OFFICIAL POSTCARDS
(1926)
This page was last updated
16-Sep-2026 04:37
P168
OFFICIAL LUFTPOSTKARTE
15Rpf
BACKGROUND: Issued in 1926 but now featuring a 15Pf, lilac Airmail stamp inscribed 'DEUTSCHES LUFTPOST' on the vertical sides of the stamp. The postcard measures 148 x 105mm. This card is very similar to P169 only in this case there is only one line of sender text (P169 has 4 lines).
There were at least two private versions of this card.
P168
15 Rpf LUFTPOST
EXAMPLES FROM MY COLLECTION
MANNHEIM to FREIBURG
(27th Aug 1926)
This used postcard was sent from MANNHEIM to FREIBURG on 27th Aug 1926. There were only two airmail confirmation stamps used in Mannheim and they are listed in the Michel catalogue as F72-01 and -02 on page 528 of the catalogue. Each of these stamps exists in either red (a) or violet (b) ink. This paticular example is F72-01(a) and is inscribed "Mit Luftpost befördert | Flugpostamt | Postamt 2 Mannheim". The -02 version is similar except that it only has a single line either side of the word 'Flugpostamt', instead of the three lines on the -01. The font is also slightly different but the main difference is the number of lines.
The Flugplatzstempel (Airfield stamp) is inscribed "MANNHEIM | 7 | FLUGPLATZ" and is No A46-01(a) on page 498 of the Michel catalogue. There were five different version of airfield stamp used in Mannheim as well as a special slogan cancel.
MANNHEIM to KARLSRUHE
(31st May 1926)
Below is another example cancelled at MANNHEIM FLUGPLATZ, this time on 31st May 1926, with a final destination of PFORZHEIM.
NOTES:
(a) The departure handstamp is a Flugplatzstempel applied at MANNHEIM FLUGPLATZ on 31st May 1926. This stamp is 46/01(a), page 498 of the Michel catalogue [3]. The inscription reads "MANNHEIM | 7 | FLUGPLATZ" and exists in either black ink (a) or red ink (b).
(b) The upper violet rubber handstamp, F59-01(b), is a three-line violet confirmation stamp inscribed "Mit Luftpost | befördert | Karlsruhe (B) 2", which was used upon arrival in KARLSRUHE but it is not a true arrival stamp, it's a confirmation stamp used to indicate that the card really was carried by airmail. F59-01(a) is using red ink and F59-02(b) uses violet ink.
(c) The lower, red, two-line rubber stamp (Page 526 of the Michel Catalogue), is another confirmation stamp, this one inscribed "Mit Luftpost befördert | Karlsruhe (Baden) 1". This handstamp is catalogued as F59-02, (a) in red ink and (b) with violet ink.
BRESLAU to DRESDEN
(2nd Aug 1926)
This Airmail example appears to be sent by the same person as the one above (the same handwriting). This time with one of the four Luftpostaufgabestempel (Airmail Postmarks) used in BRESLAU. This version inscribed "BRESLAU | 1 | LUFTPOST" and is D8-01 and can be found on page 510 of the catalogue.
In addition to the Luftpostaufgabestempel there is also a Luftpostbestätigungsstempel (Airmail confirmation stamp) from DRESDEN. The inscription is "Mit Luftpost befördert. | Flugpostamt Dresden-N.25", No. F27-03 on page 521 of the catalogue and is one of seven used in Dresden.
PLAUEN to CHEMNITZ
(22nd Jun 1926)
This postcard was cancelled in CHEMNITZ and has one of three Luftpostbestätigungsstempel (Airmail confirmation stamp) stamps. Two and three are almost the same as this one, only the others are without the ‘*’ either side of *befördert *. Each of the three stamps exists in either red or violet. This example is F18/01(a) on page 520 of the catalogue.
HAMBURG to HANNOVER
(11th Apr 1926)
There were 4 Luftpostbestätigungsstempel (Airmail confirmation stamps) used in Hannover. This example exists in either red or violet ink and this particular one is F52/02(b) on page 525 of the catalogue. In addition to the airmail confirmation stamp there is a regular CDS inscribed "HAMBURG | 1" on 11th Apr 1926.
Although initially sent to Hamburg it appears that it was then redirected to Dessau.
KÖLN FLUGHAFEN to BRESLAU
(14th Oct 1926)
1. The following card was posted at KÖLN FLUGHAFEN between 8 and 9am on 14th Oct 1926 and was sent to BRESLAU. On arrival a red, two-line "Mit Luftost befordert | Postamt Breslau 1" confirmation stamp was applied.
2. Another card sent from KÖLN FLUGHAFEN, this time destined for FÜRTH on 26.10.1926. On arrival a red, two-line "Mit Luftost befördert. | Postamt Fürth By. 2" confirmation stamp was applied.
BERLIN - PRAG - WIEN
(21st Mar 1927)
The following postcard was carried on the first postal flight by Lufthansa's from BERLIN to VIENNA via PRAGUE. This card bears the commemorative handstamp used at BERLIN C2 on that day inscribed "BERLIN C2 | LUFTPOST | 21.3.27 | Erster| Postflug | BERLIN-PRAG-WIEN" between 9 and 10am that day.
On arrival in WIEN at 5pm the same day this card was cancelled with the 1/1 WIEN 1 FLUGPOST confirmation stamp.
BERLIN - KÖNIGSBERG
(27th Jan 1927)
1. Cancelled at the BERLIN ZENTRALFLUGHAFEN on 27th Jan 1927 the following P168 card was destined for TILSIT. The confirmation stamp was applied on arrival in KÖNIGSBERG and bears the inscription "Mit Luftpost befördert. | Königsberg (Pr.) 1."
2. Below is another example posted at BERLIN (TEMPELHOFER) ZENTRALFLUGHAFEN, this time on 27th Nov 1928. The confirmation stamp on this example is the same as the one above, but the airmail label on this example is a yellow "Mit Luftpost | Par avion"
MÜNCHEN to WIEN
(13th Jun 1927)
The example below features a Vienna Luftpostaufgabestempel inscribed "1/1 WIEN 1 | a | FLUGPOST" and is No.38-02 in the catalogue on page 513.
NEISSE to HIRSCHBERG
(30th Jun 1927)
As well as the regular CDS from NEISSE there is a yellow "Mit Luftpost | Par Avion" airmail sticker and a red rubber stamp inscribed "Mit Luftpost befördert | hirschberg (Riesengeb.)".
HIRSCHBERG to NEISSE
(30th Jun 1927)
This example followed the opposite path as the one above, being cancelled in HIRSCHBERG on 30th Jun 1927 with delivery to NEISSE. The confirmation stamp is inscribed "Mit Luftpost befordert! | postamt Neisse."
FREIBURG to PFORZHEIM
(2nd Jun 1927)
The following example was cancelled at FREIBURG FLUHAFEN on 2nd Jun 1927. As well as the yellow and black "Mit Luftpost | Par Avion" airmail sticker there is another red rubber stamp, this time inscribed "Mit Luftpost befördert | Postamt Nr.1 Stuttgart". The card was destined for an address in PFORZHEIM
FREIBURG to PFORZHEIM
(3rd Aug 1929)
The following card is a little more curious in that it has an additional 3 Rpf stamp applied. Was that necessary? The card was posted in AUGSBURG on 3rd Aug 1929 and was carried by air to BERLIN-CHARLOTTENBURG. I am curious to know what the underlined text in the left-hand pane means.
LEIPZIG to BRAUNSCHWEIG
(9th Aug 1926)
The card below was posted in LEIPZIG on 9th Aug 1926. This example has a red rectangular confirmation stamp applied in BRAUNSCHWEIG and inscribed "Mit Luftpost befördert | Flugpostamt Braunschweig". In addition this card has a "Mit Luftpost" label and a violet "Nur durch Flugpost" - 'Only by airmail' rubber stamp
BERLIN to FRANKFURT (MAIN)
(14th May 1926)
The next card was cancelled with a BERLIN LUFTPOST handstamp applied on 15th May 1926. This example has a red rectangular confirmation stamp applied in FRANKFURT (Main) and inscribed "Mit Luftpost befördert | Postamt 2 Frankfurt (Main)". In addition this card has a yellow "Mit Luftpost | Par avion" label.
HAMBURG to LÜBECK
(29th Nov 1926)
The card below was posted in HAMBURG on 29th Nov 1926 and features a red rectangular confirmation stamp applied in LÜBECK and inscribed "Mit Luftpost befördert | Postamt Lübeck". In addition this card has a yellow "Mit Luftpost | Par avion" label.
REFERENCES:
1. PRIVATPOSTKARTEN KATALOG BAND 1 by HANSPETER FRECH 2003 Edition2. Michel “Zeppelin und Flugpost Spezial 2017/2018 3. Auflage ISBN 9 78 3954 021611".
