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Author
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Topic: Swanson/Hudson/Goldey anomalous covers
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Axman
Member Posts: 155
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 09-10-2023 07:49 AM
  
Does anyone have a reasonable explanation for these covers I possess? They are launch covers for a NASA Nike-Cajun rocket and the earlier S-55 Explorer satellite attempt, both launched from Wallops Island in 1961. All the literature I have read would suggest that the two covers are Swanson artwork on a rubber stamp supplied to the Wallops Island postmaster William Hudson for his use in servicing his launch covers. The Swanson RSC supplanted the earlier 'boxed text' RSC that Hudson had used. The dates as far as I can see, are consistent with that scenario. So why have they got the George Goldey, Canton Texas address stamped in the lower right corner? The Goldey stamps appear genuine and of the period to me. Did Swanson supply two RSCs, one each to Hudson and Goldey? Why would Goldey use Swanson's artwork when he was capable of producing his own? Or did Hudson have a monopoly on Wallops Island launch covers, and supplied Goldey with his (i.e. Swanson's) cacheted covers? |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 832
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 09-10-2023 08:46 AM
George Goldey was not an artist like Swanson, etc. Goldey created his cachets from artwork COPIED from other sources - other cachet makers (e.g. Goldcraft printed version of the Swanson RSC from Wallops with the Goldcraft logo added), from newpaper/magazine images (Mercury capsule images for Glenn, etc.), photographs, characature images for the Goldey "heads" (JKF, LBJ, Glenn, Capenter, etc.) etc.Goldey sent covers - obviously with his address - to servicers like other collectors of that time and covers from Eglin AFB, USS Observation Island, Edwards AFB, etc. can be found not with a Goldcraft cachet but the servicer cachet with NOTHING added by Goldey. These are many times listed as a Goldcraft/Goldey cover when they really are just a cover serviced like everyone elses covers. This matches your images above - Goldey sent covers to Hudson like everyone else and Hudson applied the RS to the envelopes and serviced them. So "normal" Wallops serviced cover but sent to Goldey. Many times though, Goldey added ADDITIONAL wording or image to the servicer cachet. Examples are the Kennedy head/signature added to Beck and Navy RSC recovery ship covers. The Little Joe wording added to the Wallops RSC launch cover. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3671
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 09-10-2023 09:19 AM
My thinking as well. Just because the serviced Wallops Island cachet covers have a George Goldey name, city, and state at bottom right doesn't mean that its a Goldcraft Cachet cover production. I've got some similar addressed cover issues. |
Axman
Member Posts: 155
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 09-10-2023 11:09 AM
I see you are both in agreement on this one. Looking deeper into my collection I've also found a Wallops Island cancellation with the same Swanson Rubber Stamp Cachet, this time with a green ink text added and addressed (printed) to John Zaso.It is a cover for a NASA Nike-Cajun launch postmarked 21 December 1961. My notes have it as a Swanson-DuBeau production. But, I can't find any backup reasoning or provenance for that statement, and as it was a piece I collected very early on, I presume I just noted down what the vendor told me with no questions asked. I shall alter my notes to "Swanson RSC/(Hudson text?)/Hudson serviced (?) for Zaso". So, yeah, it would seem Mr Hudson had quite a stranglehold on the servicing of rocket launches from Wallops in this particular period... | |
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