German Graf Zeppelin Airmail Issues
May 26, 2015 15:28:30 GMT -5
kacyds, Gordon Lee, and 7 more like this
Post by PostmasterGS on May 26, 2015 15:28:30 GMT -5
I haven't posted anything educational lately, so here's another history/philatelic lesson from the collection -- courtesy of one of the most popular German series.
Initial Issue -- MiNr 423 & 424
On 20 September 1928, Germany issued its first set of airmail stamps depicting the Graf Zeppelin, L.Z.127, flying over the Earth.
These stamps have a horizontal waffle watermark (Michel Wmk 2Y), though at very rare copies of the 4 RM value are known to exist with vertical watermark (Wmk 2X).
The 2 RM stamp covered the postage for cards sent to America, and the 4 RM stamp covered the cost of covers to the same.
1st Südamerikafahrt -- MiNr 438 & 439.
On 26 April 1930, Germany introduced a new special issue for the first South American flight of L.Z. 127. The first South American flight left Friedrichshafen on 15 May 1930, for stops in Sevilla, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Lakehurst, Sevilla, and returning to Friedrichshafen.
These issues can be found with either vertical (Wmk 2X) or horizontal (Wmk 2Y) waffle watermarks.
Addition to the Basic Set -- MiNr 455
In May 1931, a new L.Z.127 stamp was introduced at a lower value of 1 RM. This value was primarily used on shorter European flights, or as supplemental postage on longer voyages. It's cataloged by Scott as part of the initial, unoverprinted set, but separately by Michel.
Unlike the other unoverprinted issues, the 1 RM value is found with a vertical waffle watermark (Wmk 2X).
1931 Polarfahrt -- MiNr 456-458
On 10 July 1931, Germany issued another L.Z.127 overprint, this time on the occasion of the L.Z.127's flight to the North Pole. The polar flight left Friedrichshafen on 24 July 1931, with stops in Berlin-Staaken, Leningrad, Franz-Josef-Land, Berlin-Tempelhof, and returning to Friedrichshafen.
These issues can be found with the vertical waffle watermark (Wmk 2X).
Chicagofahrt -- MiNr 496-498
These issues can be found with the vertical waffle watermark (Wmk 2X).
Forgeries
Because of the popularity of zeppelin stamps, forgeries of these issues are common. The easiest way to distinguish the originals is the watermark.
Vertical (2X) and Horizontal (2Y) Waffle Watermarks
In addition, the most common forgeries use line perforation rather than comb, which can be distinguished by the appearance of the corner perforations.
Comb (left) versus line (right) perforation
Also, if looking at a high-quality scan, there are also noticeable differences in the printing quality of originals and forgeries.
Initial Issue -- MiNr 423 & 424
On 20 September 1928, Germany issued its first set of airmail stamps depicting the Graf Zeppelin, L.Z.127, flying over the Earth.
These stamps have a horizontal waffle watermark (Michel Wmk 2Y), though at very rare copies of the 4 RM value are known to exist with vertical watermark (Wmk 2X).
The 2 RM stamp covered the postage for cards sent to America, and the 4 RM stamp covered the cost of covers to the same.
1st Südamerikafahrt -- MiNr 438 & 439.
On 26 April 1930, Germany introduced a new special issue for the first South American flight of L.Z. 127. The first South American flight left Friedrichshafen on 15 May 1930, for stops in Sevilla, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Lakehurst, Sevilla, and returning to Friedrichshafen.
These issues can be found with either vertical (Wmk 2X) or horizontal (Wmk 2Y) waffle watermarks.
Addition to the Basic Set -- MiNr 455
In May 1931, a new L.Z.127 stamp was introduced at a lower value of 1 RM. This value was primarily used on shorter European flights, or as supplemental postage on longer voyages. It's cataloged by Scott as part of the initial, unoverprinted set, but separately by Michel.
Unlike the other unoverprinted issues, the 1 RM value is found with a vertical waffle watermark (Wmk 2X).
1931 Polarfahrt -- MiNr 456-458
On 10 July 1931, Germany issued another L.Z.127 overprint, this time on the occasion of the L.Z.127's flight to the North Pole. The polar flight left Friedrichshafen on 24 July 1931, with stops in Berlin-Staaken, Leningrad, Franz-Josef-Land, Berlin-Tempelhof, and returning to Friedrichshafen.
These issues can be found with the vertical waffle watermark (Wmk 2X).
Chicagofahrt -- MiNr 496-498
These issues can be found with the vertical waffle watermark (Wmk 2X).
Forgeries
Because of the popularity of zeppelin stamps, forgeries of these issues are common. The easiest way to distinguish the originals is the watermark.
Vertical (2X) and Horizontal (2Y) Waffle Watermarks
In addition, the most common forgeries use line perforation rather than comb, which can be distinguished by the appearance of the corner perforations.
Comb (left) versus line (right) perforation
Also, if looking at a high-quality scan, there are also noticeable differences in the printing quality of originals and forgeries.
