Lot
1871 
Germany, 1937 Hindenburg crash cover. Registered cover addressed to Kurt Pretzner to in Jersey City, bearing Airmail 1936, 75pf Hindenburg pair and additional portion of second pair as well as small portion of Regular Issue 50pf von Hindenburg, tied by Wehlen cds's, red German Zeppelin flight cachet at upper left and registry etiquette, original enclosure and a couple original paper clips attached, contained in original cellophane envelope with Post Office Department Official Seal label, Very Fine, a wonderful and historical registered Zeppelin flight cover from the Hindenburg crash of May 6th, 1937, Sieger DM17,500; with 1996 A.P.S. certificate. AAMC No. 37.3. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
The German zeppelin Hindenburg made sixty-three flights, including ten roundtrips to the United States in 1936. It met tragedy May 6, 1937. Attempting to land at Lakehurst, New Jersey, the giant airship burst into flames near the mooring mast. In only thirty-two seconds, the zeppelin was smoldering wreckage. Postal officials salvaged approximately 358 pieces from the 17,609 estimated pieces of mail on the flight. Of these, 176 salvaged items were unburned, with a few exceptions.
Realized: $12,000