Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Stamps & Covers
  Space Cover 368: GT-12 Captain's cover proof

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Space Cover 368: GT-12 Captain's cover proof
cvrlvr99
Member

Posts: 203
From: Arlington, TX
Registered: Aug 2014

posted 05-19-2016 09:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for cvrlvr99   Click Here to Email cvrlvr99     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Space Cover of the Week, Week 368, May 15, 2016

Space Cover 368: Gemini 12 Captain's Cover Proof

At TEXPEX 2015 I was browsing through a box of space covers when I saw one that I had seen before. Ben Ramkissoon had a Gemini 12 Proof of a Captain's cover in his fine exhibit and here it was at a great price, even if it had been only a regular Captain's Cover.

Evidently neither the dealer, nor anyone who had browsed through that box before, noted that in the lower left corner of the cachet, the information reading:

ASTRONAUTS
J.A. LOVELL
AND
E.E. ALDRIN
...was typed in by a typewriter. Below that, the date NOV 15, 1966 was stamped with one of those adjustable date rubber stamp daters.

The normal Captain's cover starts by showing the date and location of the splashdown, printed in the same gold ink as was used in the block above it and on the parachute and capsule to the right. It reads, in a smaller font:

1521 Q 15 NOV 1966
24-36.4n 69-56.2w
Below that is the text which was placed on the proof by a typewriter.

The Proof Cover bears a 5c stamp, which was the correct rate at that time. The "normal" cover that I showed might be thought to be a cover backdated with a 3c stamp to which a 2c stamp was later added.

There were quite a few Captains' cover s left over and someone later found the stash and used 3c stamps on them, or at times, no stamps at all.

However, the die hub of the canceller has the dates re-inserted each day it is used, and the letters very rarely are inserted into the handle in exactly the same way. In this case the month, date, time and year are all identical which gives this cover credence in being valid. Being that the backdated covers were assumed to have been added much later, there should be many minor differences in the two strikes.

Another cancel on a NASA penalty envelope is shown here as well and again the lining up of the text in the die hub is identical, illustrating that it too, was cancelled on the right date.

Here are two cancels used for the GTA-10 recovery aboard the USS Guadalcanal. Note the minute differences. The "1" of 1966 is directly over the space between the "C" and the "A" of CANAL. On the other it is directly over the space between the "A" and the "N" of CANAL. Another difference: the "J" in July is positioned nearer to below the first "S" of USS on the top photo and closer to the "U" on the other. These are from two different cancellers, but it shows how subtle the differences can be.

DOX32
Member

Posts: 242
From: Lakewood Ranch FL USA
Registered: Jul 2004

posted 05-20-2016 10:17 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for DOX32   Click Here to Email DOX32     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have one of the GT12 Captain's covers with typed astronauts and NOV 15 1966 date stamp as well. It has five cent Mary Cassett stamp on it (Scott 1322).

Ross
Member

Posts: 531
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 05-27-2023 10:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ross   Click Here to Email Ross     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I've just purchased a Gemini 12 Proof Captain's cover on eBay. Could this be the cover you refer to DOX32?

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2023 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement