14th April 1935
LZ 127 - Europa-Südamerika
SOURCE IMAGE DESCRIPTION: German Zeppelin airmail cover carried on the first Europe–South America flight of LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin in 1935, addressed to Dr E. A. F. Schoevers, Wilhelminastraat 5, Assen, Netherlands. The cover bears the special 1 Reichsmark Zeppelin airmail stamp (Michel 455), together with 10 and 40 Pfennig Hindenburg definitives, giving a total franking of RM 1.50. The stamps are cancelled with the special Deutsche Luftpost – Luftschiff Graf Zeppelin – 1. Fahrt – Europa–Südamerika postmark dated 14th April 1935. With red Zeppelin flight cachet (identification letter 'd' - in-flight mail), and blue Mit Luftpost / Par Avion label are also present. The cover bears an Assen arrival cancellation dated 17th April 1935, confirming its subsequent delivery in the Netherlands. The reverse of this cover is blank. Ref: 14.04.1935 - Fleurs & Papillons
The LZ 127 (Graf Zeppelin) had made five previous flights from the beginning of 1935 but this cover represents mail travelling on the 1st Europa-Südamerika flight of that year.
The flight began at Friedrichshafen, taking off on 6th May 1935 at 19.49 destined for Retcife, the state capital of Pernambuco, Brazil. The airship arrived on the 9th May and made further trips to Rio de Janeiro and Retcife, before embarking on it's final journey back to Friedrichshafen from 13th April.
The cover presented here represents 'bordpost' (in-flight mail) which is dated 14th April 1935.
There are a number of special 'DEUTSCHE LUFTPOST/ EUROPA-SÜDAMERIKA' hand-stamp cachets, each with an designation star or letter identifying its origin.
'*' = LZ 127 mail routed from Stuttgart
'a' = LZ 127 mail routed from Berlin
'b' = LZ 127 routed from Friedrichshafen
'c' = LZ 127 routed from Friedrichshafen
'd' = From onboard the LZ 127 (also see Mi.455)
'e' = LZ 127 mail routed from Stuttgart
For further information see Zeppelin Post Katalog published by Sieger (22nd Edition, 2001).
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