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Author Topic:   American Astrophilately (David Ball)
cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 12-25-2009 10:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
American Astrophilately
by David S. Ball
In 70 years we traveled from Kitty Hawk to the Moon. This uniquely American story of the conquest of space is traced by stamp collectors who enjoy aerospace history. By exhibiting envelopes that are postmarked near launch pads, mission control centers, and on recovery ships Astrophilatelists tell an amazing tale of new sailing ships on a vast new ocean.

American Astrophilately assists beginner and advanced collectors in identifying envelopes which meet the International Philatelic Federation (FIP) guidelines for exhibition at stamp shows. More than a dozen experts have contributed articles to explain NASA official marks, tracking ships, prime recovery ships, and why some postmarks are preferred over others.

Part two shows hundreds of envelopes in full color appropriate for exhibition and the artist responsible for the cachets.

Part three shows the most important part -- the postmark. Machine and hand cancels from launch, mid-mission and recovery are shown from the Explorer 1 launch in 1958 through the X-Prize civilian spaceflight in 2004.

The appendices contain more than 700 pages of useful reference spreadsheets, lists, and charts. Sample award winning exhibits are included as well as guidelines and regulations from the FIP and US Postal Service.

A landmark volume useful to all space event cover collectors and budding astrophilatelists.

  • Paperback: 356 pages
  • Publisher: A & A Publishers, LLC; 1ST edition (February 15, 2010)
  • ISBN-10: 0615342019
  • ISBN-13: 978-0615342016

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 02-24-2010 08:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's the web site.

NAAmodel#240
Member

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

posted 04-23-2010 05:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for NAAmodel#240   Click Here to Email NAAmodel#240     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The book just started shipping last week. Very exciting to a first-time author.

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 04-25-2010 12:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the heads up. Perfect timing!.

ColinBurgess
Member

Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 06-02-2010 08:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ColinBurgess   Click Here to Email ColinBurgess     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I received this book through the mail just last week, and even though I am only moderately interested in the history of covers, stamps and postmarks, this is a genuinely impressive book.

I can't imagine how much it might have cost to publish David's book, but the wrap-around cover is glorious and it contains high-quality gloss pages with literally hundreds of full-colour photos of covers, postmarks, stamps and other related items. He has managed to gather together some wonderful guest writers - many of them well known to regular collectSPACE readers - including folks such as Kris Stoever, Chris Calle, Joe Frasketti and Sean Marsar.

I not only like this beautiful book for the guest articles, but it covers topics ranging right back to the early stratospheric balloon flights and biomedical research rocket flights, through Projects Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and beyond. The illustrations are outstanding, as is the limited text, and I found it to be very authoritative when discussing such topics as covers, stamps, postmarks, tracking ships, recovery crews, and even fraudulent covers.

In my opinion, this is one very impressive book, and one well worth getting your hands on. It is a great research tool and now has a very deserved place in my home library.

heng44
Member

Posts: 3386
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 06-03-2010 12:03 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for heng44   Click Here to Email heng44     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I am proud to say that David thought two of my painted covers were good enough to publish in his book. Thanks David.

DOX32
Member

Posts: 242
From: Lakewood Ranch FL USA
Registered: Jul 2004

posted 06-07-2010 08:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for DOX32   Click Here to Email DOX32     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just purchased my copy at NAPEX Saturday. This book is a must buy for any serious astrophilately collector. In addition it has a DVD of supporting resources.

What makes it fantastic are the contributions by contributing authors. These expert authors are follows:

  • Beatrice Bachman (excellent article on stratospheric balloon event covers)

  • Dr. Ross Smith (Recovvery ship web site another fantastic cover resource reference)

  • Kris Stover (Aurora 7 and Apollo 8 recovery covers - new information to me)

  • Morris Beck (love all your classic covers, NAVAL and Space)

  • Owen Murray (the website of all Beck covers, a critical resource for all to share)

  • Steve Durst (an outstanding article from a fellow collwctor, mentor, and another author of many new space event books coming out in DVD/CD - get them all)

  • Eberhard Coelle (excellent article on NASA Official Cachets from KSC, and a fascinating discussion of a dual canclelation effort for ASTP cover)

  • Eddie Bizbub (his article on NASA - Western Lauch Operastions Division at Vandenberg AFB) was completely new to me. Now have a new list of cachets to seek out)

  • Chris Calle (unique space artist discussion on his father, Paul Calle's creation of stamp designs (C76 being my favorite space stamp to collect, and now three generations of artists)

  • Dr. Ben Ramkisson (a definitive article on specimens and proofs of Apollo 11 and 15 stamp creation, and post marks in outer space)

  • Sean Marsar (excellent discussion of the dark side of space postmark forgeries - the Riser affair, unfortunately we all have examples of this)

  • Robert Pearlman (who is he [kidding Robert], a great discussion of ASTP, and why this is the first website I sign on to everyday).
If that does not convince you, let me say David Ball made a substitute presentation at NAPEX on Saturday, June 5 that was informative, interesting, and educational. He is a great public speaker, sharing his collecting experience, and the example covers he shared with the audience kept everyone's attention.

Hopefully we have some new excited space collectors for our hobby.

ChrisCalle
Member

Posts: 135
From: Ridgefield, CT USA
Registered: Jan 2009

posted 06-21-2010 06:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ChrisCalle   Click Here to Email ChrisCalle     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I received my copy and this is a terrific book!

I was fascinated with the uniqueness of each chapter and the stories each author tells. Beautiful reproductions of interesting covers, postmarks and related material make this a must have book for the astrophilatelist and any space enthusiast. In my opinion this is an impressive book and one that I am very proud to have my artwork included.

Chris
www.callespaceart.com

NAAmodel#240
Member

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

posted 07-22-2010 02:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for NAAmodel#240   Click Here to Email NAAmodel#240     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Pleased to report that the Smithsonian has agreed to offer American Astrophilately in both the National Postal Museum and National Air and Space Museum. If you live near Weston, MA it can be found in the Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum as well. Collectors from 11 nations (so far) have ordered from AmericanAstrophilately.com.

NAAmodel#240
Member

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

posted 08-15-2010 08:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for NAAmodel#240   Click Here to Email NAAmodel#240     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The largest stamp show in the United States was held over the weekend with over 60 publications in competition. I am pleased to report that American Astrophilately has been awarded the American Philatelic Society Gold Medal for Literature.

ColinBurgess
Member

Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 08-15-2010 09:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ColinBurgess   Click Here to Email ColinBurgess     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Many congratulations on this tremendous honour, David. Well deserved, as it is a sensationally good and beautifully presented book.

NAAmodel#240
Member

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

posted 10-18-2010 01:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for NAAmodel#240   Click Here to Email NAAmodel#240     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
American Astrophilately has just been picked up nationally by Baker & Taylor and Ingram. This makes book signings at Barnes & Nobles and other large chain retailers possible.

The first book signings are scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend at the three area B&N locations in Charleston. Hope to see a mob of cSers there.

GoesTo11
Member

Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 10-18-2010 02:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoesTo11   Click Here to Email GoesTo11     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Since this thread just got bumped, I thought I'd throw in my 2c on American Astrophilately.

I recently purchased it from Don and Tamara Boggs, and it's just wonderful. I'm not a collector of space stamps or covers (though I still have the STS-8 flown cover that I cajoled my parents into buying me from an ad in TV Guide in 1983. 1983!), but this book still belongs in the library of any space exploration enthusiast or historian. It's a beautifully produced documentation of a unique niche in space history.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 05-22-2011 05:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
David Ball will be signing "American Astrophilately" at the following events: He will also be giving a presentation at the national meeting for the Space Topic Study Group (Space Unit).

(All these events can also be found on our Space History Events calendar.)

Tykeanaut
Member

Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008

posted 05-28-2011 03:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tykeanaut   Click Here to Email Tykeanaut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If you are buying direct from American Astrophilately as I did on May 6th here is a message I received today:
I appreciate you contacting me about your copy of American Astrophilately. I learned at the beginning of the week that the order fulfillment service I use has gone out of business.

Apparently, orders dating back as much as 4 weeks have not shipped. I got an email from a customer yesterday who ordered May 5th also had the same question.

Yesterday the stock of books were moved from the warehouse to the new service. They hope to be up and running within a week.

DChudwin
Member

Posts: 1096
From: Lincolnshire IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 06-29-2013 05:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
David Ball's masterful book "American Astrophilately: The First 50 Years" is now available from Regency-Superior. I just purchased a copy for $29.95 including shipping.

Anyone who is interested in philatelic space matters should have this beautifully illustrated book. It contains articles by experts in this area and color images of many classic covers. A CD is included with even more information. It is an outstanding reference source.

I highly recommend this book and am happy that Regency-Superior has it for sale.

Philip
Member

Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 07-04-2013 09:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
May I point out a similar book on Astronomy: Stamping Through Astronomy.

onesmallstep
Member

Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 07-08-2013 10:43 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for onesmallstep   Click Here to Email onesmallstep     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hopefully updates/supplements can be added in the future?

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