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  Value of Apollo 1 cancel with autopens

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Author Topic:   Value of Apollo 1 cancel with autopens
thartline01
New Member

Posts: 2
From: Olmsted Falls
Registered: Nov 2019

posted 12-21-2019 05:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for thartline01   Click Here to Email thartline01     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have read with a lot of interest the discussions on both the Apollo 1 autopens and the Apollo 1 fire cancels. I was wondering if anyone else has a cover with both?

I acquired a collection of space covers back in 1985 which included a cover cancelled from Satellite Beach on Jan. 27, 1967 along with the autopens of all three astronauts. I corresponded back in 1987 with the person who had the cover cancelled, Bob Whitney. He stated that he thought he had about one dozen of the covers cancelled that night from Satellite Beach, but doesn't remember any others having autopens.

I would be curious if anyone has an estimate of the value? I know the autopens are not as valuable as the actual autographs, but since they are tied to a significant cancel, this seems a unique combination.

Chuckster01
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Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014

posted 12-22-2019 02:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Chuckster01   Click Here to Email Chuckster01     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
To me, the Grissom looks hand signed, not an expert but that is my opinion. I do believe the other two are autopen.

NAAmodel#240
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Posts: 312
From: Boston, Mass.
Registered: Jun 2005

posted 12-22-2019 10:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for NAAmodel#240   Click Here to Email NAAmodel#240     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Interesting in that I believe it is NASA's policy to retire the autopen matrix with the death of the astronaut.

Mike Dixon
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Posts: 1397
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003

posted 12-23-2019 03:41 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike Dixon   Click Here to Email Mike Dixon     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You're right but a bit late when they're already "out in the field."

capoetc
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Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005

posted 12-23-2019 08:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for capoetc   Click Here to Email capoetc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The address on the cover is a Pensacola address. It could be that the original owner sent the uncancelled cover for signatures, received an original Grisson and White/Chaffee autopens thinking they were all original signatures, and then had the cover cancelled on Jan 27, 1967.

Just a theory.

NAAmodel#240
Member

Posts: 312
From: Boston, Mass.
Registered: Jun 2005

posted 12-23-2019 10:02 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for NAAmodel#240   Click Here to Email NAAmodel#240     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The postmark is also curious. While a Satellite Beach PM cancel would have been available all afternoon it was most likely obtained after word of the fire became known. The event was around 6:30pm and I think the post office closed at 8pm.

thartline01
New Member

Posts: 2
From: Olmsted Falls
Registered: Nov 2019

posted 12-23-2019 02:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for thartline01   Click Here to Email thartline01     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Bob Whitney, the person who had the cancel done at the post office, said that he had been servicing covers since 1966 and he lived in Satellite Beach, so I don't think it would have been a problem for him getting the cancel done on that day. I also have several covers he did for Bill Spaid that were made on the same material used for the Gemini and Apollo flotation collars. The flotation collars were manufactured in Pensacola. It seems that Bob Whitney and Bill Spaid knew each other well through the hobby.

Based on opinions I have gotten from others in the past, I assumed all three of the signatures where autopens.

Chuckster01
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Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014

posted 12-23-2019 04:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Chuckster01   Click Here to Email Chuckster01     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I would love to hear Ken's or Steve's opinion on the Grissom autograph. Like I said it is just my opinion. That and $5.00 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks... lol.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 12-23-2019 05:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I agree with Chuck; the Grissom does not match the known autopen patterns, even taking into account distortions based on the nature of the machine.

There are some ink spots, which may have been why others thought it was an autopen (in addition to it being alongside White and Chaffee autopens), but if you look at other examples of Grissom's autograph, you can see they are common to how he signed.

This might be one of the rare instances where you might prefer it be an autopen.

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