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 Barry Hepsley | Home > Airlines of the Rest Of the World > 
Germany Zeppelins
The earliest passenger carrying aircraft in Germany were the Zeppelins. On 16 November 1909 Deutsche Luftschiffahrts AG, commonly known as DELAG, was founded to operate passenger flights around Germany. There were a number of the early passenger carrying Zeppelins. I tried to get a nice Real Photo postcard for each of the early Zeppelins. The most famous of the Zeppelins were the Graf Zeppelin and the Hindenburg. Because of its flight around the world the Graf Zeppelin probably has more postcards than all the other Zeppelins combined. I have a small number of postcards showing the Graf Zeppelin visiting other cities around the world. Stamped covers that flew on the Zeppelins are highly collected with many rarities. Most of the postcards are reasonably priced.
Album by Barry Hepsley. 1 - 63 of 63 Total. 2173 Visits.
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Deutschland LZ 7
Deutsche Luftschiffahrts AG (DELAG) was formed in 1909 to carry passengers and is considered the world's first airline. Service began in 1910 with this aircraft.

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Deutschland LZ 7
This Black & White litho postcard was Made by F. M. K. in 1910. It has their number 320.

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Schwaben LZ 10
A great view of the Schwaben over a crowd of people. The card was written on by a person who was there. "We saw this in Germany!. The Schwaben entered service in 1911.

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Schwaben LZ 10
This Real Photo postcard was made by Knastyerlag H. & F. Sachse of Frankfort.

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Schwaben LZ 10
Another view of the Schwaben in the air.

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Schwaben LZ 10
A Real Photo postcard by an unknown local photographer. There is a number on the back: 3787.

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Victoria Luise LZ 11
The Victoria Louise went into service in 1912. By the end of its civil service in 1914 it had carried 2995 paid passengers.

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Victoria Luise LZ 11
A real Photo postcard made by Römmler's Original-Flugpostkartenvertrieb of Spremburg, Germany.

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Hansa LZ 13
The Hanza was very similar to the Victoria Louise. It was put into service in 1912 and by the summer of 1916 it had carried 2187 paid passengers.

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Hansa LZ 13
A Real Photo postcard by A. v. Zychlinski of Hamburg. The card is numbered 6336.

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Sachen LZ 17
Slightly larger than the Hansa and Victoria Louise the Sachen carried 24 passengers. It was the last of the zeppelins used for passenger service prior to WWI. By the summer of 1914 it had carried 2465 paid passengers.

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Sachen LZ 17
Another Real Photo postcard by A. v. Zychliaski of Hamburg. Ir hs the number 6540.

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Bodensee LZ 120
After WWI Delag started passenger service again with the Bodensee in 1919. It was the first zeppelin to have a single cabin structure on the underside of the hull accommodating both passengers and crew. It was 80 feet long.

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Bodensee LZ 120
Dated 1919 on the front of the card this Real Photo postcard was made by Graph. Abteilung der Luftschiffbau-Zeppelin of Friedrichhafen.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
Visitors examining the Graf Zeppelin inside the hanger.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
A Real Photo postcard by Metz of Tübingen. He did a series of Real Photo postcards with 152 K numbers. this one is 152 K27.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
The Graf Zeppelin entering the hanger with a large crowd watching.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
Another Real Photo postcard by Metz. This one has the number 152K 56.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
A viewer inside the hanger with the Graf Zeppelin entering.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
A Real Photo postcard by Weber & Co. of Stuttgart. He did a number of postcards of the Graf Zeppelin. This one is number 61192.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
A great image of the Graf Zeppelin coming out of the hanger in Friedrichshafen with a large crowd in attendance.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
A Real Photo postcard made by an unknown local photographer. There is a number 807 26. The writing on the back has the date of 25 May 1931.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
The Graf Zeppelin over the Bodensee, known in English as Lake Constance.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
A real Photo postcard by Mar Mattes, of Stuttgart. No. 63278. The card has a clear postmark of 17 Aug. 1934.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
The arrival of the Graf Zeppelin at Wein, Austria on 12 July 1931.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
A Real Photo postcard by Universal-Photo-Verlag, Wien, Austria.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
The Graf Zeppelin arriving at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with the usual large crowd wherever it lands.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
This Real Photo postcard has Wessel with no other information on the back of the card. On the front of the card it says Direitos Preising Reservados 1462.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
Aerial view of the Graf Zeppelin visiting Hanworth, near London, in England.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
A Real Photo postcard printed in England with no other information on the back.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
The Graf Zeppelin moored at Frankfort, Germany. There are Olympic Rings on the side so the card must dated sometime before the Olympics in 1936.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
This Real Photo postcard was made by Kosmos of Stuttgart. No. 752.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
The Graf Zeppelin landing at an unknown location On the back of the card there is an "L" in front of the date. That together with the postmark from Leipzig would indicate the view is also from Leipzig.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
A Real Photo postcard by photographer Walter Hahn of Dresden, Germany.  No. 7812. Postmarked at Leipzig City in 1930.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
Close-up view of the Graf Zeppelin possibly taken at the same time as the previous card.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
An unused Real Photo postcard by Dresden photographer Walter Hahn. No. 7822. Walter Hahn also did a number of quality Real Photo cards of aircraft of the 1930's.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
The Graf Zeppelin flying over Bautzen, Germany.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
A Real Photo postcard by well known Dresden photographer Walter Hahn. No. 4506. Writing on the back dates the card to 1934.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
Great close-up view of the Graf Zeppelin moored at Los Angeles, California.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
A Real Photo postcard made by M. J. Ford of Long Beach, California.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
The Graf Zeppelin  moored In Los Angeles, California. The Goodyear blimp is shown near the nose of the Zeppelin.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
This Real Photo postcard was also made by M. J. Ford of Long Beach, California. DOPS stamp box on back.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
The arrival of the Graf Zeppelin at Lakehurst, New Jersey.

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Graf Zeppelin LZ 127
A Real Photo postcard by local photographer E. Metz. The card has a Defender stamp box on back.

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Hindenburg LZ 129 Under Construction

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Hindenburg LZ 129 Under Construction

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Hindenburg LZ 129 with the Graf Zeppelin above

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Hindenburg LZ 129 with the Graf Zeppelin above

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Hindenburg LZ 129 at Friedrichshafen Base 1a

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Hindenburg LZ 129 at Friedrichshafen Base 1b

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Hindenburg LZ 129 View of Interior Cabin

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Hindenburg LZ 129 View of Interior Cabin

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Hindenburg LZ 129 at Lakehurst, NJ, United States 1a

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Hindenburg LZ 129 at Lakehurst, NJ, United States 1b

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European Transport Aircraft since 1910

 
   
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