posted 03-05-2011 02:12 PM               

Space Cover #99, Rockwell Space Division Stamp Club Covers

On September 17, 1976, at the Rockwell assembly plant in Palmdale, CA, Orbiter Vehicle 101 (OV-101), much better known as Enterprise, was rolled out and officially presented to the media and public.

Also on that day, members of the Rockwell Space Division Stamp Club (RSDSC) began their long series of multi-colored cacheted covers to commemmorate events and tests in the Space Shuttle Program.

The issurance of these well-designed covers would continue for a number of years and mainly commemorate Space Shuttle launches and orbiter events, such as ferry flights and orbiter debuts.

Six of RSDSC's many covers are featured here, starting with Cover #1: the Palmdale OV-101/Enterprise Rollout. The next cover marks the first ALT/Enterprise Free Flight (with the 2nd cancel marking the fifth and final Free Flight). The third cover marks the first 3-engine Full Duration SSME Firing at NSTL (later Stennis Space Center). The fourth cover marks the launch of Columbia on STS-1. Cover number five marks the launch of STS-2 and the final and bottom cover marks the Rollout/premier of new orbiter Discovery at its assembly plant in Palmdale. These handsome covers were also appropriate and useful for extra cancels and autographs, and this rollout cover was also canceled at KSC for Discovery's first launch, STS-41D, and later autographed by Discovery's first crew.

Through my many years of collecting, I've not seen many of these RSDSC covers, nor have seen much discussion about them. They are handsome and well-done covers and marked most of the early Shuttle milestones and deserve recognition and are certainly worthy of collecting.

posted 03-09-2011 03:46 PM               

For example, have the #1 cover above with both the SEP 17, 1976 date. These covers also include a nice color inserts with descriptive information on front and back from the Rockwell International Space Division.

Also, the same design with Overland Move 77 for JAN 31 1977 at Palmdale and Edwards, with some stick on labels of the Overland Move 77.

Is there any catalogue or listing of the covers made, as I have several through the different STS missions etc.?

posted 03-10-2011 07:54 AM               

It would be good to learn how long these covers were issued, and to also get a complete list of what events they were issued for and in what quantities.

I collected all the early RSDSC covers, but as time went on missed some. The last RSDSC covers I have are for the Overland Move of Atlantis from Palmdale to Edwards AFB, and the launch of STS-51I in 1985.

posted 03-10-2011 03:46 PM               

As the club's only president, Ed's guidance and leadership from 1976-85, made possible the production of many attractive commemorative covers for nearly a decade throughout the early shuttle era.

Perhaps one of the final, if not the last, "Rockwell" Stamp Club issued cover was produced in July 1999 for the 30th anniversary of man's first lunar landing mission. But it wasn't a Rockwell issue as the Boeing Company was in operating control replacing Rockwell International.

Ed had placed a phone call order to my firm for the production of the special lunar landing anniversary.

Without checking the files, I think the last Rockwell-issued cover was printed for the maiden shuttle launch of Atlantis in Oct. 1985.

posted 03-11-2011 06:51 PM               

My firm was able to acquire all of the club's rubber stamp devices, printed decal stickers, and several shoe-type boxes completely filled with all the Rockwell-issued cover varieties. Included were many hardly-unseen limited special Rockwell cover editions.

After the shuttle fleet is retired, I am planning to piece together a study and/or report concerning the club's origins, operations, and decade-long philatelic history. It's a great story that I feel needs to be told to the astrophilately communities.

posted 05-22-2014 09:12 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by micropooz:
Steve Garner, with consultation from Rockwell Cachet guru Wolf Magnus, has put together a fantastic web based catalog of the Rockwell covers! Many thanks Steve and Wolf!

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