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This section contains Commemorative Covers, or sometimes called Postal Covers. They are not "First Day Covers"
This section contains Commemorative Covers, or sometimes called Postal Covers. They are not "First Day Covers"
The truest definition of a first day cover is an envelope mailed on the first day of issue of a stamp, and “cancelled” or postmarked on that day. There are many sub categories, one being a cacheted cover, the cachet being a rubber stamp with artwork that is usually related to the stamp. Covers with cancellations from unusual places.
The truest definition of a first day cover is an envelope mailed on the first day of issue of a stamp, and “cancelled” or postmarked on that day. There are many sub categories, one being a cacheted cover, the cachet being a rubber stamp with artwork that is usually related to the stamp. Covers with cancellations from unusual places.
The items that are contained here are not by the truest definition FDC’s. They are a hybrid of some of the many sub categories, and can mainly be categorised as Commemorative Covers.
The items that are contained here are not by the truest definition FDC’s. They are a hybrid of some of the many sub categories, and can mainly be categorised as Commemorative Covers.
They are envelopes that bear a stamp, but that stamp is not unique to the day of cancellation (postmarking). They bear a cachet, but it is not related to the stamp, it is related to an event, or a place related to the US Space Programs.
They are envelopes that bear a stamp, but that stamp is not unique to the day of cancellation (postmarking). They bear a cachet, but it is not related to the stamp, it is related to an event, or a place related to the US Space Programs.
Originally, I had no interest in collecting Commemorative covers as they are such a big and diverse category, they could warrant a collection in their own right. The first two that I purchased at auction were solely for the fact that they were autographed, and it was the autograph that I was after and not really the FDC. After obtaining the first four I had no intention of actively looking for more. It was whilst doing some research related to of the flown electronic module from flight AS-202 I happened across a “Recovery Vessel “FDC. These covers were kept aboard the recovery vessels, and cancelled /postmarked on the day of the splashdown and subsequent recovery. All the variants that were seen on E-bay were purchased, six vessels in all that I could see. Whilst trying to ascertain if it was just the six vessels were involved I happened upon a NASA history site that lists the recovery vessels used for all the manned missions-here is the link https://history.nasa.gov/ships.html. It is very interesting to note that some of the early missions used upwards of twenty vessels, and it can be seen that as time, technology and NASA’s growing maturity the number of vessels decreased, so much so that by Apollo 17 only four were used. The Skylab & ASTP saw even further reductions, this may have been due to the fact that they were Earth orbital missions and due to the reduced velocity of re-entry a more accurate splash down target could be predicted
Originally, I had no interest in collecting Commemorative covers as they are such a big and diverse category, they could warrant a collection in their own right. The first two that I purchased at auction were solely for the fact that they were autographed, and it was the autograph that I was after and not really the FDC. After obtaining the first four I had no intention of actively looking for more. It was whilst doing some research related to of the flown electronic module from flight AS-202 I happened across a “Recovery Vessel “FDC. These covers were kept aboard the recovery vessels, and cancelled /postmarked on the day of the splashdown and subsequent recovery. All the variants that were seen on E-bay were purchased, six vessels in all that I could see. Whilst trying to ascertain if it was just the six vessels were involved I happened upon a NASA history site that lists the recovery vessels used for all the manned missions-here is the link https://history.nasa.gov/ships.html. It is very interesting to note that some of the early missions used upwards of twenty vessels, and it can be seen that as time, technology and NASA’s growing maturity the number of vessels decreased, so much so that by Apollo 17 only four were used. The Skylab & ASTP saw even further reductions, this may have been due to the fact that they were Earth orbital missions and due to the reduced velocity of re-entry a more accurate splash down target could be predicted
The list of recovery vessels does not include vessels in use as part of the worldwide tracking network. This led me on to another acquisition at auction, this being a lot of what was described as FDC’s-Apollo tracking stations. The lot contained 52 covers, and not only were there Apollo but a range of covers spanning the Gemini program. Many of them were signed by the tracking centre directors and operators, a couple by the centre CAPCOM.
The list of recovery vessels does not include vessels in use as part of the worldwide tracking network. This led me on to another acquisition at auction, this being a lot of what was described as FDC’s-Apollo tracking stations. The lot contained 52 covers, and not only were there Apollo but a range of covers spanning the Gemini program. Many of them were signed by the tracking centre directors and operators, a couple by the centre CAPCOM.
The covers are sorted into missions, and detailed below, but as a snapshot there are seven covers from GT-3 at different stations, and also seven from Apollo 15. This reminded me that whilst reading the NASA history Moonport https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4204/contents.html the authors placed the setting up and operation of the worldwide tracking system one of Apollo’s biggest achievements.
The covers are sorted into missions, and detailed below, but as a snapshot there are seven covers from GT-3 at different stations, and also seven from Apollo 15. This reminded me that whilst reading the NASA history Moonport https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4204/contents.html the authors placed the setting up and operation of the worldwide tracking system one of Apollo’s biggest achievements.
Handling these covers has altered my view of them slightly inasmuch that they are small pieces of history that were present at the location, and were handled, and in some cases signed by the very people that helped write that history.
Handling these covers has altered my view of them slightly inasmuch that they are small pieces of history that were present at the location, and were handled, and in some cases signed by the very people that helped write that history.
As with a lot of types of space memorabilia there are examples of flown items. One set of flown FDC,s caused a major furore for NASA, culminating with a congressional hearing and the careers of three astronauts tarnished.The Apollo 15 postal covers incident, a 1972 NASA scandal, involved the astronauts of Apollo 15, who carried about 400 unauthorized postal covers into space and to the Moon's surface on the Lunar Module Falcon. Some of the envelopes were sold at high prices by West German stamp dealer Hermann Sieger, and are known as "Sieger covers". The crew of Apollo 15, David Scott, Alfred Worden and James Irwin, agreed to take payments for carrying the covers; though they returned the money, they were reprimanded by NASA. Amid much press coverage of the incident, the astronauts were called before a closed session of a Senate committee and never flew in space again.
As with a lot of types of space memorabilia there are examples of flown items. One set of flown FDC,s caused a major furore for NASA, culminating with a congressional hearing and the careers of three astronauts tarnished.The Apollo 15 postal covers incident, a 1972 NASA scandal, involved the astronauts of Apollo 15, who carried about 400 unauthorized postal covers into space and to the Moon's surface on the Lunar Module Falcon. Some of the envelopes were sold at high prices by West German stamp dealer Hermann Sieger, and are known as "Sieger covers". The crew of Apollo 15, David Scott, Alfred Worden and James Irwin, agreed to take payments for carrying the covers; though they returned the money, they were reprimanded by NASA. Amid much press coverage of the incident, the astronauts were called before a closed session of a Senate committee and never flew in space again.
The three astronauts and an acquaintance, Horst Eiermann, had agreed to have the covers made and taken into space. Each astronaut was to receive about $7,000. Scott arranged to have the covers postmarked on the morning of the Apollo 15 launch on July 26, 1971. They were packaged for space and brought to him as he prepared for liftoff. Due to an error, they were not included on the list of the personal items he was taking into space. The covers spent July 30 to August 2 on the Moon inside Falcon. On August 7, the date of splashdown, the covers were postmarked again on the recovery carrier USS Okinawa. One hundred were sent to Eiermann (and passed on to Sieger); the remaining covers were divided among the astronauts.
The three astronauts and an acquaintance, Horst Eiermann, had agreed to have the covers made and taken into space. Each astronaut was to receive about $7,000. Scott arranged to have the covers postmarked on the morning of the Apollo 15 launch on July 26, 1971. They were packaged for space and brought to him as he prepared for liftoff. Due to an error, they were not included on the list of the personal items he was taking into space. The covers spent July 30 to August 2 on the Moon inside Falcon. On August 7, the date of splashdown, the covers were postmarked again on the recovery carrier USS Okinawa. One hundred were sent to Eiermann (and passed on to Sieger); the remaining covers were divided among the astronauts.
Worden had agreed to carry 144 additional covers, largely for an acquaintance, F. Herrick Herrick; these had been approved for travel to space. Apollo 15 carried a total of approximately 641 covers. In late 1971, when NASA learned that the Herrick covers were being sold, the astronauts' supervisor, Deke Slayton, warned Worden to avoid further commercialization of what he had been allowed to take into space. After Slayton heard of the Sieger arrangement, he removed the three as backup crew members for Apollo 17, though the astronauts had by then refused compensation from Sieger and Eiermann. The Sieger matter became generally known in the newspapers in June 1972. There was widespread coverage; some said astronauts should not be allowed to reap personal profits from NASA missions. The covers that were in the astronaut’s possession were confiscated and held in storage by NASA. During the early 80’s NASA were flying batches of covers aboard the shuttle and selling them for profit. Armed with this fact Worden successfully sued NASA, and the covers were returned to the astronauts
Worden had agreed to carry 144 additional covers, largely for an acquaintance, F. Herrick Herrick; these had been approved for travel to space. Apollo 15 carried a total of approximately 641 covers. In late 1971, when NASA learned that the Herrick covers were being sold, the astronauts' supervisor, Deke Slayton, warned Worden to avoid further commercialization of what he had been allowed to take into space. After Slayton heard of the Sieger arrangement, he removed the three as backup crew members for Apollo 17, though the astronauts had by then refused compensation from Sieger and Eiermann. The Sieger matter became generally known in the newspapers in June 1972. There was widespread coverage; some said astronauts should not be allowed to reap personal profits from NASA missions. The covers that were in the astronaut’s possession were confiscated and held in storage by NASA. During the early 80’s NASA were flying batches of covers aboard the shuttle and selling them for profit. Armed with this fact Worden successfully sued NASA, and the covers were returned to the astronauts
By 1977, all three former astronauts had left NASA. In 1983. One of the postal covers given to Sieger sold for over $50,000 in 2014
By 1977, all three former astronauts had left NASA. In 1983. One of the postal covers given to Sieger sold for over $50,000 in 2014
The covers have been divided into four categories, and stamps are in section 5
The covers have been divided into four categories, and stamps are in section 5
1. Recovery Vessels
1. Recovery Vessels
2. Tracking stations
2. Tracking stations
3. Signed by NASA Administrators, Flight Controllers, and Engineers.
3. Signed by NASA Administrators, Flight Controllers, and Engineers.
4. Others.
4. Others.
5. Stamps.
5. Stamps.
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