VOL . XXVII, NUMBER 5 SEPTEMBER 200 1 American Helvetia Philatelic Society METERED SWISS ZEPPELIN MAIL by Michael Pete r Recently, metered mail, especially from treaty states, that flew on the Zeppelins has become very much in demand . Perhaps articles by Doug Kelsey in Linn's (12/98 and 8/99) hav e increased the awareness of these difficul t to find pieces of mail. One of the reasons metere d Zeppelin mail is difficult to find is the fact that the majority of this mail was commercial in nature . This caused th e mail to be thrown away upon receipt. Another reason was the letters did no t appear to have very much philatelic (collectible) interest due to the letter no t having adhesive stamps . This also resulted in the mail ending up in the Figure 1 . Earliest known Swiss metered Zeppelin cover trash . German metered mail is the most common and is relatively easy to find . Metered mai l that flew on the Zeppelin exists from most treaty states, but treaty state metered mail is ver y scarce . Recent auction prices for treaty state mail reflect the scarcity of this mail . In the Kohler 1/01 auction, philatelic Hungarian items fetched DM 3000+ and in the Felzmann 3/01 auction a Swiss commercial item DM 1100, and Netherlands items DM 900 - 1100 . Machine franking was not officially allowed until the third South American Flight of 1932 . Acceptances prior to this flight can be found, but are extremely rare ; a German metered letter from the 1930 Pan-American Flight was sold at the Felzmann auction (3/01) for DM 4800 . Other acceptances before this flight have been seen, where the letter was returned to sender without being flown due to the machine franking . Thus, it is my belief that prior to the thir d South American flight of 1932, any mail in existence that bears machine franking slippe d through without detection. It should be remembered that the sale of adhesive stamps helpe d finance the flights of the Graf Zeppelin (the US Zeppelin set and the Polar Flight come to mind) . The sale of adhesives also benefited the Zeppelin Co . because they received a portion of th e franking toward their endeavors with the airship . In 1932 the German government began encouraging businesses to export goods around the world . They needed money to support their military machine. In addition, the Flights to South America in 1930-1931 were demonstratio n flights to show the "Graf' as a viable way to transport mail . Beginning in 1932 regular scheduled flights to South America took place and with these flights the Zeppelin Co . needed and wanted commercial mail. With the government wanting more exports and in order t o increase commercial mail usage on the "Graf', a postal bulletin specifically addressing metered mail was issued . Thus, beginning with the third 1932 South America Flight, machine frankin g was specifically permitted : (continued on page 15) Contents American Helvetia Philatelic Society Metered Swiss Zeppelin Mail 1 Officers 2001-2002 President's Musings 2 Last Update before SESCAL 3 ELECTED OFFICERS APPOINTED OFFICERS AHPS Seminar at SESCAL 3 President TELL Editor World War II Mail from Switzerland, Part 9 4 David E. Durham George Strubl e Update on Swiss Post International 12 149 Ontario St . 210 18th St. NE Honeoye Falls, NY 14472-1139 Salem, OR 97301-431 6 Home : 716-624-5575 Home : 503-364-3929 Copyright 2001, The American Helvetia Philatelic Society (AHPS) . E-mail : dedur@juno .com E-mail : TELL (ISSN 1042-2072) is the official journal of the American [email protected] Helvetia Philatelic Society, affiliate #52 of the American Philateli c Past Presiden t Society and a member of the Union of Swiss Philatelic Societies . James A . Anderson TELL Associate Editor TELL is published bimonthly (Jan/Mar/May/Jul/Sep/Nov) . 14463 E. Wagontrail Pl. Steven S . Weston Aurora, CO 80015 P.O . Box 86 8 Opinions expressed in this journal are those of the authors an d Home : 303-617-7836 Del Mar CA 92014-086 8 are not necessarily endorsed by AHPS or the Editor . jamesaanderson@home .com 760-752-781 2 Letters and articles on Swiss, Liechtenstein, UN Geneva an d related philately are welcome and should be sent to the Editor . Vice-President Circuit Sales Manager Whenever possible, submit material on 3 .5" PC computer William R. Lucas Emil L. Tobler diskettes or by e-mail in plain text or as a Microsoft Wor d 8912 Pinnacle Peak Rd ., P.O. Box 2 6 attachment . Illustrations are encouraged and may be submitte d PM Box 559 Bradford RI 02808 as full size photocopies ; or, we can copy/scan your original s Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Home : 401-377-223 8 (please contact the Editor before sending actual stamps, covers , Home : 480-342-973 9 etc.). Please include your name, address and telephone number. E-mail: [email protected] Auction Manage r Gordon Trotter Subscriptions for 2000 include AHPS dues : North America, $20 ; Secretary & Librarian 10626 Fable Ro w by first class mail, $25 ; overseas air delivery, $30 . Reques t Richard T . Hall Columbia, MD 2104 4 membership applications from the Secretary . Change-of- P.O. Box 15053 Phone : 410-730-793 6 Address should be sent to the Secretary. Asheville, NC 28813 Fax: 410-740-721 5 Home phone : 828-681-0581 E-mail : trotters@erols .com E-mail : rtravis@alum .mit.edu My apologies for again postponing Auction Publicity Chairma n 120 Prices Realized to the next issue . Treasure r Awards Chairman Sometimes the jigsaw pieces just don't fit ! Frank Young Harlan F. Stone 426 N Bellinger St . P.O. Box 77033 4 Meanwhile, I will send them to anyone wh o Herkimer, NY 13350 Woodside NY 1137 7 requests them . - Ed. Home : 315-867-570 5 Home : 718-478-237 4 E-mail : hfstone@rcn .com Regional Director Wes t PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Donn Luec k Slide Chairman P. O . Box 1158 2 Richard W . Blaney We're here to help you! ! Phoenix, AZ 8506 1 PO Box 1100 Home : 602-841-132 2 Easton MA 02334-1100 508-238-3134 by David E. Durham Regional Director Central Ralph Soderberg, M .D . No, we're not from the IRS or government 7 REPRESENTATIVE S P. O . Box 3606 Union of Swiss Philateli c agents, but we are a Society committed t o Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 : 313-885-4125 Societie s supporting your hobby of Swiss philately by (a) Home Ralph Soderberg providing information and knowledge and (b ) Regional Director East P.O . Box 3606 7 Helen Galatan-Ston e Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 4823 6 connecting you with resources . It is the P.O. Box 77033 4 Home : 313-885-412 5 second of these that I emphasize this month . Woodside NY 1137 7 Home : 718-478-237 4 American Philatelic Society 1. Use our advertisers . Dealers who are repre- E-mail : hfstone@rcn .com Ernest L . Bergman sented in TELL have been known to us for, a Plan to attend/exhibit at thes e 1421 Harris St . AHPS Conventions and shows : State College, PA 1680 3 long time and are honorable and fair persons . 814-238-0164 They do a fine job of filling those empty spots SESCAL October 5-7, 200 1 E-mail : [email protected] Los Angeles, CA in our collection or hunting up specific CHICAGOPEX November 200 2 Liechtenstein Study Grou p requests for you . BALPEX September 200 3 Chm: Ralph R .Schneide r Baltimore, M D P.O . Box 2304 9 2. Check our auctions carefully . Gordon Belleville IL 6222 3 Trotter puts a lot of effort into making them ROMPEX May 200 4 Denver, Colorad o interesting and understandable, and they are a Commercial advertising copy and rate inquiries should be sent simple resource for each of us - which tend t o to the Editor . Advertising deadlines are seven weeks prior to be under-utilized ! publication date : Jan . 10, Mar . 12, May 12, July 13, Sep . 12 , Nov. 13 . 3. Don't overlook our circuits! Emil, who is a Printed by Kettle Moraine Printing, West Bend WI 53095 . dealer himself, by the (continued on page 3) 2 TELL September 2001 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Rooms for each of these activities will be announced or posted . In addition, there will be (continued from page 2) way, has a lot available a Philatelic Rangers dinner Friday evening an d - but you won't know much about it unles s the awards dinner Saturday evening . you ask him what he has in material you ar e s looking for . Incidentally, circuit sales is also a It is not too late to make arrangement ; SESCAL will be at good way to sell off things you want to divest . to attend SESCAL yourself 4. Specialists. Have you a particular subdi- Radisson Los Angeles Airport Hotel vision of Swiss interests such as revenu e 6225 W . Century Blvd. stamps, hotel issues, standing Helvetias , Los Angeles, CA 9004 5 postal history? We can put you in touch wit h 310-670-900 0 specialists in many fields . Ask for the SESCAL rate ; it is $95 per night; 5. Get answers through the "Meanderings" . I the rooms are 100% remodeled this year . The think the most recent and helpful addition to hotel has shuttles to and from the airpor t our TELL has been Dick Halls's "Meanderings " (LAX) . column! Got a question? Write Dick! He will There may still be space for more Swis s seek out an answer for you, if he can.