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Author
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Topic: Space Cover 160: Mercury-Atlas 7 USS Pierce
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micropooz
Member Posts: 1746
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 05-06-2012 06:38 PM
   
Space Cover of the Week, Week 160 (May 6, 2012) Space Cover #160: MA-7 USS PierceThe 50th anniversary of Mercury-Atlas 7 (aka - Aurora 7) with Scott Carpenter onboard, is right around the corner! So let's take a look at a cover from that flight. Most of you know that Aurora 7 landed 402 km downrange from the planned splashdown point, and took quite a while to recover. Carpenter was picked up by helicopters from the planned prime recovery ship, the USS Intrepid. The closest ship to the splashdown was the destroyer USS Farragut, however, it did not have the proper boat and aircraft crane to hoist Aurora 7 out of the water. About 6 hours after the landing, the destroyer USS John R Pierce successfully recovered Aurora 7. Since the Pierce was planned to be a secondary recovery ship, few covers were postmarked onboard the Pierce for the capsule recovery. Couple that with the demand for covers postmarked onboard a ship that actually recovered a capsule, and one finds that USS Pierce covers for the recovery are scarce. My current USS John R. Pierce cover is shown above. How many covers were actually postmarked onboard the Pierce? Nobody seems to know for sure, and I've even heard speculation that there could not have been more than ten. This is the third Pierce that I have owned. Since I've had three different ones in my collecting life, I'd tend to think that there must be more than ten Pierces out there. So, let's do a census! Who else has a Pierce (or more)? Please respond if you do, and even post images if you can. And if yours is one of my previous two Pierces (I don't remember who those went to), please note that as well, so we don't double account those. This obviously won't be a complete census, but could give us an order-of-magnitude estimate. Thanks gang! |
Eddie Bizub
Member Posts: 139
From: Kissimmee, FL USA
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 05-06-2012 08:56 PM
I have one Dennis. Don't have it here so I can't scan it. Front has no cachet and the back has just a hint of their cachet. I do also have a USS Farragut cover. No cachet at all. Jane Beville also had a Pierce. We sold her the one that Dick Learn had owned. Not sure where that ended up. |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 862
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 05-06-2012 09:37 PM
Here is a Goldcraft Cachet for USS John R. Pierce. I know of two of the GCC covers and would assume there are more out there. I also have one like Eddie - no cachet on front, faded ship cachet on the back. |
Ross
Member Posts: 546
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 05-07-2012 08:42 AM
I have two covers. The first appears to be Dennis's old cover that has since been signed by Carpenter. I bought this at a RR auction. The second has a plain front with quite a prominent ship's cachet on the back.So far that makes at least 8 and possibly 9 so the so called 10 is definitely short of the mark. So far Eddie's USS Farragut is the only one that I've seen. Does anyone else have one. This mission was also significant for us collectors as it was the first mission for which covers were available from most of the Recovery ships, not to mention several that were not involved. |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 862
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 05-07-2012 10:44 AM
Ross, I have a USS Farragut cover as well - addressed to the same person as Eddie's and has the same overcancel. |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 834
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 05-07-2012 06:15 PM
Dennis, I have two USS John R. Pierce covers postmarked on 5/24/1962. One is addressed to Capt. H. F. Rommel. The other one has a stamped address label of Jerri Chaivoe from New York. Both are franked with a Mercury stamp and have the printed cachet on their back.Probably It would pay to send one of them to a Scott Carpenter signing. |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1746
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 05-10-2012 07:47 PM
This is great, guys! Keep those Pierce sightings coming!And Ross - yes, I had that cover signed by Carpenter at the 2005 autograph show in New Jersey. Glad it went to a good home! |
stevedd841
Member Posts: 299
From: Millersville, Maryland
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 05-12-2012 08:01 AM
Two more covers for Dennis' USS John R. Pierce cover census for Scott Carpenter's mission recovery: - Plain Jane USS John R. Pierce cover, unaddressed, with PM hand cancel on astronaut Scott Carpenter's mission recovery date, May 24, 1962. A USS John R. Pierce black rubber stamped cachet is centered on reverse of the cover.
- A George Goldey cachet cover for USS John R. Pierce, signed by astronaut Scott Carpenter, on his mission recovery date, May 24, 1962. The ship's rubber stamped black cachet is also on the reverse of this cover. Note, USS John R. Pierce did not recover Carpenter but did recovery his spacecraft, Aurora 7, thus becoming the Primary Recovery Ship for his MA-7 flight. USS Intrepid's recovery helo recovered Carpenter on the recovery.
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micropooz
Member Posts: 1746
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 05-12-2012 04:55 PM
Okay, I've put together a spreadsheet of the responses so far. We have 11 Pierce covers recorded, so that blows the "less than ten" theory. There are likely more out there than the eleven we have here. If any of you want the spreadsheet in native format (Excel), please e-mail me. I will update the spreadsheet if any more responses come in.Looks like we have two Goldey cachets (do you guys really think that Goldey just sent two to the Pierce, or more?). Seven are no-cachet (with varying resolution of the ship's rubber stamped cachet on the reverse). One has the Ship's Cachet applied to the front of the cover (obverse side) as opposed to the reverse. One has a typed cachet (the one I highlighted in the article above). |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 862
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 05-12-2012 06:44 PM
The second Goldcraft I know of wasn't Steve's so there are three known Goldcraft, and I do bet more. |
Eddie Bizub
Member Posts: 139
From: Kissimmee, FL USA
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 05-12-2012 07:24 PM
Dennis I do not remember the cover we sold Jane but it came out of Dick Learn's collection. Honestly I do not think that was her cover. Jane always collected the most pristine covers and would not have purchased a cover with the toning that your cover has...no matter how rare the cover was. |
NAAmodel#240
Member Posts: 358
From: Boston, Mass.
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted 06-15-2012 08:14 PM
I have three Pierce (one is a Goldey) and a Farragut. Also a Pierce return to port and a Riser fake. |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 862
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 06-15-2012 08:31 PM
quote:
Originally posted by NAAmodel#240:
I have ... a Farragut.
David - is yours addressed to the same person as Eddie's and mine? Same overcancel? |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1746
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 06-16-2012 05:55 AM
Thanks David! Are your other non-Goldey Pierce's no-cachet or ship's-cachet? I'll add them to the census. |
NAAmodel#240
Member Posts: 358
From: Boston, Mass.
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted 06-16-2012 10:43 AM
Tom, the Farragut has a JAX MC dated May 31 in the HC. It is autographed by the astronaut pilot and was addressed to a M E_____ in Ridgewood, NY. A Flag stamp was placed over the address so I can't make out the rubber stamped name. The back (in pencil) says "Elkins" with an address in Monroe, Mich.Dennis, my Goldey was autographed about 5 years ago while researching my book. You can see it on pg 145 of American Astrophilately. The other two are addressed to S C Steinberg. One has a copy of the ship artwork as a glued add-on. The other is a green variant of a Swanson cachet (see Figure 477 in Cranford) that says "US in space" instead of "satellite launch". |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 862
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 06-16-2012 08:55 PM
David - would be interested in seeing scans of the USS Farragut and Swanson variant for the USS Pierce. |
astrobock
Member Posts: 185
From: WV, USA
Registered: Sep 2006
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posted 05-24-2014 08:00 PM
On this first anniversary of Scott Carpenter's flight since his passing, I wanted to share another picture of a postal cover commemorating the recovery of the Aurora 7 capsule postmarked on the USS John Pierce and signed by Carpenter in Feb. 2013. |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1746
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 07-02-2014 06:11 PM
UPDATE!Esteemed new member Ray Cartier has pointed out that I missed all four of the Pierce's in his ground-breaking book, Primary Recovery Ship Cover Handbook, published in 1992. So those have been added to the Pierce census, resulting in 16 known Pierce covers out there! Plus Ray solved the mystery on where one of the already-known covers ended up - in his award winning exhibit! If any of you want the updated Pierce census spreadsheet, please email me. Glad to help out... |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 834
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 07-06-2014 08:05 AM
In my collection I have another nice USS John R. Pierce cover, which seems to be flown on board pick-up helicopter. |
bobslittlebro
Member Posts: 257
From: Douglasville, Ga U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 07-06-2014 08:35 AM
A Flown USS Pierce? Gotta see that! |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 834
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 07-06-2014 10:51 AM
 |
bobslittlebro
Member Posts: 257
From: Douglasville, Ga U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 07-06-2014 11:38 AM
Outstanding Flown USS Pierce cover! |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 834
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 07-06-2014 12:18 PM
Thank you Bob. When I saw it first time, I was convinced it most likely is a flown one. Unfortunately Scott Carpenter was any longer not alive when I purchased it. |
bobslittlebro
Member Posts: 257
From: Douglasville, Ga U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 07-06-2014 12:59 PM
Yes...Having Carpenter to sign it would have been a big plus but still a Great cover!!! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 51677
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-06-2014 01:07 PM
For those less familiar (myself included), what indicates that this cover flew on the helo? |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 834
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 07-06-2014 01:49 PM
Robert, you are right: There is no proof, it actually flew on a helo. However, as far as I remember, USS Pierce was not a member of recovery fleet. However, she arrived at Carpenter's landing site before any of the scheduled recovery vessels. Obviously the cover was prepared to be flown on a helicopter from/to USS Intrepid. The postmark of USS Pierce matches with the pilot's notations. |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1746
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 07-06-2014 03:13 PM
Regardless whether it was flown or not, Walter, this looks like a Pierce cancel that you found after I did the census (I had you down for two, both addressed). Can I enter this as cosmos-walter/3 for the census? |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 834
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 07-06-2014 04:05 PM
Dennis, gladly you can enter it ot the census. Please, let you know whenever you need a scan of one of my covers. |
Ross
Member Posts: 546
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 07-07-2014 09:30 AM
A truly great cover. First one I've seen for that mission. I would certainly classify if as flown. The main elements of a flown cover are some indication of the helicopter, the date and the signature of the pilot and/or crew.Walter, if it is OK with you I would like to add it to my Recover Ship Cover site. Dennis, can you send me your updated list of USS Pierce covers? |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1746
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 07-07-2014 05:39 PM
Done and done! |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 834
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 07-07-2014 06:08 PM
All my three Carpenter USS Pierce covers have the ship's cachet on the reverse.
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onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1434
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 07-07-2015 03:10 PM
As a side note: CDR Wondergem, CO of Intrepid's HS-3 squadron and pilot of #61 which recovered Carpenter, wrote on that flown cover 'HSS-2' on the line for copter type flown (also known as the Sea King). The type designation would later be changed to SH-3A, then SH-3H. Late in its life, it would be stripped of all sonar and combat equipment and become a UH-3H utility helicopter. I found a photo of it as late as 2006, still in Navy service. I wonder about its fate, and all of the other helicopters used in NASA manned spaceflight recoveries? |
astrobock
Member Posts: 185
From: WV, USA
Registered: Sep 2006
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posted 07-14-2022 11:15 AM
This Carpenter signed USS John Pierce is now on eBay. Wonder if this one is on Dennis Dillman registry. Very scarce! 
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micropooz
Member Posts: 1746
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 07-14-2022 12:52 PM
Oh man, Garry! That Pierce census hasn't seen the light of day since 2014! And all of the images got nuked when Picturetrail went out of business a couple years ago. It's going to take some time to re-assemble.But on first blush, this one on eBay looks rather Riser-like to me. And as such, I wouldn't have listed it. Anyone else have an opinion on this one? |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1746
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 07-14-2022 01:10 PM
In fact, after more digging, this eBay cover has a lot of the characteristics of a Riser suspect cover that Bulver identifies in his "Study of Suspect Space Covers". And Ray Cartier lists an identical (but unsigned) cover as a Riser in his Primary Recovery Ship Handbook. I'd be very wary. Especially for $899... |
randyc
Member Posts: 890
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 07-14-2022 03:10 PM
I saw that cover on eBay and came to the same conclusion that it looks like one of the infamous 'Riser' covers that used embossed envelopes.By the way, in November 2021 I bought a USS Pierce cover with both a Goldey and the ship's rubber stamp cachet. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3761
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 07-14-2022 03:31 PM
Many of the Riser suspect/bogus covers going back to the Mercury era usually have no addresses at bottom right and note the unusual applied USS John R. Pierce "Eagle" cachet, but the postal cancel appears to be legit from what I can determine. I was trying to see some differences from other known Pierce cancels with this "possible" Riser fake, but perhaps others on this forum that specialize in US Navy recovery ship cancels would know more.Another big clue is the 7-cent postage airmail embossed envelope used, however, what throws me off is the special capsule imprint on the cover's back surface, "Project Mercury - Aurora 7" with the ship's name in full along with "Recovery Aurora Seven" and date of flight. I don't think that Riser could have forged this particular cachet, unless of course, he had them made himself...but that would seem unlikely since many of them have been seen on a variety of genuine Pierce recovery ship covers. The autograph of Carpenter is a bit unusual when first viewed, in my opinion, but Carpenter fake signatures by Riser do have a difference that I don't necessarily see in this particular sample. |
Eddie Bizub
Member Posts: 139
From: Kissimmee, FL USA
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 07-15-2022 05:13 PM
As a long-time collector I would NEVER trust a rare recovery ship cover or Mercury launch cover that is on an embossed airmail envelope. Riser was prolific in his forgeries and no real number or breakdown of what he produced exists. If I remember correctly the postal inspectors put the burden on the buyers to come forward for restitution. I do not know how many collectors came forward but I am sure there are a good number of Riser fakes residing in collections unbeknownst to the owner. I also think the Carpenter autograph looks slightly off. Knowing what cover it is on I would guess its a forgery as well. Finally, $899 is a very high price for a Pierce cover. Higher still if it turns out to be a Riser cover. |
Ross
Member Posts: 546
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 07-16-2022 10:20 AM
I've been unable to find this listing. Could someone please post the item number. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 51677
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-16-2022 12:12 PM
The listing (185493538923) was ended by the seller. |
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