Page 535 - Jarvis & Wright: Jamaica Display to RPSL
P. 535
Jamaica: Air Mail
Rates to Mainland Europe
Zeppelin Flight
Kingston via Lakehurst, USA (12 May 1936) to England at 2s2d Rate
DELAG, Zeppelins – First Acceptance Hindenburg
Deutsche Luftschiffahrt Aktien Gesellschaft was founded in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany,
by Count Zeppelin on November 16, 1909.
The Hindenburg (LZ129) had its trial flight on 4 March 1936 and flew to South America in April.
Backstamp
The first flight to North America was 6th to 9th May.
This cover was sent from Kingston (2 May 1936 ) to Lakehurst, USA,
then on the airship (12 May) to Frankfurt am Main, Germany (14 May) and finally to England.
The airship exploded at Lakehurst in May 1937.
Although frequently offered as “very rare”, circa 30 covers have now been recorded from Jamaica.
Postmaster Fletcher announced on 28 April 1936 that the Zeppelin air fee would be 2s2d to the UK.
This was an additional 1s6d on top of the normal airmail rate.
Despite the fact the cover travelled to the UK via Germany, the rate to Germany was charged at (2s7d = 1s1d + 1s6d), an extra 5d.
