Space Cover #150: After the Flight Glenn Fever Continues After Glenn's orbital flight and return to the United States from Grand Turk Island there was Glenn fever everywhere. One of the first events to take place was President John F. Kennedy awarding John Glenn the NASA Distinguished Service Medal on February 23, 1962 at Cape Canaveral. Pictured above are Goldcraft and Sarzin covers for that event cancelled at Port Canaveral.
Next it is on to Washington, D.C. to meet again with President Kennedy and make an address to a joint session of Congress on February 26th. Goldcaft covers were produced for both of these events with a Washington, D.C. cancel on the covers.
Then to New York! On March 1 there was a ticker-tape parade on "Astronaut Day" in New York City in its salute to the entire Project Mercury team. John Glenn receives the New York City Medal of Honor. The Orbit cover produced for Astronaut Day was cancelled in New York at the Planetarium Station. Can you see anything especially interesting about the cover? The Project Mercury stamps are arranged in a tete-beche format (a "joined" pair of stamps in which one is upside down in relation to the other).
The following day is a visit to the United Nations where John Glenn is accompanied by the United States delegate Adlai Stevenson. The printed cover is cancelled at the United Nations post office in New York.
Finally, it's on to John Glenn's hometown of New Concord, Ohio. In addition to the city's events the United States Post Office Department used a special slogan cancel "HOME OF ASTRONAUT GLENN" at the New Concord post office. Pictured is a Fleetwood cover for the homecoming and the other cover specifically positioned the stamp so the cancel is clearly shown.
There were more events throughout the year honoring Glenn's flight such as John Glenn Day at the Ohio State Fair. These are all fairly common and are typically priced lower than flight covers. So if you find some...
posted 02-26-2012 07:48 PM
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