Space Cover 597: Dutch Space Travel ArchivesThe Dutch Space Travel Archives (DSTA) produced both covers and Cinderella "stamp" sheets in the 1960s. The early covers were numbered and specifically contained the initials DSTA on the covers. The covers were addressed to the Dutch Space Travel Archives.
The cover series created by the Dutch Space Travel Archive began with cover DSTA 1 for John Glenn's orbital flight. It has an image of John Glenn along with a Project Mercury Capsule with the letters DSTA on it. The postmark on February 20, 1962 is from Amsterdam, Netherlands. The rubber stamp address has the Dutch Space Travel Archives, Eemsstraat 48, Amsterdam.
The Dutch Space Travel Archive also did covers for some unmanned launches as well. Ariel 1 (the first British satellite, also known as UK 1) was commemorated as DSTA 3. The postmark is on April 26, 1962 from Amsterdam. This cover differs somewhat, as an - "Ariel" Progress in Space - wording was added with a rubber stamp to the front of the cover.
Wally Schirra's flight was commemorated with DSTA 7, with an Amsterdam postmark of October 3, 1962.
The earliest Cinderella "stamp" sheetlet that I am aware of is for the two-year anniversary of John Glenn's orbital flight in 1964. The image on the sheet match the drawings of John Glenn and the Project Mercury capsule with its DSTA letters that appeared on the DSTA 1 cover above. There is no denomination on the "stamps" so it is not a local post type of sheet. Believe this was issued with the John Glenn anniversary DSTA 15 cover on February 20, 1964.
There are multiple versions of the DSTA 16 cover commemorating Robert Goddard. First, a cover using one of the images from the Glenn "stamp" sheet "cancelled" with a green rubber stamp "8c airmail In memory of the Goddard stamp released today by the U.S. Post Office Depart. October 5, 1964". Second, the cover with a Netherlands stamp cancelled aboard the USS Albany which visited Amsterdam from October 5th to 12th, 1964. It also has a red version of the rubber stamp from the first cover. The other interesting thing about this cover is that it has the US Navy ship USS Albany postmarking non-United States stamps. Third, an actual Robert Goddard stamp FDC.
There are covers in the late 1960s that have the "look" of the DSTA covers and cancelled in the Netherlands but no DSTA marking on them.
I don't know who actually produced these covers and "stamps." Have never seen a listing of the numbered events and "stamps" created. Don't know the quantities created by DSTA for their various covers and "stamp" sheets. DSTA numbering stopped between 1964 and 1967, unnumbered covers were created by DSTA into at least 1970. What/when were the last DSTA produced cover and "stamp" sheet?
Can anyone provide details on the DSTA? I have had DSTA items in my collection and anyone I have asked doesn't know any details about DSTA. The covers and "stamps" do appear regularly in dealer boxes so there seems to be a relatively large quantity of each produced.
Any help is appreciated!
posted 02-06-2021 09:24 PM
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