedrichshafen Cancel


On-Board Cancel

All mail also carries a red confirmation cachet and a red arrival cachet.


Confirmation Cachet


Arrival Cachet

Mail from the Friedrichshafen-to-Budapest leg bears a Budapest arrival cancel.


Budapest Arrival Cancel

Another one from the 1933 Deutschlandfahrt, originally shown here.

This card was posted on-board the Graf Zeppelin, and unloaded when the flight terminated in Friedrichshafen.


Mail unloaded in Friedrichshafen was stamped with a Friedrichshafen arrival cancel.

1932 Englandfahrt (1932 England Flight)

On 2 July 1932, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) departed Friedrichshafen for London. After arriving in London, the Graf Zeppelin made two local roundtrip flights before departing for Friedrichshafen, arriving on 4 July 1932.

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

Friedrichshafen Cancel

All mail also bears a gold flight cachet.

Here are some recent purchases:

Sieger 22A; Michel 127-8Aa. 1928 Amerikafahrt postcard franked with a 1 cent Franklin overprinted with the words "Graf Zeppelin". This stamp was the handiwork of A.C. Roessler. It was considered a private product by the USPOD and was, therefore, not valid for postage. Roessler was subject to court proceedings, sentenced to prison and placed on probation.

Sieger 43AI; Michel 127-42II (special feature -- board postmark of October 7, 1929). 1929 Balkans/Silesia Flight. Notice the "Schiffspost auf dem Bodensee" postmark. This card was mailed from on board a ship on Lake Constance (Bodensee), a lake in Germany very close to Friedrichshafen. The Balkans/Silesia Flight was originally supposed to be two separate flights, but was combined due to bad weather. This card was dropped over Breslau, which is now part of Poland.

Sieger 463; Michel 130-29. 1939 Essen/Muelheim Flight. One of the last flights of the Graf Zeppelin II (L.Z. 130) -- two weeks prior to the start of World War II. Front of postcard shows Adolf Hitler standing in front of his mother's grave.

Sieger 246Ab; Michel 127-358b. 1934 Deutschlandfahrt. Card is franked with 3 values from the beautiful Wagner opera series issued in 1933, including a se-tenant pair.

Sieger 217Ac; Michel 127-314. 1933 Saargebietsfahrt.

Sieger 64B/C II; Michel 127-68Hb. 1930 South America Flight. Cover is properly franked with one C14 and one C15 providing the $3.90 postage. This cover also has the purple round trip stamp.