1917 GERMANY MERCHANT SUBMARINE MAIL SERVICE COVER

Very interesting and quite historic cover franked with Germany 40 pf "Germania" definitive stamp tied Bremen, 4 Jan 1917, postmark, addressed to Hoboken, New Jersey, USA, endorsed in manuscript "Tauchbootbrief" [submarine letter] at top center, intended for mail service initiated by the Deutsche Ozean-Rhederei (German Ocean Navigation Co.] in their huge private merchant marine submarine DEUTSCHLAND, with pictorial company datestamp (depicts submarine) of the transatlantic submarine office at Bremen, dated 15 Jan 1917 + large purple Zurück marking also applied there, indicating that the service had been suspended and the letter was being returned to sender. The Deutche Ozean-Rhederei [D.O.R.], which was financed by the Deutche Bank, North German Lloyd and Alfred Lohmann, President of the Bremen Chamber of Commerce, had intended to construct a number of unarmed merchant submarines in order to continue trade with neutral countries during World War I. Two cargo-carrying submarines were built, with an additional vessel in construction. The first commercial submarine launched was DEUTSCHLAND, which sailed on two successful round trips to the U.S., which was initially neutral. The second boat, BREMEN, disappeared on her maiden voyage in late Aug 1916, never to be heard from again. She is thought to have been lost either to a mine or a violent storm. DEUTSCHLAND sailed from Bremerhaven on Jun 14 1916, for Helgoland, where she remained until Jun 23, then left for her maiden voyage to the U.S.. She arrived at Baltimore, Maryland, on Jul 8 1916, returning to Germany on Aug 25 1916. She sailed from Germany on her second voyage on Oct 14 1916, and arrived at New London, Connecticut, on Nov 1 1916. Then on Nov 17 1916, while commencing her return voyage, DEUTSCHLAND collided with a tug, while still in American waters. The tug sank, but the sub was only slightly damaged. After repairs, she left the U.S. on Nov 21, arriving in Bremerhaven on Dec 10 1916. A third voyage was planned, but cancelled due to the worsening political climate between the U.S. and Germany. This was a blow to the residents and merchants in the area of the Central Powers, since the availability of a wartime transatlantic submarine postal service had been widely publicized. Mail intended for DEUTSCHLAND was postmarked at the city of origin, and forwarded unsealed in covering envelopes to Bremen, where the Bremen circular submarine mail marking was applied. Just fine conditon, vertical fold at far right, not affecting postage stamp. *** We have been in the postal history business since 1953 and are members of the Military Postal History Society, Maritime Postmark Society, Universal Ship Cancellation Society, American Stamp Dealers Association, American Philatelic Society, National Stamp Dealers Association, Philatelic Traders Society (Great Britain), Canadian Stamp Dealers Association (Canada), International Federation of Stamp Dealers Associations, Collectors Club of New York and numerous other philatelic organizations.