In November 1931, the German Reichspost issued a decorative sheet telegram (C 187 LX 2) with the image of a three-masted sailing ship. The Reich flag was visible at the bow of the sailing ship, and the flag of the shipping company at the top mast. The flag of the (Weimar) Republic was also woven microscopically into the top left of the Reich flag. In the middle of 1935, the Reichspost reissued the decorative sheet telegram, this time with the Reich flag without the Republic flag at the bow and the swastika flag on the top mast.

However, since this did not correspond to reality, since the topmast shows the flag of the shipping company, the decorative sheet telegram was banned by decree 311/1935 on September 15, 1935. In a corrected new edition, the swastika flag was then visible at the bow and the shipping company flag again at the top mast.