A Historic Graf Zeppelin “Around The World Tour” Airmail Envelope

This is an airmail envelope that was sent from G. Schorke (Reuterstraße 1, Eisenach, Germany) to Mr. Lewis G. Wilson (336 Lisbon Avenue, Buffalo, New York) via Graf Zeppelin LZ 127 airmail across the Atlantic. It features three postage stamps, two in the value of 4 Reichsmarks, and one in the value of 2 Reichsmarks, that are validated with stamps bearing “Friedrichshafen, Bodensee, 15. Aug 29 - Luftpost”. The envelope also features a bright yellow “Mit Luftpost/Par Avion” (airmail) sticker, a “Mit Luftschiff LZ 127 bis Lakehurst” (With Airship LZ 127” stamp, and a bright pink stamp bearing “Luftschiff Graf Zeppelin - Weltrundfahrt 1929” (Airship Graf Zeppelin - Around the World Tour 1929) on the obverse. It features two additional green stamps bearing the time of arrival in Lakehurst New York at 9:30 am on August 29, 1929. Measuring 155 mm x 120 mm, cut open on the top; missing contents; near mint condition without creases or folds and only very minor signs of age.

Footnote: The Graf Zeppelin was a German passenger-carrying airship that was operated commercially from 1928 to 1937. When it entered service in late 1928, it was the first commercial passenger transatlantic flight service in the world. Passengers paid premium fares to fly onboard of the Zeppelin, while others who could not afford the airfare sent airmail. This envelope has postage stamps affixed in the value of 10 Reichsmarks - approximately USD $592 today (with inflation).