Commercial Mail on the 1930 Flight – THE REAL THING!

Introduction

One of the main disputes among Zeppelin collectors, is the category “commercial covers” (the philatelic equivalent of religion/politics at family gatherings). At least in the case of the covers franked with Brazilian stamps, one can set up a set of quantitative rules for the 1930 flight. The Brazilian segment proves to be a special case, due to two factors. The first being, since no “official” stamps were issued, covers carried the special “semi-private” Condor/Zeppelin stamps and the normal Brazilian postal stamps for the surface rate to the destination (note: this also holds true for the Argentine case too). The second factor is that while most participating countries held the maximum weight to the minimum of a few grams, the Condor/Zeppelin rates allowed extra heavy letters (see Rates elsewhere on this site). Additionally comes the fact that while the Brazilian rates were per 20 grams, the Zeppelin rates were per 10 grams. This last factor lends to setting up criteria that allow a quantitative analysis of any given cover.

The Rules of the Road

The most obvious, and definite proof of a cover having been commercial in purpose, is that the original letter is still enclosed. They actually do, occasionally, exist and a few are in my collection. Two great examples are displayed below, covers and contents. The first letter, by a Mr. Leonard Ludwin will gain in importance further down because of a second Ludwin cover with a very firm connection to a commercial enterprise. The second letter, something for movie topical collectors, is definitely commercial with its latest revenue numbers for a new hit movie, something that would be important enough, to justify the extra postage cost by sending it via Zeppelin.

Here a letter is sent to a lawyer friend, recounting his bout with malaria and some possible future legal work.

This case, a letter to the boss in New York. A Paramount Studios representative in South America, relating the “Love Parade” movie revenues. In Brazil, circa $62,500, and $106,000 in Argentina. In those days, not a trivial sum. Even my father-in-law remembered this movie, and that a ticket plus bus fare and a coke, only cost about 0$200 at the time.

Of course this case is the easiest, and, unfortunately, about as rare as hen's teeth.

The next possibility is where the cover has more than the usual # of Zeppelin stamps on it and the Brazilian postage is also in excess of the simple basic rate for that destination. Remember we're in 1930 in the middle of the depression, if a 5$000 stamp equals, roughly, 65¢, no one is that rich to splurge unless he's rich enough that he wants a complete set on cover (over $4). The best example I've seen and am fortunate to have in my collection is a letter that was send from Brazil to the main office of an USA insurance agency and obviously held a swath of documents. Shown below and described else where in detail (Rates). The 80$000 Zeppelin is for up to 80 grams, and the 900 Reis Brazilian also covers that amount. At this point, I can demonstrate a further three examples that would fit this definition nicely.

> three more examples

In the case of the first cover, taped all over the place, appears to have carried something like documents. The envelope seems to have just barely survived the transport. Important is that the total Zeppelin franking is for 30 grams. The Brazilian part, 800 Reis, is for 40 grams - being 500 for the first 20 and 300 for the next 20 grams. The postage on the envelope is consistent with an envelope containing 30 grams sent to Europe (Holland in this case).

The next cover, with a pair of blue 20$000, for be for up to 40grams. The Brazilian postage (in steps of 20 grams) would still be the same as for the previous cover. The 700 violet + 100 green adds up to the required 800 Reis in postage.

The third cover, with destination Hamburg is a little problematic. It is basically the same situation as the first cover of the group, but where the sender added the green 5$000 to “complete the set”. But in any case, the extra weight postage for the Zeppelin and Brazilian part indicates that this envelope was also carrying something else, i. e. not purely philatelically inspired.

The third possibility is nicely demonstrated by a second Ludwin cover displayed below, where the reverse of the envelope holds a surprise and, at the same time, a valuable clue.

The Zeppelin postage is for a 20 gram letter, the Brazilian part (only the 300 counts here) is for the same amount for a letter to the USA. That the back was sealed with wax would implicate that something important was inside (registry wasn't allowed on this flight) and indicate a heavier content with the extra Zeppelin postage then being necessary. But just as interesting is the envelope itself, implying that Mr. Ludwin was in Brazil on a business trip for GLAC. Great Lakes Aircraft Corporation (GLAC) was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1929 and used the facilities of the old Martin Aircraft Company in Cleveland. In 1936 the depression caused the company to fold. Yet, one of their main products were float/pontoon planes, an obvious competitor for Dornier and the others. It would be inferred that Mr. Ludwin was involved in trying to break into the South American market. Thus a souvenir of a now defunct company in its heydays.