5/16/63 MA-9 Prime Recovery Ship USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) Beck Cachet B317- SCARCE

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Condition

Unused

Stamp Format

Single

Item Description

Condition: Un addressed F/VF

PROJECT MERURY - US NAVY RECOVERY FORCE Major L. Gordon Cooper, Jr - Orbits the EarthThis is a B317 Beck printed cachet plus a rubber stamp ship cachet on the back for the recovery of MA-9 on 05/16/1963. Major Cooper was launched from Cape Canaveral, FL on 05/15/1963 in the space capsule "Faith 7" atop an Atlas launch vehicle. He made 22.9 orbits of the earth in 34 hours after which time his space capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean where he was recovered by the USS Kearsage (CVS-33). This cover was cancelled on board the USS Kearsage on the recovery date. C/V=$300 - - - - - This is a very scarce Beck cachet # B317. Prime Recovery Ship. Ship Cachet on reverseThere are two Beck covers for Gordon Cooper's flight in 1963 postmarked on the prime recovery ship, USS Kearsarge. According to Mr. Beck's cachet printing log B317 cachet was intended for USS Fletcher and not USS Kearsarge. B323 was the correct cachet for USS Kearsarge. Mr. Beck sent a total of 378 printed B317 envelopes to the US Navy for this flight. The box was marked so all the B317 covers would go to USS Fletcher.That is not what happened. The US Navy distributed the B317 envelopes to at least 7 different ships including USS Kearsarge. This means that the actual number of B317 covers cancelled by USS Fletcher is far less than 378. No one knows the actual quantity. This means that the quantity of B317 covers cancelled on the other ships including USS Kearsarge is VERY LOW. Our guess is 25 or less USS Kearsarge covers exist on B317. USS Kearsarge is the only known cancel for B323, the correct cachet number for USS Kearsarge. Nearly 300 B323 were produced. Conclusion is that USS Kearsarge B317 cover is worth much more than the Kearsarge B323 for the same event. The B323 covers sells on Hip for $100 or more. In November, 2021 a USS Kearsarge, the PRS, on cachet B317 sold for $155 on Hip.This item will be shipped in the USA via US Priority mail FREEWorldwide shipping will be $22 Registered

Seller Information

Seller

allcovers (249)

Registered Since

12/10/2020

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100%

Store

Cover Collector Store - All Covers

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Item Location

Pennsylvania, United States

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Worldwide

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No