Graf Zeppelin 1930 First Germany - Brazil - US Flight with US C13 - C14 -C15

Description

Cover flown via airship Graf Zeppelin for the complete voyage for the first transatlantic flight from Germany to Brazil and on to US in 1930. This flight proved the viability of regular transatlantic passenger air service between Germany and Brazil and by Condor to all of South America. For this flight, the US produced three special postage stamps, one showing the Graf Zeppelin flying eastwards over the sea toward Europe, one showing the airship traveling westward over a map of the Atlantic from Friedrichshafen, Germany to its western hemisphere destinations and the final design depicting the Graf Zeppelin flying over the Earth, which the airship had circumnavigated in 1929. This cover bears all three, (the total cost representing a significant sum during the great depression, which accounts for the scarcity of these stamps,) which took the cover by sea to Germany, then by Graf Zeppelin to each port of call for the entire flight before being delivered to the addressee. Obverse bears sharp, clear strike of special US cachet for this flight, showing route of the ship carrying American mail to Europe for the Graf Zeppelin to carry to Sevilla, Spain, on to Recife de Pernambuco, to Rio de Janeiro, back to Recife, on to Lakehurst, New Jersey and then back to Friedrichshafen, Germany and the special German cachet created for this flight showing the Graf overflying Rio. Cover was posted in New York on April 29, 1930. Reverse bears Friedrichshafen back stamp of June 6 and green US machine cancel which includes a special cachet of the Graf for the Europe-Pan America flight. The Graf Zeppelin would make three more flights to Brazil in 1931 and inaugurate regular passenger service beginning in 1932, continuing until cessation of service following loss of the Hindenburg in 1937.
Exquisite condition. Thanks for looking at this and my other auctions.
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