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Author
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Topic: Visitor Information Center cachet at KSC
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backburner
Member Posts: 101
From: NYC, NY, USA
Registered: Nov 2005
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posted 09-23-2024 10:31 AM
   
I just obtained a cover with a rubber stamp cachet for Apollo-Soyuz Test Project from the Visitor Information Center at Kennedy Space Center. Does anyone know what missions this was used for? Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
Axman
Member Posts: 594
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 09-23-2024 12:31 PM
They obviously varied depending on the specific mission, but the earliest one I know of was for Skylab SL-1 launch 14th May 1973... |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3867
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 09-23-2024 12:36 PM
The VIC rubber stamp cachet covers at KSC for Apollo 16/17, Skylab's, and Apollo-Soyuz were produced by a German space cover dealer from 1972 to 1975. They were not-government issued and have no official connections or tie-ins to
NASA nor Kennedy Space Center.
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onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1480
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 09-23-2024 03:28 PM
Is this the same dealer that produced the 'unofficial' VIP cards in the style of the NASA-issued cards handed out at the launch viewing sites and subsequently cancelled for mission events? |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3867
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 09-23-2024 05:36 PM
There were actually two independent German sources that printed VIP launch cards as a commercial (non-government issued) and private basis for the later Apollo missions, Skylab flights (including the SL-3 "wives" designed emblem cards) and all shuttle launches. Throughout the 30+ year shuttle program, there was only one official NASA/DNPS VIP launch card produced for Shuttle Mission STS-95/Discovery in 1998 by SpaceCoast Cover Service, a long-time space vendor here at Kennedy. |
thisismills
Member Posts: 568
From: Michigan
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 09-24-2024 10:04 AM
For reference, a few examples of the unofficial cachets. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3867
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 09-24-2024 12:44 PM
By all means, thanks Jeff, I did miss including Apollo-Soyuz in the VIC series of cachet covers.I don't think a lot of NASA and TWA Services employees were too much aware of the earlier VIC cachet applications from Apollo to Skylab/ASTP while "on site." For instance, I have an original letter dated in August 1981 to the President of the KSC Philatelic Society concerning the VIC usage for STS-1/Columbia a few months earlier. In part, the letter says ,"The prepared "stamp" commemorating envelopes were brought to the VIC by Eberhard Colle, a German philatelic collector and dealer, on Sunday, April 12, 1981. The stamp was given to the VIC main counter agents as a gift and has since been forwarded to this office (PA-VIC headed by NASA) for retention. Mr. H. B. Chambers, TWAS Services, Inc, Vice President and General Manager insructed his staff that they will utilize no add-on imprints to any materials unless directed to do so in writing." |
bobslittlebro
Member Posts: 278
From: Douglasville, Ga U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 09-26-2024 02:27 PM
Here is a very good example of an un-official Apollo 17 VIC cover. I appreciate all the info on this cover. |
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