Hi,
I've recently purchased this German cover in the local flea market.
It is a cover posted from Ludwigshafen am Rhein in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is unfranked and has a 29.11.37 LUDWIGSHAFEN (RHEIN) 1 ae CDS.
The cover is also stamped with a violet inscription within rectangular border ending with the word "Reich!" and a circular violet stamp with an eagle and swastika surrounded by an inscription.
The back of the cover is not stamped but the sender's address is listed as Leipzig-Lindenau.
This is not all, as the cover has been reused, and when the sticker used on the front of the cover is peeled back, the previous franking and cancels are visible.
The cover was originally franked with an 8pf Hindenburg stamp (Scott 420) issued in 1934 and tied to the cover with a 12.11.37 LUDWIGSHAFEN (RHEIN) am CDS and a slogan cancel.
In all a curious cover. I am unable to decipher the inscriptions and the addressee.
It is also odd that the cover was reused, as this was 1937 and the war was in the future.
During wartime there were shortages of envelopes and I have examples of reused WWII English envelopes.
What could have the reason for this? I assume that the second sending was not franked because the sender was some kind of official.
Any information or theories are appreciated.
Cheers,
Carmel