posted November 26, 2011 12:44 PM               

Space Cover #137: Astronaut Autographed NASA/KSC VIP Cards

Starting with Apollo 7, continuing through Apollo 17, and ending with the first manned Skylab mission, NASA/KSC produced special postal cards, typically referred to as KSC "VIP Cards," and were distributed to NASA guests, VIP's, at the time of the launches. These cards are relatively scarce and are prized by many collectors. Putting together a complete set would be quite interesting and challenging.

VIP Cards are a worthy collectible, but often they are found hand addressed and also many uncanceled. But many were both canceled and unaddressed and, as such, are quite useful and appropriate for autographs.

Shown here are VIP cards for Apollos 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, with each autographed by a crew member, along with an SL-2 VIP card autographed by the entire crew.

Twenty-five years after KSC's last VIP Card for SL-2, KSC again issued an official VIP card and it was for John Glenn's STS-95 flight in 1998.

Ray Cartier created an excellent study of NASA/KSC VIP Cards for the Space Unit, which shows all types, including fakes.

posted November 26, 2011 07:02 PM               

I've got a VIP card collection signed by most of the Apollo crews, however, I do not have cards signed by the full crews of Apollos 8 and 11, if I recall offhand.
If anyone has either crew, or both, let me hear from you. I would love to complete my own VIP card collection in this special way.