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#MA2108

1933 Graf Zeppelin Flight Cover

$269.00

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Baby Zepp Cover Celebrates World’s Fair Flight –
Add One to Your Collection

The Graf Zeppelin stamps are favorites among collectors, and the Century of Progress “Baby Zepp” is no exception.  Now you can own this popular but scarce stamp on cover.  This cover flew aboard the famous Graf Zeppelin airship during its flight to the Chic...  more

Baby Zepp Cover Celebrates World’s Fair Flight –
Add One to Your Collection

The Graf Zeppelin stamps are favorites among collectors, and the Century of Progress “Baby Zepp” is no exception.  Now you can own this popular but scarce stamp on cover.  This cover flew aboard the famous Graf Zeppelin airship during its flight to the Chicago Century of Progress Exhibition, known as the Chicago World’s Fair.  The postmarks on the cover is evidence of this historic flight.  They include a Graf Zeppelin Flight postmark and one from a special post office set up at the exhibition.  It’s a neat piece of history.

The Story behind the “Baby Zepp” stamps and Graf Zeppelin Flight

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, 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.

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 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.

 

This flight cover is a reminder of that history-making flight.  Bearing the scarce Baby Zepp, it will become a showpiece of your collection.  We only have a few in stock, so order yours today.

 
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