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Author
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Topic: Space Velvet, Voyage and Lunar Voyage covers
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ChrisCalle
Member Posts: 186
From: Ridgefield, CT
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 10-04-2011 09:01 AM
   
I saw a listing for Velvet cacheted covers. Does anyone know who the cachetmaker? I find them really interesting and would like to try to put together a set. I would be interested in learning more about them. |
randyc
Member Posts: 851
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 10-04-2011 09:40 AM
They were made by Robert Rank, who also made the Space Voyage and Lunar Voyage covers. |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1648
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 10-04-2011 11:34 AM
DOX32 (Woody Witt) is assembling a listing of all the Velvetone Cachets that he (and I) could find. Woody? |
DOX32
Member Posts: 242
From: Lakewood Ranch FL USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 10-04-2011 04:46 PM
Yes these are Robert Rank produced Velvet cacheted covers.Actually, the are not Velvetone, a term used by A. W. Dargis for many fuzzy FDCs. Robert Rank produced "Space Velvet" cachets and he used several names including Texture Craft, First-RANK, and Rank II for FDCs. The space covers were called Velvet space covers and advertised in the ATA space unit Astrophile (see September 1966 issue, pages 19-20) on a subscription only basis. He only produced 35 to 60 covers for each space event because many of these covers were add-ons, and were originally serviced uncacheted by Sarzin. His Velvet cacheted space event, are very clean, multi-colored and his process included finishing the covers in his oven! His process used a combination and velvet like flocking (feels fuzzy). Also, he produced covers with the same designs using silk screen, but did not put the "velvet" process on them. (see examples in Steve Durst many excellent space event publications). Mr. Rank, of course, produced many excellent multicolor printed space event covers as Lunar Voyage for Apollo launches and latter event cachets as Space Voyage. If anyone has anything else to add, please comment. |
tjaiz
New Member Posts: 5
From: Reston, VA
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 05-13-2013 07:35 AM
I've been looking for a Lunar Voyager-Space Voyager catalog (along the lines of Chuck Vukotich's Swanson Monograph) but have never found anything. Does Robert Rank have a catalog? If not I was contemplating starting a catalog based on my collection of Space Voyager cachets from the early 70s. I also heard of a catalog by Bill Davis that covered Rank's Space Shuttle SVCs from 1975-1993. Does that exist? |
Ross
Member Posts: 521
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 05-13-2013 08:36 AM
Todd, I don't know if it is still available but William R. Davis produced an extensive catalog of Space Voyager covers from 25 May 1971 through 28 January 1989. I have a copy and it has 572 pages plus appendices. My copy is the First Edition 1993. |
tjaiz
New Member Posts: 5
From: Reston, VA
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 05-20-2013 02:00 PM
Ross, excellent, I was hoping someone would have a copy so I could get some more info. Is there a publisher, mailing address, any contact info in the catalog, that I might be able to use to try and obtain a copy? |
Ross
Member Posts: 521
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 05-21-2013 08:49 AM
Todd, the catalog was edited and published by William R. Davis. It mentions that inquires should be addressed to: William R. Davis
6705 Galaxie Road
Richmond, Virginia 23228-5021 |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1648
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 05-21-2013 07:14 PM
I tried writing Mr. Davis at that address a few years ago. Never got a response. Please let us all know if he does respond! |
tjaiz
New Member Posts: 5
From: Reston, VA
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 05-22-2013 09:42 AM
Well, there's an active phone number at that address for William R Davis, so I will drop him a line and see what happens. Ross, could you clarify the coverage of his catalog, the title on the Amazon listing is as follows: United States Space Shuttle cover catalog: a chronologically compiled record of shuttle events, testings, and launches depicted by Space Voyage cachets on historical souvenir covers, May 25, 1971 through January 28, 1989, published in 1993. If this is indeed correct, then there would be a "catalog gap" for all of Robert Rank's other space covers - Lunar Voyage and Space Voyage covers? Unless someone knows of such a list/catalog, I could be motivated to start one since most of my Rank covers do not pertain to the shuttle, except the early test spaceplanes and stops around 1975, although it's my understanding that RR produced covers well into the 90s. Comments, thoughts anyone? |
Ross
Member Posts: 521
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 05-23-2013 09:31 AM
Todd, the Amazon listing is correct including the dates. The catalog does include some X-24 X-24a and b and M2F3 covers. The rest are shuttle related including early development tests, engine tests, flight tests and many other pre STS-1 flight covers plus STS-1 to STS-27 including STS-51L covers. The covers are numbered from SV001 to SV2430! A lot of covers.It would be interesting to know if there is an update? |
tjaiz
New Member Posts: 5
From: Reston, VA
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 06-19-2013 09:45 AM
Due to the lack of posts, I presume nobody has an inventory of their Robert Rank covers that are not Space Shuttle related (and therefore covered in the out of print catalog discussed earlier)? Looks like I have my winter project then, to make an inventory and start collecting info for a database. I'm sure to be in the Richmond area at some point to try and meet Robert Rank (if he'll speak with me). Film at 11. |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 785
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 06-20-2013 10:59 AM
William R. Davis was from Richmond (unfortunately Bill died in 2009 at age 87). Robert Rank lives in New Jersey. |
Susan Rank
New Member Posts: 5
From: Sloansville, NY USA
Registered: Mar 2014
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posted 04-24-2014 02:56 PM
I am in possession of some of Robert Rank's first day covers, I have some velvet or flocked ones that are quite old. I also have a lot of information on Mr. Rank if you all are still interested. quote:
Originally posted by tjaiz:
...nobody has an inventory of their Robert Rank covers that are not Space Shuttle related
Robert did do a few covers that are not space related, I will look and see what I have. |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 785
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 04-24-2014 06:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by tjaiz:
Looks like I have my winter project then, to make an inventory and start collecting info for a database.
Did you ever create the inventory? |
DOX32
Member Posts: 242
From: Lakewood Ranch FL USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 04-24-2014 08:16 PM
Both Dennis and I have put together spreadsheets of Robert Rank produced Space Velvet cached covers. We would certainly be interested in meeting the Rank family and share any information we all have on covers in our possession. I currently live in Florida, but will be coming north for NAPEX in Tysons Corner Virginia the first week of June, 2014. We are planning an ATA Space unit meeting at the location also. Ms. Rank, we would enjoy meeting you to discuss the Rank Velvet covers you may have. Please send me an email if you would like to discuss a future meeting site. My travel plans include travel to Hartford CT in August 2014 for the national APS show, as well. — Woody Witt |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3497
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 04-24-2014 08:31 PM
Was just notified that Robert Rank had passed away in Feb. 2014 after a long illness. Hopefully more can be posted here later. |
LM1
Member Posts: 861
From: New York, NY
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 04-25-2014 05:41 AM
I am very saddened to hear that Robert Rank recently passed away. I met Bob several times and we corresponded over the years. He was an asset to the hobby of space philately. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2804
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 04-25-2014 09:16 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Susan Rank:
I am in possession of some of Robert Rank's first day covers, I have some velvet or flocked ones that are quite old. I also have a lot of information on Mr. Rank if you all are still interested.
Very much so Susan, thanks for your efforts. And my deepest condolences. |
tjaiz
New Member Posts: 5
From: Reston, VA
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 06-06-2014 05:50 AM
My condolescences Susan, on your father's (?) passing. I wouldn't mind collecting people's spreadsheet lists of Rank space covers to merge with mine along with any info you'd care to provide with an eye to eventually creating a project similar to Chuck Vukotich's Swanson monograph. Is anyone else doing this or interested in the research? I live in Reston, VA. — Todd Anderson |
DOX32
Member Posts: 242
From: Lakewood Ranch FL USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 06-06-2014 10:04 PM
Todd, yes both Dennis and I have spreadsheets of Rank Velvet Cachets. Would be great if Susan Rank can find any records of numbers produced. Send me email to discuss coordination next steps.Currently attending NAPEX at Tysons Corner Hilton this week end June 6-8, 2014. Moved to Lakewood Ranch, FL. |
Loken
New Member Posts: 4
From: Toluca Lake, CA USA
Registered: May 2015
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posted 05-18-2015 12:32 PM
Hey guys. New here and a Space Voyage collector from way back. Actually spoke to Robert Rank directly and I am sure I have his letters in my collection (which I am breaking out of storage today).I have the big two volume catalog and will post again when I have some photos and details. — Alec Peters |
DOX32
Member Posts: 242
From: Lakewood Ranch FL USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 05-18-2015 02:06 PM
Let us know what you get out of storage.A number of us collect Rank Space Velvet cacheted covers. By the way, Space Unit will try to get together at NAPEX 2015 in June 5-7, 2015 at Tyson's Corner Hilton, Virginia. — Woody |
Loken
New Member Posts: 4
From: Toluca Lake, CA USA
Registered: May 2015
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posted 05-20-2015 01:17 AM
Well, my two boxes are out of storage and a true walk down memory lane. Forgot how much history I had in stamps. Will post a bunch of photos. So love the quality of Space Voyage cachets. I had so much fun collecting. Like many of you, I grew up on the space race (I'm 54) and so these are simply awesome to see again. Two questions: - Is there a checklist of the early Rank covers?
- How do you all store your covers? The Lighthouse Album pages are too big. But I want something of that quality.
Photos coming. And thanks to Chris Calle for all his help. |
Loken
New Member Posts: 4
From: Toluca Lake, CA USA
Registered: May 2015
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posted 06-12-2015 01:34 AM
Some notes:I have to say Lighthouse S2 pages are simply AMAZING. They hold your cover perfectly in place and are super clear. I copied the WIlliam R. Davis checklist out of the back of his catalog and am using it as a checklist for my collection. I am noting some errors and wondering if anyone else has. |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 785
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 06-12-2015 07:22 PM
Will you be publishing the list of errors? |
Loken
New Member Posts: 4
From: Toluca Lake, CA USA
Registered: May 2015
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posted 06-16-2015 09:52 PM
I am hoping we can all get together and share info. I am happy to publish my list when complete. |
DOX32
Member Posts: 242
From: Lakewood Ranch FL USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 06-17-2015 03:56 PM
Many of us have never seen this catalogue. What period of time does it cover? Does it list Space Velvet caches Rank produced?Thank you for sharing anything you may have. |
Virginia9er
New Member Posts: 4
From: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Registered: Feb 2022
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posted 08-23-2022 11:45 AM
I see that this topic is very old in the forum, but I inherited the William Davis collection. I have reached out to some of you on this message board. I had a copy of the Space Voyage detailed catalog that I have already sent to Tom Steiner. However, I did make a PDF copy of the pages that had the covers in chronological order. I'll be glad to post it to my Dropbox folder and provide a link for anyone to view and print off. Outside of his vast collection, he has numerous copies (from what I can tell) of EVERY cover, in pristine condition. One set he has in a 30 binder set, with duplicates organized in tins. Here is link to the Dropbox folder with pictures of the covers and collection (I am constantly updating). |
thisismills
Member Posts: 475
From: Michigan
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 08-23-2022 08:28 PM
I would be interested in seeing the PDF catalog to help organize my collection, thank you for the offer to share! |
Virginia9er
New Member Posts: 4
From: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Registered: Feb 2022
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posted 08-23-2022 08:55 PM
Go to the above Dropbox link and click the folder that I named **chronological list of covers...I have plenty of pristine duplicates if anyone is looking to fill out a collection OR if they want a full set put together. |
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