Description:

HEINEN AIR YACHT MAIL
Two very rare covers with desirable Cape May postmarks, flown on the ‘family air yacht' designed by Zeppelin pilot Anton Heinen (1885-1959) in the form of a small-scale airship with a detachable gondola intended to operate as an automobile. This airship needed no ground crew and was capable of carrying four passengers as well as 100,000 letters. On October 4, 1930, the Air Yacht made its first flight with four passengers and a cargo of 600 special mail items. Of that group, 100 letters and 200 postcards were destined for one dealer who had a contract with Heinen for the exclusive Cape May postmark exhibited on both of the covers offered here. All other pieces of mail on board were simply postmarked for Atlantic City. Ironically, just one month after her maiden flight, the Heinen airship exploded. According to an article in TIME magazine, Nov. 3, 1930: ‘The engine refused to start, two young mechanics applied a compressed-air booster to ‘kick over' the sluggish pistons. Instantly the compressed-air tank and the engine burst, the explosion throwing the crew and their one passenger 40 ft. to the ground, wrecking the fore part of the gondola, scattering a shrapnel of splinters. Flames from the carburetor shot upward but burned out without igniting the hydrogen-filled bag..'. One cover bears an image of Heinen on verso. Overall very good, two pieces.

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March 27, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
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$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000