LZ-129 Hindenburg
Airship: LZ 129, Hindenburg
1st North America Flight 1936,
From Lakehurst to Frankfurt (Main) via Zeppelin 12 -14 May 1936
1st North America Flight 1936,
From Lakehurst to Frankfurt (Main) via Zeppelin 12 -14 May 1936
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Lakehurst, N.Y., addressed to Bombay. On the front is the powder blue Par Avion, By Air Mail, Form 2978 label, obliterated with a CANCELLED, BOMBAY, 19 MAY 36 boxed square cachet.
The front also has 65c. U.S. Postage stamps, tied with NEW YORK N.Y. THIRD INT PHILATELIC EXHIBITION STA, MAY 10 1936.
Post mark at Frankfurt (Frost 129-6 backstamp 3) FRANKFURT (MAIN) BPR 19, MIT LUFTSCHIF HINDENBERG, BEFORDERT, a 14.5.36 10
On the reverse is the arrival mark MALABAR HILL, DELY, BOMBAY NO. 6DELY, 19 MAY 36 6–P.M.
Catalogue References Frost, Item 2). 129 - 6, Confirmation Mark 2). 129 – 6 con, USA, violet lilac, Michel Item 13 A) Confirmation Stamp 13 Type II
The front also has 65c. U.S. Postage stamps, tied with NEW YORK N.Y. THIRD INT PHILATELIC EXHIBITION STA, MAY 10 1936.
Post mark at Frankfurt (Frost 129-6 backstamp 3) FRANKFURT (MAIN) BPR 19, MIT LUFTSCHIF HINDENBERG, BEFORDERT, a 14.5.36 10
On the reverse is the arrival mark MALABAR HILL, DELY, BOMBAY NO. 6DELY, 19 MAY 36 6–P.M.
Catalogue References Frost, Item 2). 129 - 6, Confirmation Mark 2). 129 – 6 con, USA, violet lilac, Michel Item 13 A) Confirmation Stamp 13 Type II
Airship 'Hindenberg' LZ 129, First North American Flight, 1936
Flown Lakehurst to Frankfurt/M
Cover flown from New York to Bombay
12 -14 May 1936
Flown Lakehurst to Frankfurt/M
Cover flown from New York to Bombay
12 -14 May 1936
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From Lakehurst to Frankfurt (Main) by Airship Hindenberg.
1st 1936 return Flight, 12-14 May 1936.
Then from Frankfurt to London.
Then from London to Karachi by Imperial Airways.
Finally from Karachi to Bombay by Tata Sons Ltd.
Reverse Cancellations
Intermediate cancellations Frankfurt (Main) 14.5.36.
Arrival date stamp Bombay 19 May 36.
1st 1936 return Flight, 12-14 May 1936.
Then from Frankfurt to London.
Then from London to Karachi by Imperial Airways.
Finally from Karachi to Bombay by Tata Sons Ltd.
Reverse Cancellations
Intermediate cancellations Frankfurt (Main) 14.5.36.
Arrival date stamp Bombay 19 May 36.
Airship 'Hidenberg' LZ 129
Flown Lakahurst to Frankfurt/M
Cover Flown from New York to Bombay
21 - 23 May 1936
Flown Lakahurst to Frankfurt/M
Cover Flown from New York to Bombay
21 - 23 May 1936
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From Lakehurst to Frankfurt (Main) by Airship Hindenberg.
Flight 15, 21-23 May 1936.
Then from Frankfurt to London.
Then from London to Karachi by Imperial Airways.
Finally from Karachi to Bombay by Tata Sons Ltd.
Reverse Cancellations
Intermediate cancellations Frankfurt (Main) 23.5.36.
Arrival date stamp Bombay 11 June 36.
Flight 15, 21-23 May 1936.
Then from Frankfurt to London.
Then from London to Karachi by Imperial Airways.
Finally from Karachi to Bombay by Tata Sons Ltd.
Reverse Cancellations
Intermediate cancellations Frankfurt (Main) 23.5.36.
Arrival date stamp Bombay 11 June 36.
Zeppelin Airship LZ-129 Hindenberg
German postage stamp commemorating the North America Flight.
German postage stamp commemorating the North America Flight.
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Post Card addressed to Bangalore, India. Flown by air until Karachi, and then by surface to Bangalore. Date cancellations, MAGDEBURG, 10.2.37; and BANGALORE 22 FEB 37.
The Airmail stamp was issued on 16 March 1936 on the occasion of the flight on the LZ 129 to North America. Two values were issued, 50 Pfg in black-blue and 75 Pfg in dark green.
The Airmail stamp was issued on 16 March 1936 on the occasion of the flight on the LZ 129 to North America. Two values were issued, 50 Pfg in black-blue and 75 Pfg in dark green.
V. SPECIAL COVER (RRRR)
Round The World by Airmail/Zeppelin attempt
Intended for the 3rd 1937 Westward flight of the Hindenberg LZ-129 Zeppelin Airship
Round The World by Airmail/Zeppelin attempt
Intended for the 3rd 1937 Westward flight of the Hindenberg LZ-129 Zeppelin Airship
In 1937 by airmail round the world? This was not yet possible due to a small gap in the world wide airmail network. Imperial Airways (IA) was flying from Europe via the Middle East to Hong Kong while Pan American Airways (PAA) was flying from San Francisco via Hawaii only as far as Manila, Philippine Islands. However, there wasn’t any airmail service existing between Manila and Hong Kong, thus the mail between Manila and Hong Kong was sent by surface transportation.
Until April 1937, airmail from the US to India was routed only via Europe with airmail service from Amsterdam to India. This service was subject to an airmail fee of 22 Cents per half ounce. If additional trans-Atlantic airmail service by airship LZ-129 Hindenburg was requested, an extra 40 Cents were due making it a total of 62 Cents.
In early 1937, PAA worked on plans to extend their trans-Pacific service from Manila to Hong Kong. In early March, PAA announced plans to extend the flights to Hong Kong beginning with the April 21 departure from San Francisco.
On March 10, 1937, the US Postal Service announced a 70 Cents airmail rate per half ounce for US airmail to be flown by PAA via the Pacific to Hong Kong and onward by IA service to India. The first flight carrying such mail was the April 21, 1937 Clipper departure from San Francisco which was also the first scheduled extended Clipper flight to Hong Kong.
The sender of the cover paid the 70 Cents rate and addressed the cover first to Bombay. The cover was dispatched in New Jersey on April 17 and was flown by United Air Lines trans-continental to San Francisco. On April 21 the cover received a San Francisco transit postmark, this marks the Clipper departure. The cover flew via Hawaii, Midway, Wake, Guam, Manila and Macau to Hong Kong to arrive there on April 28 with corresponding Victoria/HKG transit postmark. The cover also received the blue first flight cachet on which later the India postage was placed.
Two days later, on April 30, IA feeder service left Hong Kong for Penang and arrived there on May 1. On May 2, IA’s Australia service (IW 544) coming from Australia arrived at Penang, the cover was loaded and the flight continued westwards.
On May 3, IA reached Calcutta, the first port of call in India - all mail to India was offloaded. Scheduled arrival was 3.45 p.m., the cover has a 5.30 p.m. Calcutta transit postmark. From Calcutta the cover was probably sent by surface transportation to the addressee at Bombay, arrival there was on May 5 at 11 a.m. according to the arrival postmark.
The addressee at Bombay resent the cover, adding India postage of Nine and a Half Anna, and the cover has a dispatch postmark from Thursday May 6, 1937 at 3 p.m. On Friday May 7 at 9.15 a.m., Tata Airlines flight left Bombay for Karachi, scheduled arrival was at 6.30 p.m. same day. The next morning, the IA flight IW 545 left Karachi. This was again an IA flight from Australia to Europe. IA arrived at Brindisi, Italy on May 11 at 4.09 p.m. According to actual flight reports, this flight was on time.
From Brindisi, the cover went by railway to the second addressee at Frankfurt, Germany. Departure at Brindisi was at 8.22 p.m., the train went via Rome 7.15 a.m. (May 12), Milan 4.15 p.m. and Bale (midnight) to Frankfurt, arrival there on May 13 at 5.34 a.m.
The cover is addressed to airship captain Max Pruss at the airship at Frankfurt. He should dispatch the cover for the 3rd time, this was for the Hindenburg zeppelin flight from Frankfurt to the US. The 2nd North America Flight 1937 was previously scheduled for May 11, so the cover would have been two days to late to make the flight.
However, on May 4 it was announced that the 2nd North America Flight would be postponed by two days with a new departure date on May 13. The reason for postponing was the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey at London on May 12. The airship should fly to the US latest film rolls from the coronation for US newsreels.
With the new departure set for May 13 at 8 p.m., the cover from India would have been in time to make the zeppelin connection at Frankfurt. But this is all history, because…. during the 1st North America Flight 1937, on May 6 the airship crashed at Lakehurst and all further zeppelin flights were suspended.
This had also an impact on the cover from India. After early morning arrival at Frankfurt, the post office at first had no idea to whom to deliver the cover. There was no longer an airship Hindenburg any more. However, the May 13, 3-4 p.m. Frankfurt arrival postmark is indicating a small delay from the early morning train arrival to afternoon delivery.
And it also indicates the further handling of the cover: The local post office #17 was the downtown post office near the railway station (keep in mind that the post office handling the zeppelin mail was nearby railway postoffice/Bahnpostamt #19). So the cover was delivered to the Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei office (DZR, Zeppelin Line operating the airship). Their office was located at Hindenburgplatz 10 at Frankfurt downtown, just opposite the railway station. In charge for this quarter was the post office Frankfurt #17.
And DZR was forwarding the cover to the home of the personal addressee, this was airship captain Max Pruss, who was residing at Frankfurt.
The last postmark on the cover is from November 6, 1937, this is the Red Bank, NJ arrival postmark from the sender who is also the final addressee. And this is almost half a year after the cover arrived at Frankfurt. But why was the cover held at Frankfurt for almost half a year?
The addressee at Frankfurt was airship captain Max Pruss, he was commander on the 1st North America Flight of the Hindenburg. This was the first time he was commanding a North America flight. He was actually flying the airship when it crashed at Lakehurst. Pruss was severely injured and was transferred to the special burns center of the Columbia Prebyterian Hospital in New York and stayed in hospital for the next four months.
Pruss was never questioned and never testified before the US Commerce Department's Board of Inquiry hearings. He returned back to Germany for the first time after the crash in October 1937. He was the last victim of the crash to return back home. Dr. Eckener, president of the Zeppelin company, indirectly blamed Pruss for the crash, and in his opinion Pruss oversteered the airship.
After his return to Germany in October 1937, Pruss finally forwarded the cover in late October to the US, to the sender. Since no airship was flying any more, the cover was sent by surface transportation. Pruss’ injuries and his long treatment in hospital were the reasons why the last leg took almost six months.
After arrival in the US, the cover was finally postmark and a long round the world flight finally came to an end.
According to my files, this is the only documented cover from India with a connection to LZ-129 Hindenburg. And this is the only documented cover from India with a connection to the crash of LZ-129 Hindenburg at Lakehurst. And it is a piece of history with connections to bridging the Pacific and the coronation of King Georg VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Description kindly provided by Mr. Diter Leder, who sold me this cover, with some inputs from me on the IA flights
Click here to know more
First Flight from Manila to Hong Kong on Pan Am route FAM 14
Cover flown from New York to Bombay
Cover flown from New York to Bombay
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Cover mailed in New York and franked 85 cents, addressed to Bombay with the FAM No. 14 FIRST FLIGHT FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO HONG KONG cachet, and then via Imperial Airways to Karachi, and Tata Air Lines to Bombay. 18 postal marks on the reverse.
Cover prepared for the LZ-129 Zeppelin ‘Hindenburg”
Flight from Lakehurst to Friedrichshaffen (Planned Flight on 7 May 1937)
Flight from Lakehurst to Friedrichshaffen (Planned Flight on 7 May 1937)
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Front piece of a Cover franked with U.S. 30c + 2x50c Airmail postage stamps (total $1.30), and cancelled CITY HALL, NEW YORK, MAY 6, 1936, 4.30 PM. The Hindenburg was destroyed by fire during the landing manoeuvre of the incoming flight on 7 May, marking the end of the Zeppelin service. This cover was then withdrawn by the sender as is evidenced by the black hand stamp WITHDRAWN FROM NEW YORK POST OFFICE (FOREIGN SECTION) BY REQUEST OF WRITER, and initialled and dated 5/7/37 (May 5, 1937). The cover seems to have been resubmitted to the postal department with a new endorsement AIR MAIL IN EUROPE & INDIA.
The addressee SHOW TRUST, BOMBAY, INDIA sounds rather unreal, so I did some research. It seems that a Show Trust Pvt. Ltd., was actually registered as a Non-Government Company on 30 January 1945 with it’s current office address at 22, Merabeth Road, Bombay-1. It is possible that an earlier form of this entity is the name referred to in the cover in question.
The addressee SHOW TRUST, BOMBAY, INDIA sounds rather unreal, so I did some research. It seems that a Show Trust Pvt. Ltd., was actually registered as a Non-Government Company on 30 January 1945 with it’s current office address at 22, Merabeth Road, Bombay-1. It is possible that an earlier form of this entity is the name referred to in the cover in question.
Zeppelin Airship, LZ-129 Graf Zeppelin
Memorial Card
Provenance: The Lady Ezra Collection
Romano Auction 1 December 2016, Lot# 1002
Memorial Card
Provenance: The Lady Ezra Collection
Romano Auction 1 December 2016, Lot# 1002
Zeppelin Airship, LZ-129 Graf Zeppelin
Memorial Card
Provenance: The Lady Ezra Collection
Romano Auction 1 December 2016, Lot# 1002
Memorial Card
Provenance: The Lady Ezra Collection
Romano Auction 1 December 2016, Lot# 1002
Card in MEMORIAM of the Airship HINDENBERG LZ-129. Issued by the 1938 stamp exhibition, organised by the working group of the Frankfurt-Main Stamp collecting and exchange clubs. 0.05 RM stamp tied with special cancellation mark, and dated 9.1.38. addressed to Stephen H. Smith, c/o Dr. M Kronstein, Germany, and on the front is a small round blue DEUTSCHE ZEPPELIN REEDEREI sticker.