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Author
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Topic: WTB: Mercury recovery ship covers
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Axman
Member Posts: 710
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 08-23-2024 07:46 AM
   
I would love to buy any of the following (PayPal only) - - MR-3 Shepard PR Ship USS Lake Champlain 5 May 61
- MR-4 Grissom PR Ship USS Randolph 21 Jul 61
- MA-4 PR Ship USS Decatur 13 Sep 61
- MA-5 PR Ship USS Stormes return to port 9 Dec 61
- MA-7 rescue ship first to arrive USS Farragut 24 May 62
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onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1502
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 08-27-2024 08:33 AM
I saw this one for sale with Grissom's autograph. Some condition issues as seen in photo. |
Axman
Member Posts: 710
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 08-27-2024 09:53 AM
Thanks for the heads-up, greatly appreciated. It is however not quite my "cup of tea". Too marred, and over priced (with it being an autograph item) for its condition. But, as I say, thanks - it was an almost temptation.It has however taught me that I should do internet searches on autograph websites as well as general searches when trying to find these covers. A valuable lesson. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 2016
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-27-2024 02:56 PM
MR-4 Randolph PRS covers are hard to find and this less-than-ideal example would be very tempting for me to buy if not for the prominent Grissom autopen. In my opinion, the price is reasonable. |
Eddie Bizub
Member Posts: 162
From: Kissimmee, FL USA
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 08-27-2024 08:26 PM
I agree with Bob. Its a reasonable price. Yes, the condition could be much better and in my opinion the Gus Grissom autopen takes away from the cover. However, it is a very rare cover. The last one I sold was maybe 25 years ago. It was cleaner but with no cachet. I got $1000 for it. |
Axman
Member Posts: 710
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 08-28-2024 06:27 AM
Thanks for the comments, welcome insights. After the recent comments I went back to have another look, but I'm sorry to say I'm still very put off by its condition, i.e. the fading of the RSC and the foxing/staining on the cover and around the stamp. There are also two other issues with it that I find off putting, although others might not. Firstly I find the contrast of the very clean bright autopen with the faded stained envelope to be unattractive. But I am also disappointed that at some stage the address label has been lost/removed... if it still had the original address label, with less staining, and minus the autopen I would have snapped it up even at more than twice the price. I suppose also that because I have limited funding over any given period, and I am after so many rare items still, that I am a little conservative in my buying options. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 2016
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-28-2024 07:11 AM
Not a great comparison, but a superb MR-4 Randolph PRS cover with an excellent Grissom autograph sold a few years ago, as I remember, for over $7,000. It had great provenance coming from pioneer collector E.V. Smith. |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1835
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 08-28-2024 08:02 AM
A couple more data points on MR-4 Randolph sales:Kelleher sold one (unauto'd) for $225 in March 2021. eBay sold one from the ship's XO with a Grissom autopen for $790 in April, 2023. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 2016
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-28-2024 09:07 AM
Those are very low prices for such important and scarce MR-4 PRS covers, Dennis. Perhaps they are an indication of lessening interest in early manned spaceflight covers.So going by those prices, it looks like this MR-4 Randolph cover would certainly be overpriced at $1,500 because of condition at least. Not much to find positive with it: light, faded generic rubber stamp cachet; prominent Grissom autopen; weak, poorly applied hand stamp cancel and label stain. I do like the stamp, though.  |
Axman
Member Posts: 710
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 08-28-2024 09:23 AM
All in all, as it is, if it was on the market at $600 it would be sold by now, at $700 a very healthy interest, at $800 it would be nearing my limit, and I would have to think very very hard at anything over $850.I recognise its scarcity, but it's not that scarce I cannot wait for a better specimen at the price point of $1500. Anyway, I'm still searching: - MR-3 Shepard PR Ship USS Lake Champlain 5 May 61
- MR-4 Grissom PR Ship USS Randolph 21 Jul 61
- MA-4 PR Ship USS Decatur 13 Sep 61
- MA-5 PR Ship USS Stormes return to port 9 Dec 61
- MA-7 rescue ship first to arrive USS Farragut 24 May 62
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Axman
Member Posts: 710
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 03-05-2025 03:40 AM
USS Lake Champlain, USS Randolph, and USS Decatur have been found...Which just leaves me wanting: - MA-5 Primary Recovery Ship USS Stormes return to port 9 Dec 61
- MA-7 rescue ship first to arrive USS Farragut 24 May 62
Any leads as to the whereabouts of either would be greatly appreciated. |
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