Author
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Topic: Lollini autographed Ariane-1 SPOT-1 cover
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Cozmosis22 Member Posts: 968 From: Texas * Earth Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 05-30-2017 03:41 PM
This commemorates the last flight of the Ariane-1 launcher which successfully placed the SPOT-1 spacecraft into a polar orbit about three weeks after the Challenger accident. SPOT-1, France's first earth observation satellite, was developed in partnership with Belgium and Sweden.I think that this cover may have been autographed by the European astrophilately giant Bernard Lollini? (Circled in red.) |
SkyMan1958 Member Posts: 867 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 05-30-2017 06:43 PM
Good old SPOT. SPOT nominally was developed by the Europeans...However, the French were never able to get the imager to image properly. They approached the US and asked for help. They said that they'd be happy to give the US the images from the satellite in return. At that point in time the US land resource satellite, more commonly known as LANDSAT, had a resolution of 30 meters per pixel (due to DoD restrictions that finally got thrown out with the collapse of the Soviet Union). One of the channels on SPOT was to have a resolution of 10 meters per pixel. The US thought this was a useful benefit, so they transferred the imaging technology to the French. Low and behold, once the satellite was launched, the French told the US to take a hike as far as free imagery was concerned. |
Antoni RIGO Member Posts: 176 From: Palma de Mallorca, Is. Baleares - SPAIN Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 05-31-2017 01:18 AM
This cover, as many others, was signed by French cachet maker/dealer Bernard Lollini.The cover bears in green "Flamme designée par Bernard Lollini" (meter cancel designed by B. Lollini). In the COSMOS catalog this cover is numbered 286 and also described as Meter Cancel 4 designed by B. Lollini. There are many covers produced/issued and signed by B.Lollini. So, this signed cover is not rare itself. |
Cozmosis22 Member Posts: 968 From: Texas * Earth Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 05-31-2017 06:28 PM
Thanks for the responses. Did a quick scan of eBay and didn't find any Lollini signatures for comparison. |
Wehaveliftoff Member Posts: 2343 From: Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 06-01-2017 12:29 AM
This is one of Bernard, ironically with a JFKennedy stamp set. |
Antoni RIGO Member Posts: 176 From: Palma de Mallorca, Is. Baleares - SPAIN Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 06-01-2017 04:27 AM
The JFK stamps quoted bear the signatures of Alexandre Lollini and his father Bernard Lollini.
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