MA-6 Cachets

MERCURY RECOVERY SHIP COVER & POSTMARK VARIETIES

Mercury-Atlas 6 - 20 February 1962 - John H. Glenn

Recovery Force Ships

Ship
Type
Designation Covers

Atlantic (Task Force Alfa based around Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla FOUR (DesFlotFour))

USS Noa⁴

SRS/PRS (actual) - Destroyer

DD-841

Y

USS Randolph

PRS (designated) - Carrier

CVS-15

Y

USS Antietam^5,9

SRS - Carrier

CVS-36

Y (Rare)

USS Kenneth D. Bailey

SRS - Destroyer

DD-713

N

USS Barry

SRS - Destroyer

DD-933

N

USS Bearss

SRS - Destroyer

DD-654

N

USS Blandy

SRS - Destroyer

DD-943

N

USS Brownson¹

SRS - Destroyer

DD-868

Y (E. Rare)

USS Chukawan

SRS - Destroyer

AO-100

N

USS Cone⁹

SRS - Destroyer

DD-866

Y (E. Rare)

USS Exploit

SRS - Ocean Minesweeper

MSO-440

N

USS Forrestal

SRS - Carrier

CVA-59

Y (Rare)

USS Glennon⁹

SRS - Destroyer

DD-840

Y (E. Rare)

USS Goodrich

SRS - Radar Picket Destroyer

DDR-831

N

USS Norfolk

SRS - Hunter, Killer Frigate

DL-1

N

USS Observer

SRS - Ocean Minesweeper

MSO-461

N

USS Hugh Purvis⁹

SRS - Destroyer

DD-709

Y (E. Rare)

USS Recovery

SRS -Salvage & Rescue Ship

ARS-43

N

USS Sarsfield⁹

SRS - Anti-Submarine Destroyer

DD-837

Y (E. Rare)

USS Charles S. Sperry

SRS - Destroyer

DD-697

N

USS Stormes

SRS - Destroyer

DD-780

N

USS Stribling

SRS - Destroyer

DD-867

N

USS Turner

SRS - Destroyer

DD-834

N

USS Witek⁹

SRS - Destroyer

EDD-848 (DD-848)

Y (E. Rare)

Tracking Ships

USAF Coastal Sentry

TS - Indian Ocean Tracking Ship

T AGM-15

N

USAF Rose Knot

TS - Atlantic Tracking Ship

T AGM-14

N

Others

USS Nantahala

Replenishment Ship for the Recovery Force

AO-60

N

Not Involved

USS Alstede

Stores Ship

AF-48

Y

USS Decatur⁹

Destroyer

DD-936

Y

USS Edmonds⁹(Was his cover backdated)

Destroyer Escort

DE-406

Y

USS Enterprise

Carrier

CVA-65

Y

USS General William Mitchell¹¹(Was his cover backdated)

Troop Transport

T-AP-114

Y

USS Providence

Guided Missile Cruiser

CLG-6

Y

General Cachets

Cachet

Description of Cachet
Colours Type

Fuerst Cachet⁸ Small circular multicolor cachet Multicolour Printed

Postmark Variations

Ship

Description of Postmark
Scarcity

USS Forrestal
Machine Cancel Rare

USS Forrestal⁹
Hand Cancel Even Rare

USS Noa⁴ Feb 23 1962 - Legitimate Common

USS Noa^1,4 Feb 20 1962 PM - Legitimate Extremely Rare

USS Noa⁴ Feb 20 1962 - Backdated Scarce

USS Noa⁴ Feb 20 1962 - May be Legitimate or backdated Rare

USS Noa^1,7 Feb 20 1962 - another example Rare

USS Noa^4,9 Extremely Rare Red NY Double Circle Cancel plus Hand Cancel Extremely Rare

USS Randolph Feb 20 1962 PM - Legitimate Scarce

USS Randolph Feb 20 1962 AM - Legitimate Extremely Rare

USS Randolph⁹ Feb 20 1962 PM - Backdated - See also¹⁰ Extremely Rare

USS Enterprise⁹
3 PM Postmark with Project Mercury Stamp Common

USS Enterprise
4 PM postmark Common

USS Enterprise⁹
Dual Postmarks - 9AM & 5 PM Rare

USS Antietam⁹ Feb 20 1962 AM - Legitimate Scarce

USS Antietam¹¹ Feb 20 1962 AM - Backdated Extemely Scarce

Interesting Cachets & Covers

Cachet

Description of Cachet
Colours Type

USS Noa⁴ Hand Painted Cachet - Backdated Postmark Various Hand Painted

USS Noa⁶ Unusual Cachet - Backdated Postmark Black Printed

USS Noa^8a USS Enterprise Cachet with a USS Noa postmark from 20th! Maroon & Black ?

USS Noa^8a USS Constellation Cachet with a USS Noa postmark from 20th! Black ?

USS Randolph Captain's Cover Blue & White Printed

USS Randolph⁹ Unusual cover with Captain's Cover Label but without the Captain's signature Blue & White Printed

Astronaut Glenn Orbits the Earth Drawing of Glenn & a Rocket Black Printed

USS Antietam⁹ Postcard postmarked for the scrubbed mission of 16th February 1962! Black Printed

USS Antietam³ An interesting late postmark on a Space Craft cover Multicolour Printed

USS Antietam¹ Postcard Black Printed

USS Antietam⁹ A general John Glenn launch cachet Black Rubber Stamp

USS Antietam⁹ Airmail Envelope with simple text cachet Black & Maroon Rubber Stamp

USS Hugh Purvis⁹ A USS Hugh Purvis cover with an attached interesting note from a member of the crew regarding stamps Black Corner Card

USS Forrestal^8a On a cover with a USS Enterprise cachet Maroon Printed

Signed PRS Covers including Helicopter Recovery Covers - most these covers were actually aboard the PRS during recovery

Postmark

Description of Cover
Postmark Date

USS Enterprise¹⁰ Signed by John Glenn, and the Commanding Officers of the USS Randolph (designated PRS), the USS Noa (actual PRS) plus the Recovery Commander. A rare combination 20 February 1962

Cachet	Description of Cachet	Colours	Type
Fuerst Cachet⁸	Small circular multicolor cachet	Multicolour	Printed

Ship	Description of Postmark	Scarcity
USS Forrestal	Machine Cancel	Rare
USS Forrestal⁹	Hand Cancel	Even Rare
USS Noa⁴	Feb 23 1962 - Legitimate	Common
USS Noa^1,4	Feb 20 1962 PM - Legitimate	Extremely Rare
USS Noa⁴	Feb 20 1962 - Backdated	Scarce
USS Noa⁴	Feb 20 1962 - May be Legitimate or backdated	Rare
USS Noa^1,7	Feb 20 1962 - another example	Rare
USS Noa^4,9	Extremely Rare Red NY Double Circle Cancel plus Hand Cancel	Extremely Rare
USS Randolph	Feb 20 1962 PM - Legitimate	Scarce
USS Randolph	Feb 20 1962 AM - Legitimate	Extremely Rare
USS Randolph⁹	Feb 20 1962 PM - Backdated - See also¹⁰	Extremely Rare
USS Enterprise⁹	3 PM Postmark with Project Mercury Stamp	Common
USS Enterprise	4 PM postmark	Common
USS Enterprise⁹	Dual Postmarks - 9AM & 5 PM	Rare
USS Antietam⁹	Feb 20 1962 AM - Legitimate	Scarce
USS Antietam¹¹	Feb 20 1962 AM - Backdated	Extemely Scarce

Cachet	Description of Cachet	Colours	Type
USS Noa⁴	Hand Painted Cachet - Backdated Postmark	Various	Hand Painted
USS Noa⁶	Unusual Cachet - Backdated Postmark	Black	Printed
USS Noa^8a	USS Enterprise Cachet with a USS Noa postmark from 20th!	Maroon & Black	?
USS Noa^8a	USS Constellation Cachet with a USS Noa postmark from 20th!	Black	?
USS Randolph	Captain's Cover	Blue & White	Printed
USS Randolph⁹	Unusual cover with Captain's Cover Label but without the Captain's signature	Blue & White	Printed
Astronaut Glenn Orbits the Earth	Drawing of Glenn & a Rocket	Black	Printed
USS Antietam⁹	Postcard postmarked for the scrubbed mission of 16th February 1962!	Black	Printed
USS Antietam³	An interesting late postmark on a Space Craft cover	Multicolour	Printed
USS Antietam¹	Postcard	Black	Printed
USS Antietam⁹	A general John Glenn launch cachet	Black	Rubber Stamp
USS Antietam⁹	Airmail Envelope with simple text cachet	Black & Maroon	Rubber Stamp
USS Hugh Purvis⁹	A USS Hugh Purvis cover with an attached interesting note from a member of the crew regarding stamps	Black	Corner Card
USS Forrestal^8a	On a cover with a USS Enterprise cachet	Maroon	Printed

Postmark	Description of Cover	Postmark Date
USS Enterprise¹⁰	Signed by John Glenn, and the Commanding Officers of the USS Randolph (designated PRS), the USS Noa (actual PRS) plus the Recovery Commander. A rare combination	20 February 1962

Notes:
0) Mission posponed several times, mainly due to weather.
1) 8. 'Project Mercury Points the Way', CD book, Steve Durst (2011)
2) Different postmark times are known (eg 3 PM & 4 PM)
3) From the collection of Eddie Bizub
4) See article by Dr Ross J. Smith for a discussion of USS Noa covers. Also article on backdating.
5) See article by Dr Ross J. Smith for a discussion of USS Antietam cover
6) Sold on eBay for over $200 in August 2009
7) Sold by Regency-Superior auction #78 for $375 plus buyers premium in January 2010
8) Sold on eBay during 2009 8a) during 2010
9) From the collection of Tom Steiner
10) Shown in 'Primary Recovery Ship Cover Handbook', Ray E. Cartier (1993)
11) From the collection of Roland Mantovani
12) Sold in RR Auction January 2011

Ship	Type	Designation	Covers
Atlantic (Task Force Alfa based around Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla FOUR (DesFlotFour))
USS Noa⁴	SRS/PRS (actual) - Destroyer	DD-841	Y
USS Randolph	PRS (designated) - Carrier	CVS-15	Y
USS Antietam^5,9	SRS - Carrier	CVS-36	Y (Rare)
USS Kenneth D. Bailey	SRS - Destroyer	DD-713	N
USS Barry	SRS - Destroyer	DD-933	N
USS Bearss	SRS - Destroyer	DD-654	N
USS Blandy	SRS - Destroyer	DD-943	N
USS Brownson¹	SRS - Destroyer	DD-868	Y (E. Rare)
USS Chukawan	SRS - Destroyer	AO-100	N
USS Cone⁹	SRS - Destroyer	DD-866	Y (E. Rare)
USS Exploit	SRS - Ocean Minesweeper	MSO-440	N
USS Forrestal	SRS - Carrier	CVA-59	Y (Rare)
USS Glennon⁹	SRS - Destroyer	DD-840	Y (E. Rare)
USS Goodrich	SRS - Radar Picket Destroyer	DDR-831	N
USS Norfolk	SRS - Hunter, Killer Frigate	DL-1	N
USS Observer	SRS - Ocean Minesweeper	MSO-461	N
USS Hugh Purvis⁹	SRS - Destroyer	DD-709	Y (E. Rare)
USS Recovery	SRS -Salvage & Rescue Ship	ARS-43	N
USS Sarsfield⁹	SRS - Anti-Submarine Destroyer	DD-837	Y (E. Rare)
USS Charles S. Sperry	SRS - Destroyer	DD-697	N
USS Stormes	SRS - Destroyer	DD-780	N
USS Stribling	SRS - Destroyer	DD-867	N
USS Turner	SRS - Destroyer	DD-834	N
USS Witek⁹	SRS - Destroyer	EDD-848 (DD-848)	Y (E. Rare)
Tracking Ships
USAF Coastal Sentry	TS - Indian Ocean Tracking Ship	T AGM-15	N
USAF Rose Knot	TS - Atlantic Tracking Ship	T AGM-14	N
Others
USS Nantahala	Replenishment Ship for the Recovery Force	AO-60	N
Not Involved
USS Alstede	Stores Ship	AF-48	Y
USS Decatur⁹	Destroyer	DD-936	Y
USS Edmonds⁹(Was his cover backdated)	Destroyer Escort	DE-406	Y
USS Enterprise	Carrier	CVA-65	Y
USS General William Mitchell¹¹(Was his cover backdated)	Troop Transport	T-AP-114	Y
USS Providence	Guided Missile Cruiser	CLG-6	Y