1929 Graf Zeppelin LZ 127 Amerikafahrt Sieger 26A Delay Cachet Postcard For Sale

1929 Graf Zeppelin LZ 127 Amerikafahrt
Sieger 26A Delay Cachet Postcard
Berlin Viktoriapark View - Aborted 1st Transatlantic Attempt - Sieger Cataloged VarietyDESCRIPTIONThis postcard documents one of the most dramatic moments in Graf Zeppelin history...the airship's first, failed attempt to cross the Atlantic to America.
On May 16, 1929, LZ127 Graf Zeppelin departed Friedrichshafen bound for Lakehurst, New Jersey, under Dr. Hugo Eckener, but engine trouble the following day forced a diversion and landing at Toulon-Cuers, in the south of France, and the crossing was scrubbed. he airship and its passengers returned safely to Germany by rail while the airship itself was flown back to Friedrichshafen for repairs, and the mail already loaded aboard for the flight, including this card, had to wait there for the next opportunity.That opportunity came on August 1, 1929, when Graf Zeppelin finally departed on the actual first Amerikafahrt, arriving in Lakehurst on August 5.Before being forwarded, the held mail was struck with a red boxed cachet reading "Beforderung verzogert wegen Abbruch der 1. Amerikafahrt," translating to "Delivery delayed due to abort of the 1st America flight," and it carries the blue onboard confirmation cachet for the 1.Amerikafahrt 1929 alongside the standard 2 Reichsmark Zeppelin airmail stamp (Michel 423, Scott C36), first issued in 1928 for use on Zeppelin flight mail and depicting the airship over a globe, tied by the "Friedrichshafen Bodensee Luftpost" circular datestamp, one of only two dedicated Zeppelin airmail postmarks used at Friedrichshafen during this era.This exact combination, a card intended for the aborted May flight, held at Friedrichshafen, delay-stamped, and finally flown out in August, is catalogued as Sieger 26A, a specifically named and documented variety distinct from (and scarcer than) a standard flown Amerikafahrt cover from the same year.The Smithsonian National Postal Museum holds a directly comparable example in its own collection, carrying the identical blue confirmation cachet, the same 2 Reichsmark stamp, and the same red delay overprint, underscoring how this type of piece is recognized and preserved by institutional collections, not just dealers.This example carries a New York receiver postmark dated August 5, 1929, confirming the mail's eventual delayed arrival in the U.S., and is addressed to Western Philatelists, 6021 Harper Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, a nice period touch as the recipient was a contemporary stamp dealer receiving the card close to the event.Aborted and delayed flight covers occupy their own niche within Zeppelin philately, sought after by specialists who collect the story of the flight as much as the postage.The picture side of the card is a period "Berlin - Viktoriapark mit Wasserfall" view, a hand-tinted scene of the park's artificial waterfall in western Berlin, giving this piece the added appeal of a genuine period Ansichtskarte rather than a plain mailing cover. The image has been scanned at 600dpi so every detail is preserved for your records.Every effort is made toward fact checking and provenance, including background research through news and historical archives. If any listing is incorrect in any way and you're unsatisfied with the item, please connect with me and I'll make it right.Orders placed before Noon CDT ship same day via Ground Advantage with tracking. Returns accepted on all items exceeding $25 in cost. All shipments receive rigid, professional packaging, sealed and protected in acid free sleeves. Shipping is free and already built into the price, so the BIN price is exactly what you pay, no surprise shipping costs at checkout.CONDITIONThis card shows honest wear consistent with its 96 years of age and its actual postal use. On the address side there is a visible crease running diagonally through the lower right portion of the card, crossing through part of the typed address (Harper Avenue, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.), along with a small corner bend at the upper left edge.The picture side has a thin vertical crease/bend running through the lower half of the image through the pond area, and a small area of surface paper loss on the left edge roughly a third of the way down.The 2 Reichsmark stamp, blue onboard confirmation cachet, red delay cachet, and all postmarks remain fully legible and bright with no fading, and the card retains good overall color and contrast. Sold as is per the photos, please review all images closely as they are part of the description.