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Author Topic:   2011 US Mercury Project/Messenger Mission stamps
DChudwin
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From: Lincolnshire IL USA
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posted 09-13-2009 12:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It is not too early to begin a campaign to urge the U.S. Postal Servive (USPS) to issue postage stamps in 2011 honoring the 50th anniversary of U.S. manned spaceflight.

I suggest that the USPS plan stamps honoring Alan Shepard's Mercury-Redstone 3 suborbital flight of May 5, 1961 and Gus Grissom's MR-4 suborbital flight of July 21, 1961. The stamps should honor both the astronauts and the NASA team that launched them. USPS regulations require that the subjects of commemorative stamps be deceased for at least five years, and, unfortunately, Shepard and Grissom meet that requirement.

The Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee receives hundreds of suggestions for stamps each year, but it often listens to the public in its choices.

Please write a letter suggesting 2011 Shepard and Grissom stamps to:

Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
U.S. Postal Service
1735 North Lynn St, Suite 5013
Arlington VA 22209-6432

DChudwin
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From: Lincolnshire IL USA
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posted 12-18-2009 07:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just received a letter back from the CSAC that commemorative stamps for the 50th Anniversary of U.S. Manned Spaceflight are actively "under consideration." The letter was specifically addressed to me but appeared to be a form letter. Still time for others to write them at the above address.

DChudwin
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From: Lincolnshire IL USA
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posted 01-30-2010 10:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
When I sent a letter to the CSAC to propose a stamp for the 50th Anniversary of U.S. Manned Spaceflight and in memory of Alan Shepard, I sent a copy of the letter to NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden.

I have now received a letter back from Morrie Goodman, NASA Assistant Administrator (AA) for Public Affairs. He thanks me for my letter to Bolden and goes on to state in part:

Indeed, May 5, 1961, was a remarkable day as astronaut Shepard became the first American in space.

NASA commends the U.S. Postal service for its work in celebrating the U.S. space program's many accomplishments through commemorative stamps. These stamps provide a unique opportunity for reflection by those that witnessed world-changing events as well bring awareness of historic space achievements to inspire and excite our present and future generations of Americans.

NASA embraces the Committee's fundamental component to accept and act upon proposals from the public and would certainly welcome its decision to issue a commemorative stamp memorializing this historic event. NASA recognized that the future of America's space program is dependent upon the support of the public and applauds your efforts to help preserve the American space legacy.

A copy of AA Goodman's letter to me was also sent by NASA to the CSAC.

My reading of the letter suggests that NASA would be happy with such a stamp but is not going to push for it. However, I am increasingly optimistic that the 2011 stamp program will include one or more stamps for Alan Shepard's flight.

DChudwin
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From: Lincolnshire IL USA
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posted 08-16-2010 10:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Success!! The two stamps will be issued se-tenant, which means two different designs attached to each other. From a post at the Virtual Stamp Club:
Mercury Project & MESSENGER Mission

Two stamps, one shows Alan Shepard, first American in Space, and the MESSENGER mission, which will be going into orbit around Mercury about the same time the stamps will be issued (March or April). Se-tenant. Phil Jordan art direct Denato Giancola of Brookln is artist, based on NASA designs and images.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 08-17-2010 03:31 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
collectSPACE:
Mercury astronaut and mission to Mercury to be featured on 2011 U.S. stamps

An 'original' Mercury astronaut and a spacecraft set to orbit the planet Mercury will be featured on two United States postage stamps to be released next year, according to the U.S. Postal Service.

Alan Shepard, who became the first American in space 50 years ago next May, will be honored together with NASA's MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging, or MESSENGER, probe, which is scheduled to begin orbiting the planet closest to the Sun in March 2011. The two stamps, which will be offered as an attached pair referred to as a "se-tenant," are tentatively scheduled for release in the spring...

SRB
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posted 08-19-2010 10:43 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SRB   Click Here to Email SRB     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Is there any connection between Shepard and the Mercury stamp? Is it just that anything named Mercury is related to anything else named Mercury which happens in 2011? The pairing makes no sense whatsoever to me.

While is is nice the USPS is recognizing these events, it selected fourth rate art for the designs and they should be in separate sheets of stamps.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 08-19-2010 10:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It does seem that the USPS is playing off the Mercury astronaut, mission to Mercury pun to justify the se-tenant, but if released in April (as tentatively planned), then the two stamps would straddle the two milestones (MESSENGER arriving in March; Mercury-Redstone 3's 50th anniversary in May).

DChudwin
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From: Lincolnshire IL USA
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posted 11-23-2010 08:05 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The design of the 50th anniversary of U.S. manned spaceflight stamp has been revealed on page 30 in the December 6 issue of Linn's Stamp News. The 44 cent stamp features Alan Shepard in a spacesuit with side designs of a Mercury-Redstone rocket and a Mercury capsule. The inscriptions are "Mercury Project" and in smaller letters "Alan Shepard: First American in Space."

The design of the se-tenant (attached pair) stamp for the MESSENGER spacecraft to Mercury shows the spacecraft above Mercury's surface.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-23-2010 08:07 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
collectSPACE:
US Postal Service reveals designs for 2011 space stamps

Alan Shepard will be depicted on a 2011 U.S. postage stamp wearing the silver spacesuit in which he made history as the first American astronaut to fly into space.

The stamp's design, which was quietly released last week by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), shows Shepard from his shoulders up centered between images of his rocket lifting off and his capsule above the Earth.

Opposite the astronaut's portrait on an adjoining stamp, an artist's rendering shows NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft orbiting the planet Mercury...

capoetc
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posted 11-23-2010 10:23 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for capoetc   Click Here to Email capoetc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I would like to think that Admiral Shepard would be pleased by the stamp -- it looks really nice.

NAAmodel#240
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posted 11-23-2010 10:41 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for NAAmodel#240   Click Here to Email NAAmodel#240     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Isn't it suppose to be "Project Mercury" instead of "Mercury Project"?

Robert Pearlman
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From: Houston, TX
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posted 11-23-2010 10:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA used the phrases interchangeably. For example, NASA SP-45 is titled "Mercury Project Summary."

ejectr
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posted 11-23-2010 01:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ejectr   Click Here to Email ejectr     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Very nicely done.

Never thought I'd see the day when I'd view a commerative stamp of something I witnessed 50 years before.

onesmallstep
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posted 11-23-2010 05:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for onesmallstep   Click Here to Email onesmallstep     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yes, nice design showing the Redstone, Shepard and Freedom 7; maybe they can include the Project Mercury symbol (Mercury planet symbol with a '7' in the middle) on the top/side margins of a sheet and the full list of manned Mercury flights, in addition to the info now printed on the reverse backing of most stick-and-peel stamps. Reminds me of space stamps designed by McCall and the Calles.

MarylandSpace
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posted 11-23-2010 07:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for MarylandSpace   Click Here to Email MarylandSpace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by NAAmodel#240:
Isn't it suppose to be "Project Mercury" instead of "Mercury Project"?
I like the wording "Project Mercury" better than "Mercury Project."

It is a great looking stamp.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

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From: Houston, TX
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posted 12-29-2010 07:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The U.S. Postal Service issued a press release Dec. 28 formally announcing its 2011 stamp program, including the space-themed se-tenant:
Mercury Messenger

The 50th anniversary of America's first manned spaceflight is being commemorated with the issuance of two stamps. The stamps go on sale May 4.

One stamp salutes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Project Mercury, America's first manned spaceflight program, and NASA astronaut Alan Shepard's historic flight on May 5, 1961, aboard the spacecraft Freedom 7.

The other stamp draws attention to NASA's unmanned MESSENGER mission, a scientific investigation of the planet Mercury. On March 18, 2011, MESSENGER will become the first spacecraft to enter into orbit around Mercury.

These two historic missions -- Shepard's Mercury flight and MESSENGER's orbit of Mercury -- frame a remarkable fifty-year period in which America has advanced space exploration through more than 1,500 manned and unmanned flights.

The Project Mercury and MESSENGER Mission stamps were designed by Donato Giancola of Brooklyn, NY, under the direction of Phil Jordan of Falls Church, VA. A three-time winner of the Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist, Giancola is known for his cover illustrations for science fiction authors, including Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Phillip K. Dick, and Arthur C. Clarke. His luminous works for J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have received recognition through more than a dozen awards.

Giancola based the stamp designs on NASA photographs and images. The Project Mercury stamp depicts Shepard, the Mercury capsule Freedom 7, and the Redstone launching rocket. The MESSENGER Mission stamp depicts the MESSENGER spacecraft in orbit around the planet Mercury.

DChudwin
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From: Lincolnshire IL USA
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posted 04-09-2011 07:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Alan Shepard and MESSENGER stamps are being issued May 4, 2011-- one day shy of the 50th Anniversary of Freedom 7.

Are you planning to get double cancels on covers for either Freedom 7 or Apollo 14? The 50th Anniversary stamp can be placed in the lower right corner and sent in for a First Day of Issue cancellation.

I have an extra Sarzin cachet May 5, 1961 launch cover on which I hope to get a second FDC cancel, as well as some covers from Apollo 14 with pictures of Al Shepard in the cachet.

What do you think? Does adding the Shepard stamp and FDC cancel make sense or does it just detract from the original cover?

yeknom-ecaps
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posted 04-09-2011 08:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for yeknom-ecaps   Click Here to Email yeknom-ecaps     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Dave - planning to do the same thing!

Eddie Bizub
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posted 04-09-2011 10:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Eddie Bizub   Click Here to Email Eddie Bizub     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have a small handful of Shepard Airmail Space Craft Covers that I plan on getting anniversary cancels added to. I do not plan on getting first day cancels added to these as the first day ceremony is on the 4th.

DOX32
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posted 04-09-2011 10:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DOX32   Click Here to Email DOX32     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have a few May 5 1961 as well.

Does a dual cancel hurt? May 4 poor!

Ken any comments?

Ken Havekotte
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posted 04-10-2011 05:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ken Havekotte   Click Here to Email Ken Havekotte     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just my 2-cents worth, however, I would not want to detract from an original MR-3/Freedom 7 launch cover by adding to it anysort of additional or combo-stamp cancellation(s).

Perhaps I could see doing such a thing if a collector was fortunate enough to own several MR-3 flight covers, but overall, covers from America's first manned space feat should be left alone, in my opinion.

But I wouldn't have any problems in combining a Shepard first day issue along with any other combinations added to MR-3 anniversary and/or appropriate Apollo 14 cover issues.

DChudwin
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posted 04-10-2011 04:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Ken, I agree with you that in general Shepard MR-3 Mercury launch covers should be left alone. In my own case, I picked up an extra Sarzin Freedom 7 launch cover on e-bay for $7 (!!). That's the one I will send for an FDC second cancel. I also have two other MR-3 launch covers which will remain pristine.

Ken Havekotte
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posted 04-10-2011 05:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ken Havekotte   Click Here to Email Ken Havekotte     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Dave (and for anyone else interested) --

If you want, send any of your MR-3, Project Mercury 4-cent FDCs, and Apollo 14 covers to me for servicing as I am planning to do lots of work for both the FDI/May 4 and 5 anniversary events.

My firm is planning to use at least 3 different cachet types and will be planning stopovers at other nearby Florida Space Coast postal stations for unofficial FDI cancels.

In addition, I am planning to combine the new issued MR-3/Shepard postage stamps together with the first-ever issued Mercury-related 4-cent stamp from 1962.

I'll be happy to honor any requests and/or special concerns for both the upcoming May 4-5 events.

The official FDI ceremony for the new Shepard and Messenger stamps will be at 2 pm, May 4, at the KSCVC's Rocket Garden.

DChudwin
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From: Lincolnshire IL USA
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posted 04-19-2011 08:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex release
United States Postal Service First-Day-of-Issue Stamp Ceremony

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is honoring the 50th anniversary of America's first manned spaceflight with the issuance of two new commemorative stamps. Join us for the First-Day-of-Issue Stamp Ceremony, featuring Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter and NASA and USPS officials, in the Rocket Garden on May 4, 2011, at 2:00 p.m.

One stamp salutes NASA’s Project Mercury, America’s first manned spaceflight program and NASA astronaut Alan Shepard’s historic flight on May 5, 1961, aboard the spacecraft Freedom 7. The other stamp draws attention to NASA’s unmanned MESSENGER Mission, a scientific investigation of the planet Mercury. On March 17, 2011, MESSENGER became the first spacecraft to enter into orbit around Mercury. These two historic missions frame a remarkable fifty-year period in which America has advanced space exploration through more than 1,500 manned and unmanned flights.

The Project Mercury stamp depicts Shepard, the Mercury capsule Freedom 7 and the Redstone rocket launching. The MESSENGER Mission stamp depicts the MESSENGER spacecraft in orbit around the planet Mercury.

The Project Mercury and MESSENGER Mission stamps will be issued as Forever Stamps for use in mailing a one-ounce letter. Regardless of when the stamps are purchased or used, no matter how prices may change in the future, these stamps will always be equal to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.

The USPS First-Day-of-Issue Ceremony is included with admission to the Visitor Complex.

DChudwin
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From: Lincolnshire IL USA
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posted 04-19-2011 08:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Instructions have been released for obtaining First Day of Issue cancellations for the Shepard and MESSENGER stamps to be issued May 4, 2011:
Collectors requesting first-day cancels are encouraged to purchase their own stamps and affix them to envelopes. The first-day envelopes should be addressed for return (peelable labels may be used), and mailed in a larger envelope addressed to Mercury Project and Mercury Messenger Stamps, Postmaster, 1538 Harrison St., Titusville FL 32780-9998. Requests for first-day cancels must be postmarked by July 3.

DChudwin
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posted 05-02-2011 08:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Anybody going to the First Day ceremony on Wednesday? Please send a report for those of us who can't be there.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 05-02-2011 09:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I will be attending, providing coverage for both collectSPACE and Space.com.

eurospace
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posted 05-03-2011 08:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for eurospace   Click Here to Email eurospace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The first illustration of the First Day of Issue cancel for this stamp issue showed the location of Titusville. A later version then switched to Kennedy Space Center. What is the final version now reading like?

Ken Havekotte
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From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
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posted 05-03-2011 12:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ken Havekotte   Click Here to Email Ken Havekotte     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The final version should be "Kennedy Space Center, FL 32815" as I have a graphic illustration of the exact first day of issue pictorial cancel, however, I am not able to depict it here at the moment.

I am planning to attend the 2 pm ceremony at the KSCVC's Rocket Garden if my schedule permits, but my primary concern will be visiting some of our Florida Space Coast area postal stations all day long in an attempt to acquire "unofficial" first day cancels on a variety of appropriate cachet envelopes.

Of course, not to mention, I'll be processing and servicing lots of "official" first day covers as well on May 4 at the KSCVC.

Is anyone else planning to attend? Be sure to look for me and I'll be happy to give you a few complimentary cachet covers for the special occasion.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

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posted 05-04-2011 07:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The U.S. Postal Service's online store is now offering the Mercury Project and MESSENGER Mission stamps for sale, as well as the first day of issue ceremony program, first day covers, and uncut press sheets.

randyc
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posted 05-04-2011 10:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for randyc   Click Here to Email randyc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Is there a GOOD reason why the USPS couldn't wait one more day and issue the stamps on May 5, which is the actual 50th anniversary date?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 05-04-2011 11:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Per NASA, they wanted to deconflict their events.

NASA (with the Air Force) is holding a ceremony tomorrow morning (May 5) at the Cape Canaveral pad where Alan Shepard launched 50 years ago. They didn't want to cause people to have to choose between attending events, so they moved the stamp ceremony a day earlier.

garymilgrom
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posted 05-04-2011 01:25 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for garymilgrom   Click Here to Email garymilgrom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What does the word FOREVER in the lower left signify? I sure hope it's not some social media BFF thing.

DChudwin
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posted 05-04-2011 02:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As of this year, all U.S. commemorative stamps will be labeled "Forever." This means that they will always be good for the first class postage rate, even when the rate increases from the current 44 cents.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 05-04-2011 07:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by DChudwin:
Anybody going to the First Day ceremony on Wednesday? Please send a report for those of us who can't be there.
Mercury astronaut and mission to Mercury featured on new U.S. stamps
Fifty years after becoming the first U.S. astronaut to fly into space, the late Alan B. Shepard, Jr. was remembered Wednesday with the release of a stamp in his honor. The commemorative postage, which the U.S. Postal Service issued together with another stamp for the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury, is the first ever to show a specific astronaut.
Photo Gallery: New U.S. stamps honor two Mercury explorers

Fezman92
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From: New Jersey, USA
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posted 05-06-2011 09:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fezman92   Click Here to Email Fezman92     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Picked up two sheets yesterday. Very nice stamps.

Bob M
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From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
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posted 05-22-2011 04:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bob M   Click Here to Email Bob M     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Ken Havekotte, owner of SpaceCoast Cover Service, has produced a number of special covers for the First Day of Issue of the Project Mercury and MESSENGER Mission stamp pair issued on May 4th at Kennedy Space Center.

For more information and ordering, contact Ken.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

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posted 06-20-2011 11:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
According to Linn's Stamp News, the post office in Shreveport, Louisiana released the Mercury/Messenger stamps a day early, resulting in earliest known use (EKU) covers dated for May 3, 2011.

The newspaper says the covers don't carry any additional value on the collector's market, but should someone come across one, there is your explanation.

OLDIE
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posted 06-29-2011 11:43 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for OLDIE     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I've just returned from a holiday in Alaska. Whilst in Anchorage, I enquired of the Post Office whether they had the "Mercury/Messenger" stamps and /or related items. The reply I got was that they had not received any! I did manage, however, to get a nice package of Civil War stamps and covers (the first of a set of five I think). Maybe more of the Civil War stamps were printed.

Bob M
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From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
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posted 07-04-2011 06:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bob M   Click Here to Email Bob M     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Eddie Bizub:
I have a small handful of Shepard Airmail Space Craft Covers that I plan on getting anniversary cancels added to. I do not plan on getting first day cancels added to these as the first day ceremony is on the 4th.
Here's one of Eddie's Shepard MR-3 Space Craft special edition covers he mentioned. Noted on the back of these covers is that only 300 were done by Swanson. Eddie also added a notation that his covers were placed on the launch table (pad) at launch Complex-5 at the Cape Canaveral AFS on May 5, 2011 for the 50th anniversary of the MR-3 launch.

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