posted 11-10-2024 02:35 PM               

Space Cover 779: And Yes, Why Not!

We can thank George Goldey for documenting most of the early space launches starting with Explorer 1 with the Goldcraft covers he produced. Less known to space collectors is that Goldey also produced political event covers and First Day Covers starting in the mid-1950s.

Goldcraft space FDCs can be found for the space stamps of Echo, Project Mercury, Gemini Space Achievements, etc. through the Space Shuttle Stamps of 1981. Starting with the Goldcraft Project Mercury first day covers, unlike most First Day cachet makers, Goldey produced FDCs in multiple cachet images and colors including different word placements in the cachet for the same words – ultimately producing countless varieties. Goldey did not record the total number of how many of each First Day he created nor how many of each variety, so we will never know what variety will be found next!

Shown above is a first day of a dual-purpose issue, this stamp marks the 200th anniversary of the settlement of California as well as the bicentennial of the city of San Diego. It just happened that the first day of issue took place on July 16, 1969 – the launch date of Apollo 11.

And yes, George Goldey, why not take the California stamp first day cover and apply an Apollo 11 cachet to it. And so, he did...

Showing once again, you never know where or on what you will find a space Goldey cachet...