THE 33RD SPECIAL CHILDREN’S VILLAGE BALLOON FLIGHT (1987) : BALLOON POST

Step back to May 1987, a year when Berlin celebrated its landmark 750th anniversary with grand commemorations. One of the most unique events was the 33rd Special Children’s Village Balloon Flight, held during an open house at the historic Berlin-Tempelhof Airport. This commemorative postcard documents a symbolic "Twinflight" connecting Berlin, West Germany, with its namesake in North Dakota, USA. It represents a moment of international connection captured through the "Dream of Flight".

The front of the card is a vibrant display of aerophilately, featuring an 80-pfennig stamp of the Berlin skyline and a special postmark dated May 30, 1987. This postmark depicts the evolution of aviation with the slogan "From Balloon to Jet". Most notably, the card bears the authentic blue-ink signatures of the pilots, G. Bublitz and H. Jo Scheer, who operated the tethered flight. 

DENMARK'S 1968 TIVOLI : BALLOON POST

The card commemorates the 125th anniversary of Copenhagen's beloved Tivoli Gardens, a landmark of Danish culture. To mark the occasion, a special Royal Danish Air Mail flight took to the skies, carrying these very postcards. The star of the show? The hot air balloon "Piccard," named after the legendary Swiss family renowned for their exploits in high-altitude and deep-sea exploration.

Notice the distinctive circular postmark with the balloon's image and the date "15.8.1968" – this is the official "Balloon Post" cancellation. The card even features the signature of the pilot, Don Piccard, a key figure in the revival of modern hot air ballooning.

After its aerial journey, the postcard was integrated back into the regular mail system, as evidenced by the later Copenhagen postmark (19.8.1968). The stamps themselves are also thematic, with one featuring Tivoli's founder, Georg Carstensen, alongside a balloon.

BALLOON POST : 1ST WORLD GAS BALLOON CHAMPIONSHIP (1976)

The year 1976 marked a milestone in aviation history as pilots gathered in Augsburg, Germany, for the 1st World Gas Balloon Championship. These rare "Balloon Mail" covers offer a tactile connection to that inaugural event, which officially took place from September 11 to 14, 1976. Captured during a time when the sky was filled with the silent silhouettes of gas-filled giants, these documents served as official proof of flight. They were carried in the wicker baskets of the balloons and stamped with unique "Bordstempels" to verify their journey through the clouds.

The first card is a remarkable "who’s who" of 1970s aeronautics, featuring a dense tapestry of hand-signed autographs from international teams representing countries like Japan, Poland, and the USA—including the signature of American pilot Michael Fairbanks. It tells a story of precision and patience; a red ink notification notes that the initial launch on September 10, 1976, was delayed due to "unfavorable weather," a common challenge in the delicate world of gas ballooning.

Perhaps most striking is the second document, which features an aerial photograph of the balloons lined up like pearls on the Augsburg launch field. This card was notably piloted and signed by Wolfgang von Zeppelin, a name synonymous with the golden age of airships, alongside Annedore von Zeppelin.

BALLOON MAIL : MAIDEN VOYAGE OF D-GRAF ZEPPELIN (1967)

This vintage postcard commemorates the 21st German Children's Village Balloon Flight, a charitable event held on March 7, 1967. It documents the maiden voyage of the free balloon "D-GRAF ZEPPELIN," which carried this specific card (No. 1370) from Friedrichshafen. The flight reached a maximum altitude of 1900 meters and travelled a distance of 16 km before landing in Güttingen, Switzerland.

The card is a philatelic treasure, featuring a special Friedrichshafen postmark dated March 8, 1967, marking the 50th anniversary of Count Zeppelin’s death. It boasts a "Froschkönig" welfare stamp and a teal "Bordstempel" cachet. Notably, it bears the signature of pilot Wolfgang von Zeppelin, adding significant historical value for collectors.

Proceeds from such flights supported the Pestalozzi Children’s Village, blending aviation history with philanthropy. Addressed to Hermann E. Sieger, a famous philatelic dealer, this document serves as a precise record of 1960s aeronautics.

BALLOON MAIL : 1996 "ALBUCH" CHARITY BALLOON MAIL

This fascinating philatelic artifact tells the story of a "Ballonpost" flight conducted on September 1, 1996, to benefit children suffering from cystic fibrosis. The event, titled "Ballonstart zum Sommerfest der an Mukoviszidose erkrankten Kinder," combined community spirit with the unique tradition of aerophilately. Despite a minor delay noted by a green stamp indicating the launch was "postponed due to bad weather," the balloon "Albuch" successfully took flight from Heuchlingen.

The document is a treasure trove for collectors, featuring striking markings that authenticate its journey. Notable highlights include the blue circular seal of the Bürgermeisteramt Heuchlingen and a red diamond-shaped Bordstempel (on-board stamp) for the balloon "Albuch" (D-OAEG). It also carries a "Par Ballon Monte" cachet and a purple "Luftpost" stamp, marking its status as official air mail.

Piloted by Hans-Jürgen Stäudle, whose hand-signed signature authenticates the flight, the balloon covered 28 km before landing at Hohlenstein. This specific card, numbered 0272, was addressed to Rolf Groner and bears an 80-pfennig German stamp commemorating the Halberstadt Cathedral.

BALLOON MAIL : 1984 FIRST BALLOON MAIL OF ANTIGUA

This unique piece of philatelic history commemorates the "First Balloon Mail on Antigua," launched on September 27, 1984. The card marks the 200th anniversary of manned balloon flight, flown aboard the hot air balloon OE-AZP - PRO JUVENTUTE. This specific card, numbered 1116, is hand-signed by the pilot, Hans Mierl, and features a distinct circular "Bordstempel" (on-board stamp), which adds significant collector value.

The visual design is rich with official markings, including a $4 Antigua & Barbuda stamp depicting a hot air balloon over palm trees. It bears a clear "St. John’s" postmark and is addressed to Dr. Herbert Nierhaus in Hamburg, Germany. The presence of the Antigua flag and the tricolor airmail border emphasize its international journey from the West Indies to Europe.

Historically, this "Sonderballonpost" represents a specialized niche in mail delivery known as aerophilately. It highlights the global celebration of aviation milestones and the collaboration between Caribbean postal authorities and German commemorative efforts.