1971, Apollo 15 Moon
Exploration Cover. Pair of No. 1278 and 1371 tied by Kennedy Space
Center Jul. 26, 1971 machine cancel, No. 1435a tied by "U.S.S. Okinawa
(LPH-3) Aug 7, 1971 AM" datestamp on cacheted flown cover, numbered "115 of
300" and signed by the three astronauts -- David Scott, Al Worden and James
Irwin -- two copies of printed enclosure, accompanied by a typed
certification signed by Worden, Scott and Irwin, NASA serial no. 283 on
backFRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. OFFERED TO THE PHILATELIC MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME.
The card enclosure explains: "This cover is #[115] of 300 postmarked just prior to the launch of Apollo 15 on July 26, 1971 at Kennedy Space Center, stowed aboard the spacecraft in a sealed fireproof jacket, carried on the LM 'FALCON', returned to earth in CM 'ENDEAVOUR', and postmarked immediately after splashdown on August 7, 1971 by the U.S. Navy Postal Station aboard the recovery ship USS OKINAWA." A large number of the flown covers were held by the United States government and only released to Alfred Worden after litigation. This is one of those covers. (Image)
1971, Apollo 15 Moon
Exploration Cover. Nos. 1396 and 1435a tied by "U.S.S. Okinawa (LPH-3)
Aug 7, 1971 AM" datestamp on cacheted flown cover, "Launch July 26, 1971"
circular datestamp at upper left, red "Recovery Aug. 7, 1971" circular
datestamp also ties stamps, signed by the three astronauts -- David Scott,
Al Worden and James Irwin -- NASA serial no. 353 on back, right stamp in
pair nicked at top from separationFRESH AND VERY FINE COVER. OFFERED TO THE PHILATELIC MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Accompanied by a typed certification signed by Scott, Worden and Irwin, with an additional certification from Worden explaining the mismatch between the certificate number and number on the cover (a clerical error). (Image)