Rocket Mails: Up and Beyond

Mail-carrying rockets? 

It was a plan first proposed by Heinrich von Kleist, a German editor of the Berliner Abendblätter (Berlin Evening Papers) in 1810. However, the first rocket mail, after decades of fascination towards delivering mail via a faster projectile led the launching of the first rocket mail by Friedrich Schmiedl. Among other pioneers are Hermann Oberth, Gerhard Zucker, and Stephen Smith. 

Friedrich Schmiedl


To be honest, I was not aware that rockets were ever considered as another mode of mailing. The idea of mail being shot up the sky and finally parachuting down to its destination sounds cool but at the same time, quite risky. Changes in wind direction may steer the rocket off course. 

In spite of that, there were numerous successful launches containing postal covers commemorating such. For instance, the launch of a long range rocket mail from the US submarine USS Barbero in 1959 to a naval station in Florida. 

At the time of writing, I had only acquired one example of a commemorative rocket mail. 


A Swiss cover transported on the mail rocket 'Bellinzona'. Circular pictorial cancellation on B/4 1961 Switzerland, Europa 61' stamps, another on the cover commemorating European Day.

Label on the upper left corner of cover, 'POSTA PER RAZZI' (Rocket Mail) cancelled with a red BELLINZONA postmark.

Note on stamps:
Switzerland 1961 Scott 411 50c blue - Europa issue 
No wmk. 
Perforation: 11.75


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