1930 Graf Zeppelin Stamps (US C13-C15) Value and Price Guide

In April 1930, the United States Post Office did something it would immediately regret: it issued three airmail stamps priced at 65 cents, $1.30, and $2.60. During the Great Depression. The combined face value of the set was $4.55, roughly equivalent to $85 today. Most Americans earned less than $30 a week. The stamps were designed to pay postage on mail carried aboard the Graf Zeppelin airship on its Pan-American flight, and they were priced accordingly. But collectors couldn't afford them, the general public didn't care, and the Post Office pulled them from sale after just a few weeks. Out of about 3.3 million stamps printed across the three denominations, only about 227,000 were sold. The rest were destroyed. Those surviving stamps became the most sought-after airmail issues in American philately.

Quick Value Summary

The Story

The Graf Zeppelin (LZ 127) was a marvel of 1920s engineering. At 776 feet long, it was the largest flying vehicle in the world. Between 1928 and 1937, it made 590 flights, crossed the Atlantic 144 times, and completed a round-the-world trip. It was the Concorde of its era, a symbol of technological ambition and international prestige.

In 1930, the Zeppelin Company planned a Pan-American flight: Friedrichshafen, Germany to Lakehurst, New Jersey, with a stop in Pernambuco, Brazil. The US Post Office agreed to issue special stamps for mail carried on the flight, with 93.5% of the stamp revenue going directly to the German Zeppelin Airship Works. It was essentially a sponsorship deal disguised as postage.

The three stamps all depicted the Graf Zeppelin:

• C13 (65 cents, green): The Zeppelin flying over the Atlantic Ocean. Used for postcards on the outbound leg

• C14 ($1.30, brown): The Zeppelin flying between two globes showing the Western Hemisphere. Used for letters on the outbound leg

• C15 ($2.60, blue): The Zeppelin among clouds over a globe. Used for round-trip letter postage

The stamps went on sale April 19, 1930, in Washington, D.C., and April 21 at select other post offices. The Graf Zeppelin departed Friedrichshafen on May 30 and returned June 6. After the flight, unsold stamps were withdrawn and destroyed.

The sales figures tell the story:

• C13 (65 cents): 93,536 sold out of approximately 1,000,000 printed

• C14 ($1.30): 72,428 sold out of approximately 1,000,000 printed

• C15 ($2.60): 61,296 sold out of approximately 1,000,000 printed

About 93% of the stamps printed were destroyed. Of those sold, many were used on Zeppelin flight covers (envelopes actually carried on the airship), and others were purchased by stamp dealers and collectors. The high face value meant that even collectors who wanted them often couldn't afford the full set.

How to Identify Them

The three stamps are straightforward to identify:

• C13: 65-cent denomination. Green ink. Shows the Graf Zeppelin in flight over the ocean

• C14: $1.30 denomination. Brown ink. Shows the Zeppelin between two hemispheric globes

• C15: $2.60 denomination. Blue ink. Shows the Zeppelin among clouds

• Perforation gauge: 11 (standard for the era)

• Printing method: Flat plate printing by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing

• Paper: White, unwatermarked

Condition factors that matter:

• Hinged vs. never hinged: A stamp that has never been mounted with a hinge (never hinged, or "NH") is worth roughly 2-3x a hinged example

• Centering: The design should be well-centered within the perforations. Off-center stamps sell for 30-50% less

• Gum condition: Original gum should be intact and undisturbed for maximum value. Regummed stamps (where someone has applied new gum to simulate original gum) are worth 50-70% less

• Color freshness: The inks should be bright. Faded or oxidized colors reduce value

Used stamps: Stamps with genuine Zeppelin flight cancellations (usually a circular date stamp from the flight route) are desirable, especially on cover. Regular postal cancellations are less valuable. Favor-cancelled stamps (cancelled without actually being used for postage) fall in between.

Value by Type and Condition

Individual Stamps, Unused Hinged (OG):

• C13 (65 cents): $200 - $350

• C14 ($1.30): $350 - $600

• C15 ($2.60): $500 - $900

• Complete set: $1,100 - $1,800

Individual Stamps, Never Hinged (NH):

• C13: $400 - $700

• C14: $700 - $1,200

• C15: $1,000 - $1,800

• Complete set: $2,500 - $5,000 Premium examples with superb centering (graded 95 or 98 by PSE) can reach $10,000-$50,000 for the set.

Used, Off Cover:

• C13: $200 - $300

• C14: $300 - $500

• C15: $400 - $700

• Complete set: $800 - $1,500

On Zeppelin Flight Cover:

• Single stamps on cover: $500 - $2,000 each

• Complete set on a single cover: $3,000 - $10,000+

• Round-trip covers (stamps from multiple legs): $5,000 - $15,000 The most valuable covers show a clear Zeppelin flight cachet, proper postal markings, and have been carried on the actual Pan-American flight.

Plate blocks (blocks of 6 with plate number):

• C13 plate block: $3,000 - $6,000

• C14 plate block: $5,000 - $10,000

• C15 plate block: $8,000 - $18,000 Plate blocks are significantly rarer than single stamps and are prized by advanced collectors.

Values have been stable over the past decade, with slight declines in the general stamp market offset by continued strong demand for this specific set. The Zeppelin stamps are one of the few US stamp issues that consistently attract crossover interest from non-stamp collectors.

Authentication and Fakes

• Genuine vs. regummed: The most common issue. Expert certification (by the Philatelic Foundation or American Philatelic Expertizing Service) can determine whether gum is original

• Reperforated stamps: Some stamps have had perforations added or altered to improve centering. Expert examination under magnification can detect this

• Color changelings: Stamps whose colors have been chemically altered (usually to make a common color variety appear to be a rare one). Not a significant issue with the Zeppelin set, but worth noting

• Forged cancellations: Fake Zeppelin flight cancellations on covers are known. Compare the cancellation style, ink, and date against documented examples

For stamps in this value range, a certificate of authenticity from the Philatelic Foundation (PF) or the Professional Stamp Experts (PSE) is standard. Certification costs $30-$80 per stamp.

Where to Sell

• Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries: The premier US stamp auction house. Best for high-quality examples and covers

• Heritage Auctions: Strong stamp division with broad reach

• Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions: Specialists in US stamps

• eBay: Works for individual stamps in average condition ($200-$1,000 range). Certified stamps sell better

• Local stamp dealers: Offer 50-70% of retail for quick cash

Estimated selling costs for a $3,000 never-hinged set:

• PSE or PF certification: $30-$80 per stamp ($90-$240 for the set)

• Auction house premium: 15-20%

• Shipping: $15-$30 (insured, registered mail)

Not sure about the condition of yours? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a quick AI-powered estimate.

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