Y2104

National Postal Museum

California Gold Rush Miner’s Letter

Collins Cover Announcement

ZEPPELIN COMPLETES TRIP AROUND WORLD

Aug. 29, 1929. The dirigible Graf Zeppelin completed a historic trip around the world today when she arrived at Lakehurst, New Jersey. The Graf Zeppelin's travel time of 21 days, seven hours and 26 minutes is a new record for round-the-world travel. Carrying 16 passengers and a crew of 37, the airship left Lakehurst in the early morning hours of August 8. She made only three stops on her 19,500-mile trip. mer first destination was her home base of Friedrich-shafen in Germany. From there she flew over Siberia to Japan, where she stopped at Tokyo, then westward over the Pacific to Los Angeles and on to Lakehurst, landing at 8:47 a.m.

National Postal Museum Series 

Classic stamps and Bar Code

This magnificent First Day Cover is the initial piece in what promises to be a truly spectacular four-part set of hand-painted COLLINS cachets. It is early morning at Lakehurst on August 29, 1929. That magnificent dirigible air ship--the Graf Zeppelin--is coming in for a landing upon completion of its record-setting, around-the-world flight. The bright morning sky reflects the sunlight from passing clouds and from the gigantic airship which spans the entire length of the cover. It hovers over the landing strip with lines dropped to the ground crew below. Nearby, two open-door hangers give a sense of scale .and dimension to the enormity of this state-of-the-art flying luachine. Truly a wonderful hand-painted caLhet.

Pictured on the new stamp are several classic U.S, stamps including one of the famous "Zepps". This was the inspiration for my COLLINS cachet and, without a doubt, my goal was achieved in creating a superb FDC that captures the allure and fascination that are the "Zepps" to all stamp collectors. And, the best part is that not only does this COLLINS stand alone, but it is but the first of four in this National Postal Museum series and still to come are my covers for the other three.

The First Day postmark is from Washington, D.C. Share a moment in history with the Graf Zeppelin. Item #Y2104. $10.75.