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  Vintage STS-1 LURABA'81 stationery

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Author Topic:   Vintage STS-1 LURABA'81 stationery
Space-it
Member

Posts: 15
From: Villarbasse - TO - Italy
Registered: Jun 2008

posted 02-18-2021 01:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Space-it   Click Here to Email Space-it     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
While preparing an article on the 40th of the STS-1 mission for AD-ASTRA, the magazine of ASITAF, Italian Astrophilately Society, I've unearthed some stationeries which I have in my collection.

I'm wondering whether anyone knows why — while the stationery was designed by the Swiss stamp artist Karl Tanner and used during the LURABA'81 ("LUft- & RAumfahrt Briefmarken Ausstellung" that in German is "Air & Space Stamps Exhibition") — some of them were signed by Bob McCall, and modified in the front side, according to his usual style as they were designed by himself.

For comparison, the original card by Swiss stamp artist Karl Tanner is as follows:

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 45630
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-18-2021 02:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Given the date of the cancels (Nov. 12, 1981) and the stamp on the front of one of the postcards, the signatures were likely added at the release of the "Space Achievement" stamps that were designed by Robert McCall.

John Young and Bob Crippen, along with McCall, attended the first day of issue ceremony at Kennedy Space Center.

Space-it
Member

Posts: 15
From: Villarbasse - TO - Italy
Registered: Jun 2008

posted 02-18-2021 04:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Space-it   Click Here to Email Space-it     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This is correct. There is a picture confirming the participation of John Young and Bob Crippen, together with Bob McCall, at the official ceremony held at the KSC on May 21, 1981. But what about the STS-2 card that hasn't these stamps?

And why did Bob McCall "customize" these cards?

eurospace
Member

Posts: 2642
From: Berlin, Germany
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 02-18-2021 06:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for eurospace   Click Here to Email eurospace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
McCall added a drawing to every item he was kind enough to autograph.

Ken Havekotte
Member

Posts: 3173
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 02-18-2021 08:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ken Havekotte   Click Here to Email Ken Havekotte     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Nothing actually unusual about the Swiss cards in reference to here and it looks like stamp designer McCall was asked to sign the cards as well. But as Juergen pointed out, at times he did include a small illustration to accommodate or enhance signature requests.

Just for the record, though, the Young signature is an autopen (AP), while Crippen, Engle, and Truly are genuine.

All times are CT (US)

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