posted 07-03-2020 02:27 PM
Ross - nice find!I think this is a "normal" USS Goodrich cover from the ship. It is definitely unusual in the color and the difference in color for the NASA emblem and very few others exist. I don't think this was made "on purpose" or intended to be a unique instance by the ship's postal clerk(s).
As you show in the "typical" USS Goodrich the green color is light and NASA emblem is only partially there.
USS Goodrich covers are also in black.
Since the NASA emblems are typically only partial impressions it may be an uneven rubber stamp was made.
My guess is that the rubber stamp had been used for black ink cachets and switched to green (which may be why there is a deeper green color) and the NASA emblem part of the rubber stamp only partially got the green ink — so when the rubber stamp was applied to the envelope it applied the left over black ink as the NASA emblem. Note that parts of the NASA emblem have a green color, parts look to be a mix, and other parts specifically are black.
Have seen variations in color various parts of the rubber stamp cachet on the Harry Gordon rubber stamps when covers for the same event switch between different color inks (red and blue for example).
All in all an interesting variation.