Antwort auf: LZ127 in Sevilla 1930

Dear Alfred & Klaus,

Yet another extraordinary piece you (Alfred) are treating us on: from Canal Zone 15th May to La Habana 16th May. Then to Sevilla where it arrived on 4th June, in time to board the LZ127 on 5th June, and to arrive in Friedrichshafen on 6th June. As far as I understand it, it must have been waiting in Habana until 29th May, when it became clear that the wind did not allow the LZ127 to land there. At least that is what I understand from Eckener’s story. Then, only airmail could get it to Spain within the six days left, I guess. Or there must have been a ship leaving for Spain precisely then. Alternatively, it could have been decided earlier on that they would not wait for the Zeppelin anyway. Whatever, an incredible example of postal cooperation and efficiency. I seem to understand that the oval ‘Mit Luftschiff…’ was applied afterwards. I guess this was put on board and on only a few pieces, for some reason or other, or just at random? I have it on a card that ended in Friedrichshafen, like your Panama letter, and also on one that went off in Sevilla.

I did see that your great 13 – 15 May airmail series card was sent by an American Briefmarkenhändler. Would you think that Correos did send new issues to stamp dealers weeks before they were actually at the post office tellers? Then, of course, it could have been prestamped before it was sent to Meister.

Now a point that still relates to the original thread, the Sevilla mail of April 1930. We know that no Spanish mail was taken back on the L127. Schier, in his handbook on Spanish philately (2011) rightly observes that no Spanish mail was taken on board since it was late. He then says that mail for Germany was taken by plane. That seems to be right for the Berlin case at least: my card from Spain to Berlin has the familiar German cachet ‘Mit Luftpost … Berlin C2’. I guess that went straight with Lufthansa, but only because there was a direct air connection. A lot of the rest of the mail was sent via Paris, I guess by train ending at Gare du Nord, then going to the airport (Avion). This included mail to smaller German destinations like Leipzig as well, as in the case of Klaus’ beautiful flamenco card. My impression is that this did not only concern mail from Spain, but also some pieces that were already on board. Klaus’ Nothilfe card must have been on board in Friedrichshafen and went back to Teplice nevertheless via Paris (19/4) and Berlin (19/4). Maybe it was offloaded because it said ‘CSR’. I have a letter (see Anhaenge) that has a An Bord cancel 16th April on the blue 2 RM Zeppelin stamp, and the Sevilla Aereo 16th April cancel. It has a return address in Deisenhofen near Munchen but it does not say ‘Deutschland’ or ‘Alemania’ on the envelop. Someone has written ‘Germany’ on it afterwards (in English!). It has also travelled via Paris (19/4) and arrived in Munchen on 20 April. So maybe that was by mistake then. Or was Munchen also too small? I think I am slowly but gradually getting there …

Viele Grüße,

Dik