Graf Zeppelin carried a great deal of mail, including first flight covers and other philatelic covers desired by stamp collectors (who provided much of the financing for the German zeppelins), as well as commercial mail sent by zeppelin because it was the fastest way to send correspondence overseas at the time.
Note: The “Sieger numbers” mentioned below refer to the Zeppelin Post Katalog published by the Sieger-Verlag of Lorch/Wurttemberg. The Sieger catalog is invaluable not just as a philatelic reference to zeppelin mail, but also as a historic resource, since the catalog contains a comprehensive list of all flights by German commercial zeppelins from LZ-1 through LZ-130.
First flight of Graf Zeppelin from United States to Germany, October 29 – November 1, 1928. (Sieger 22B)
Final leg of Around-the-World flight, Lakehurst to Friedrichshafen, September 1-4, 1929. (Sieger 32)
I welcome comments and emails, but please note that for various reasons I don’t like to offer an opinion on the value or authenticity of zeppelin covers or other items of airship memorabilia.
If airmail by zepplin didn’t start until 1928, why do I have 2 envelopes that are captioned :delivered by airship in 1925 from lakehurst to Los Ang.?
The German airship LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin first flew in 1928, but the U.S. Navy had rigid airships flying as early as 1923 (U.S.S. Shenandoah) and 1924 (U.S.S. Los Angeles) and they carried mail on occasion.
Very informative. How do i find a
copy of the Sieger catalogue? i
would to buy a copy
Latest Michel. And sieger. ????
May I ask 2 Qs regarding zeppelin flight cover to Hong Kong in 1929
1) Postal fee from Germany to Hong Kong (my cover stamped 3 mark + 50PF x 2)
2) How many flight cover(s) to Hong Kong is/are recorded?
thank you!
May I ask two questions regarding zeppelin flight covers? 1. Is the Sieger catalog also printed in English? 2. A Hindenburg flight cover has a Frankfurt to USA back to Germany cancels. The Frost catalog lists a Germany to USA and USA to Germany flights, but does not mention a… Read more »
Greetings, are you able to advise when Sieger Caalogues were issued – I think I saw the 1981 volume in our library? Are you aware of any more recent issues of this catalogue, so that one can get more relevant values to guide pricing covers for sale?? Thanks for any… Read more »
Hi Dan, just as a note, my cover has a similar stamp to the Sieger 22b envelope you have shown. A long envelope with three stamps a Brooklyn post stamp reads, Brooklyn Oct 27 12pm. and hand written is Per German Airship L Z 127 from Lakehurst New Jersey. It… Read more »
Dan—-I am wondering about the Condor labels that are on covers from the Pan American Flight of May-June 1930. Was mail from Rio picked up by Condor airlines and set to Recife for further dispatch? Was any mail picked up during LZ127’s short stay in Rio and transported back to… Read more »
I just purchased Graf Zeppelin Flight #242C which was dispatched from Miami to Sevilla, Spain via the “Century of Progress” in 1933 and then, apparently, sent back to Howard Beach, NY by boat after arriving in Sevilla. Is this one of the rarely seen Miami dispatches to Sevilla? Thanks!
I just found this postal history page today. It is great to know that postal history and postcard collecting is alive and well online.