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 Germany to United States, October 11-15, 1928. (Sieger 21B)
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)
First leg of Around-the-World flight, Friedrichshafen to Lakehurst, August 7-10, 1929. (Sieger 28A)
Friedrichshafen to Seville, May, 1930. (Sieger 57A)
Century of Progress Flight, Akron-Chicago, October 25-26, 1933. (Sieger 243A)
South America to Friedrichshafen, April 23-27, 1932. (Sieger 156)
Commercial mail, Argentina to Germany, June 23-July 6, 1934. (Sieger 256)
Flown to the Leipzig Fair, August 30, 1936. (Sieger 366)
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.
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.
Dan, Please review- Re: Brown Envelope with 3 stamps. At the right side of the envelope are 2 brown stamps @ 4 reichmarcks each and one blue stamp valued at 2 reichmarcks postmarked twiced 15 -Aug-29, 1-2V, Friedrichshafen, Luftpost. An additional ” Mit Luftpost PAR AVION ” blue stamp is… Read more »
I don’t usually comment on the authenticity or value of historical items, and would not feel comfortable commenting on something I have not seen in any event.
But more importantly, the real expert on Zeppelin philately is Dieter Leder, whose information can be found on the page about zeppelin mail forgeries.
My grandfather has a first flight stamped letter from 1927 (i think that is the right year) Graf Zeppelin that flew from Fredrichhaven to St. Hubert (Quebec) Canada. He lived near St. Hubert and picked the letter up in person when it landed. Any idea of approx value ? I… Read more »
For various reasons, I don’t like to comment on the value or authenticity of items (and I don’t have sufficient information about this item — date, stamp, cancellation, condition, etc — to give an opinion in any event). I am sorry I cannot be more helpful, but thank you for… Read more »
i would love to chat with the 94 year old grandfather. can anyone help? i have been researching airships for 20 years. please assist if you can. we can exchange some good memories. thanks. david helms 704-753 3612