posted 07-26-2009 04:14 PM               

This is the final cover in our month-long series of special Apollo 11 covers for the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moonlanding. Our weekly series will continue next week with another special space cover.

Space Cover #015, Apollo 11 20th Anniversary 4-cancel FDC

On July 20, 1989, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moonlanding, the USPS issued a $2.40 Priority Mail stamp. This beautiful stamp was designed by artist Chris Calle, with the First Day of Issue ceremony taking place in Washington, DC.

This particular Artcraft cacheted cover, however, would be considered an unofficial First Day Cover (FDC), as it was canceled not in the official First Day City, Washington, DC, but at four locations in the KSC-area: KSC, Cape Canaveral, Titusville and Merritt Island, FL. As such, it would be considered both an unofficial FDC and an anniversary cover.

Longtime space collector-dealer, Ken Havekotte, was the originator and creator of this special 4-cancel FDC and if he has time, perhaps he'd like to comment on its creation 20 years ago.