Set Date(s)
10 / 22 June 1912
Imperial Germany
Rhine and Main Airmail
MiNr. I
MiNr. II PF II
MiNr. III
MiNr. IV
MiNr. V
MiNr. VI
In 1912, the Hessen Royal Family hosted a “Postcard Week” for the purpose of raising funds for the Grossherzogliche Zentrale fur Mutter- und Sauglingsfursorge, a home for mothers and infants. The charity was originally scheduled to last from 10-16 June 1912, but was later extended to 23 June.
During the charity drive, there were a series of mail flights between Darmstadt, Frankfurt am Main, Mainz, Worms, and Offenbach. Funds were raised through the sale of six special semi-official airmail stamps and special airmail postcards.
The first three issues (MiNr. I-III) were the primary stamps used on the flights. For the last two days of the campaign, the “E.EL.P.” (Ex Est Luft Post) overprints (MiNr. V-VI) were used.
Mail Flight Routes
The flights were conducted by the airship Schwaben (LZ-10), piloted by Dr. Hugo Eckener, and the Gelber Hund, a biplane donated by August Euler, the first licensed pilot in Germany, and piloted by Lt. Ferdinand von Hiddessen.
Schwaben (LZ-10)
Gelber Hund
Numerous plate flaws exist, including that shown below on MiNr. II.
MiNr. II (left) & MiNr. II PF II (right)
Three types of standard postcards were use. Olive-gray cards are the most common, and are most commonly found with MiNr. I and II attached. Yellow-orange cards were used with a minimum of 1 Mark franking, and are therefore commonly found with the 1 Mark overprinted stamp (MiNr. IV). Finally, a series of 2,000 dark red cards was used, with each card bearing a serial number from 1 to 2,000. These cards required 3 Marks franking.
Additionally, beginning on 13 June, a series of six postcards bearing photos from the event was available for use.
Rhine and Main Airmail
MiNr. I
MiNr. II PF II
MiNr. III
MiNr. IV
MiNr. V
MiNr. VI
In 1912, the Hessen Royal Family hosted a “Postcard Week” for the purpose of raising funds for the Grossherzogliche Zentrale fur Mutter- und Sauglingsfursorge, a home for mothers and infants. The charity was originally scheduled to last from 10-16 June 1912, but was later extended to 23 June.
During the charity drive, there were a series of mail flights between Darmstadt, Frankfurt am Main, Mainz, Worms, and Offenbach. Funds were raised through the sale of six special semi-official airmail stamps and special airmail postcards.
The first three issues (MiNr. I-III) were the primary stamps used on the flights. For the last two days of the campaign, the “E.EL.P.” (Ex Est Luft Post) overprints (MiNr. V-VI) were used.
Mail Flight Routes
The flights were conducted by the airship Schwaben (LZ-10), piloted by Dr. Hugo Eckener, and the Gelber Hund, a biplane donated by August Euler, the first licensed pilot in Germany, and piloted by Lt. Ferdinand von Hiddessen.
Schwaben (LZ-10)
Gelber Hund
Numerous plate flaws exist, including that shown below on MiNr. II.
MiNr. II (left) & MiNr. II PF II (right)
Three types of standard postcards were use. Olive-gray cards are the most common, and are most commonly found with MiNr. I and II attached. Yellow-orange cards were used with a minimum of 1 Mark franking, and are therefore commonly found with the 1 Mark overprinted stamp (MiNr. IV). Finally, a series of 2,000 dark red cards was used, with each card bearing a serial number from 1 to 2,000. These cards required 3 Marks franking.
Additionally, beginning on 13 June, a series of six postcards bearing photos from the event was available for use.