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Author
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Topic: Rita Rapp space cover collection
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streetsnake
Member Posts: 180
From: Ohio
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 02-18-2019 06:35 PM
   
I wanted to share Apollo Food System team lead Rita Rapp's cover collection with you all. I'm not sure how to properly display these but maybe you have some ideas. Let me know if you see anything unique.  
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micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 02-19-2019 06:03 AM
I see Apollo 14 (top row, third from left)and Apollo 15 (third row from bottom, third cover from the right) Captain's Covers in there. Those are not easy to find and look to me like the most unique items in the collection. |
streetsnake
Member Posts: 180
From: Ohio
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 02-21-2019 10:14 PM
I wanted to share this with everyone. My mind is racing with these covers. LOL! I'm sure you will laugh at me but these are the only ones we have found (other than one personal message from Chuck LaPinta, Flight Surgeon at NASA, that we have found). What do you all think? 
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onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 02-22-2019 09:28 AM
Not particularly rare or valuable covers — these Apollo 11 USS Hornet PRS (Prime Recovery Ship) splashdown covers with a rubber stamp cachet (wording/artwork) and a Hornet hand-cancel are very common, produced in the hundreds. A "Captain's cover" (specific design to the ship used by the commanding officer) with his signature is more valuable. Even the PRS covers shown in the photo would go up in value with a Captain's signature and/or of the UDT (frogmen) recovery team or others associated with the mission. |
streetsnake
Member Posts: 180
From: Ohio
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 02-22-2019 09:34 AM
Thanks for the thoughts. My excitement was surrounding that these are sealed with "do not open" on them. These are only two of four of my covers that are sealed. One of the other two are can read the note and it is from Dr. Charles LaPinta. Rita's good friend throughout her career at NASA. Dr. LaPinta would have been with the crew at this point, I believe. I'd like to open them up to view the contents in the rare chance there is anything "exciting" inside.  |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 02-22-2019 11:06 AM
A good light table or other strong backlighting to shine through the envelope might give you a hint of what if anything is inside. |
streetsnake
Member Posts: 180
From: Ohio
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 02-22-2019 03:42 PM
There was nothing exciting inside the Apollo 11 covers, as many of you were guessing. However, I did come across some additional covers I wanted to share, two of which I'm guessing are flown on the Challenger. Please let me know your thoughts if you have any. 
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onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 02-22-2019 05:09 PM
Those covers you just posted are more interesting, especially the Apollo ones. I see an Apollo 12 PRS USS Hornet 'Captain's cover' (second row, right) so that's one to hang on to. The two Shuttle covers, yes, they were flown on Challenger and are worth $10-$15 (more if they come with the USPS presentation folder). |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 02-22-2019 05:34 PM
Agree with onesmallstep. Also the Apollo 13 Artopages cachet USS Iwo Jima cover (third row down, second cover from the left in the latest image) carries a bit of a premium as it was considered to have been a "crew cover" available to the ship's crew for their use. |
streetsnake
Member Posts: 180
From: Ohio
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 02-22-2019 07:19 PM
Thank you both very much for the information. It is amazing the amount of info you have on these. Is there a specific place where covers are documented? I'd like to compile info on the ones I'm going to keep... mainly the Apollo missions. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 02-25-2019 11:28 AM
You're welcome — glad to be of help. There are several sites on the web for information on US space covers, but your best bet are the handbooks/guides put out by the Space Unit of the American Topical Association/American Philatelic Society. |
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