Gallery

 

then it was returned to the sender.

This arrangement is just as possible nowadays as it was then, but it was more usual in those days and postal stationery cards were produced for this very purpose. It is also possible and indeed was permissible, to send postcards with postage-stamps affixed for the return of the corresponding reply card with the manuscript endorsement “Antwortkarte” (reply paid). Thus arose a mixed franking with postage-stamps of two countries. It was even possible to attach a card to a letter for the reply and this was marked for this purpose.

All these possibilities are no longer with us today inasmuch as within the combined administration of the Universal Postal Union it was soon determined that the validity of these should be brought to an end.

What was not valid but quite normal under the prevailing regulations, was the unseparated return sending of the reply portion from the message portion of the card. In one such case the levy of a postage fee was arranged. Naturally such cards still slipped through with both parts used and still joined together.

Thus arose in those days fully permissible mixed frankings that have become today very attractive and interesting collector’s objects for the airmail collector. Also for Danzig there are covers and cards both ways
from Danzig to abroad and returned by airmail
from abroad to Danzig and returned by airmail.

Notes on the history of the airmail
In different places in this little book I have already given some short historical notes. Unfortunately source material for this topic is scarce or scattered among unattainable sources. So perhaps the most important source placed at our disposal is the Official Gazette of the Danzig State Postal Authority.

As mentioned already under “Forerunners” there was in Danzig quite an early movement of interest in aviation, even going so far as actual sendirigs of post by aeroplane which must have disappeared during the course of time. Firstly in 1919 Danzig witnessed a shortlived official airmail association. During the railway strike at least some ‘etters were known to have been forwarded to their addressees on 11th November 1919 on a flight from Berlin to Rönigsberg vie Schnejdemühl and Danzig. The opportunity was taken to send mail on the return flight on 12th November. Unfortunately all sendings are without special marks. Even the designation “Flugpost” is missing for the most part, as previously transmission by aeroplane was unknown. However it is true that on the return flight several sendings carry this endorsement. Thus the only remaining distinguishing feature will often be simply the datestamped franking.

In 1920 Danzig began to participate in international airmail commerce. but not to Germany. Only sendings to the Netherlands, Great Britain and Denmark were allowed. The first flight was ready to take place on 16th January 1920 and was from Danzig to Hönigsberg and then back to Danzig before going on to Stettjn and Berlin. Covers from this flight are ver’ rare. Furthermore they do not bear airmail stamps, as these were first issued on 29th September, This was of course still by way of a trial

 

Danzig Report Vol. 1 - Nr. 63 - April - May - June - 1989, Page 21.