Gallery

Luftpost von und nach Danzig

Editor’s Note: Giles duBoulay has supplied us with a reference work of maximum interest for every Danzig collector. Most of us are familiar with the late Curt Michaelis’ two books on Flugpost von und nach Danzig. and they have proven invaluable, despite the language barrier. Finally, we are happy to announce the English translation of this work, and the first installment is below. In spite of our familiarity with the German edition, it wasn’t until we started to read the flowing text supplied by Giles that we could fully appreciate the tremendous value of his labors. He has appended some of the text with notes in italics within brackets; if we feel the need for clarification, we will use notes within vertical brackets, for differentiation. One last point: it seems best to try to reproduce the original illustrations from Herr Michaelis’ text; however, we may add new covers or drawings if they appear to be appropriate. Thanks again to the translator, Giles du Boulay!
AIRMAIL TO AND FROM DANZIG by Curt Michaelis
PART I

Foreword
The collection of covers has always augmented the collection of postage stamps of the former Free State of Danzig. Indeed the airmail collector has a particular interest in covers and this does not just apply to the Danzig collector of these but also to airmail collectors generally whose collections may include the representation of Danzig as only one part. For this reason I would like to apologise for the fact that various matters are dealt with here that are familiar to the Danzig collector, but for him nevertheless, many new items of interest and information are offered.

When the question of covers arises here, this conjures up for the airmail collector the idea of a genuinely flown item, hopefully correctly franked, which can be included in his collection.Unfortunately it was only for some 14 years (1921 to 1934) that use of the so-called airmail forwarding endorsement handstamps could constitute evidence that an item actually was flown. Correct franking is established as far as possible with the help of postal tariff tables.

Loose cancelled airmail stamps from the inflation period, which prevailed in Danzig at about the same time as it did in the German Reich, are predominantly found cancelled to order. When Danzig airmail stamps are separated from ordinary or registered letters it is extremely difficult even for the expertiger to prove genuine usage. One must never remove stamps from airmail sendings (or let the expertiser do so) and a hopelessly overfranked envelope or card should be considered unfit for the album.

Just as it is difficult for loose stamps to be acceptable, examples of Michel numbers 177 to 180 on cover must above all have the designation “infla-echt” as proof of expertisation. Furthermore it is not easy to obtain flown covers bearing the last series of airmail stamps with the swastika watermark.

 

Danzig Report  Nr. 62 - January - February - March - 1989, Page 6.