This is a 1980 German commemorative souvenir card celebrating the 50th anniversary of the historic 1930 LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin Pan-America Flight.
Year of Issue: 1980.
Producer: Philatelistisches Büro Rau, Friedrichshafen.
Cancel Date & Location: Postmarked Essen 1 on Nov 19, 1980.
Special Markings: Features two strikes of a special pictorial cancel from the 3rd International Stamp Fair in Essen ("3. Internationale Briefmarken-Messe"), with text commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the LZ 127 America Flight.
Design: Includes a photographic image of the Graf Zeppelin in the hangar at Lakehurst, New Jersey, alongside a red printed map detailing the 1930 Europe-Pan-America Round Flight route.
Postage: 5 Pfennig Deutsche Bundespost satellite stamp.
In May 1930, the LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin undertook its famous Pan-American flight, creating a pioneering transatlantic triangular route. Departing from Friedrichshafen, Germany, the airship traveled to Seville, Spain, then crossed the South Atlantic to Pernambuco and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. From there, it flew north to Lakehurst, New Jersey, before returning to Germany via Seville. This monumental journey marked the first commercial nonstop passenger flight across the South Atlantic, further solidifying the Zeppelin's role in early global aviation history.
This one-sided card is a clean, well-struck example for collectors of Zeppelin topicals, aviation history, or German commemorative philately.