
U.S. #C18
1933 50¢ Zeppelin at Chicago Expo
Century of Progress Issue
Issue Date: October 2, 1933
City: New York, NY
Quantity: 324,070
Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Flat plate printing
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U.S. #C18
1933 50¢ Zeppelin at Chicago Expo
Century of Progress Issue
Issue Date: October 2, 1933
City: New York, NY
Quantity: 324,070
Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Flat plate printing
Perforations: 11
Color: Green
About twenty years ago, we bought a collection that included a group of #C18 “Baby Zepp” singles with plate number selvage. At the time, we knew how scarce they were –and how special it would be to one day offer them to collectors. So we held onto them and slowly added more over the years.
It’s taken two decades, but we finally have enough to make a real offer.
#C18 is one of the most popular airmails. Issued in 1933 for Graf Zeppelin service to the Chicago World’s Fair, it didn’t sell well. It was expensive for the time – especially during the Depression. It was meant for Zeppelin mail to the Chicago World’s Fair, so there wasn’t much practical use for it. It was only on sale for about a month, and most people passed it by. The unsold stamps were destroyed, which is why only 324,000 were ever issued – and far fewer survive today with the plate number still attached.
We don’t come across these often. Normally, we might see just one in a year – if that. That’s because each sheet of 50 stamps had only one plate number, printed at the top or bottom – never the sides. And, most of those were collected as full plate blocks of six, which are much more expensive.
What we’re offering today is a much more affordable way to own a C18 with a plate number – a standout addition to any collection, even if you already own a single without selvage. You can choose between fine, never hinged or very fine, never hinged condition – whichever fits your collection best.
To make it even easier to enjoy, we’re including a mount at no extra cost. Since the selvage can vary in size, your mount may be slightly oversized – but it will protect your stamp and save you the trouble of finding one that fits.
This offer is limited. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to add a plate number C18 to your album –this is it.
The “Baby Zepp”
On October 2, 1933, the Century of Progress airmail stamp, affectionately known as “Baby Zepp” was issued.
In the 1920s, Germany’s Luftschiffbau Zeppelin company offered to build the US a dirigible as payment for debt from World War I. America agreed, with the stipulation that the airship had to prove itself in a transatlantic journey. On October 16, 1924, the LZ 126 arrived in New Jersey. This was the start of Graf Zeppelin flights between the US, South America, and Europe, with mail carried to all stops along the way.
The US postmaster general decided to issue a new set of stamps specifically for mail carried on these flights. The new stamps would subsidize the flights. Three zeppelin stamps were issued in 1930. The fourth was issued in 1933 to help pay for a Graf Zeppelin flight to Chicago. At the time, the city was holding the Chicago World’s Fair, titled “A Century of Progress.”
Held on the shore of Lake Michigan, this gigantic fair celebrated the 100th anniversary of Chicago’s incorporation as a village. It featured outstanding science and industry exhibits and was a great economic aid to Chicago during the Great Depression.
On August 18, post office officials agreed to issue the 50¢ stamp, with 42½¢ from each stamp to go to the Zeppelin Company. Because its face value was much lower than that of the previous Zeppelin stamps, #C18 became known as “Baby Zepp.”
Victor McCloskey Jr., a Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) employee, designed the new stamp. It pictures the Graf Zeppelin flying over the Atlantic Ocean. On the left is the federal building, representing the World’s Fair. The image on the right shows a zeppelin hangar in Friedrichshafen, Germany, where the flight started.
The BEP had just six weeks to produce and distribute the stamp so mail could travel by steamer to Germany and then return back to the US on a special flight. It was issued in five US cities on different days. The first city was New York, on October 2, and the last city was Chicago, on October 7.
On the Century of Progress flight, for which the #C18 stamp was issued, the Graf Zeppelin traveled from its home base at Friedrichshafen, Germany, to Brazil. The great airship then traveled to Miami, Florida, where it was supplied with more hydrogen. Another refueling stop was made at Akron, Ohio before the Graf reached Chicago. At each destination, huge crowds greeted the dirigible. The Graf Zeppelin arrived at the fairgrounds on October 26. After circling the air over the expo for two hours, it made a brief 25-minute landing and then took off for Akron, Ohio.
In spite of its attractive design and historic significance, #C18 sold poorly in 1933. Eventually, 90% of the stamps were destroyed – leaving a mere 324,000 for modern collectors.
The Graf Zeppelin aircraft was later grounded when the Hindenburg exploded on May 6, 1937. However, during its service, the Graf established an incredible performance record. It made 590 flights, including 144 ocean crossings, and covered more than one million miles. It carried over 13,000 passengers and 235,300 pounds of mail and freight.