Details:

Collection of fifteen Project Mercury and early American space program postal covers, featuring a wide variety of cacheted and commemorative designs honoring pioneering astronauts, launches, and milestones from the dawn of the Space Age. Included are covers relating to Alan Shepard, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, Mercury capsule launches, orbital missions, and Project Mercury recovery operations, many postmarked at Cape Canaveral, Port Canaveral, Patrick Air Force Base, and other historically significant Florida launch locations between 1960 and 1963. Several covers were serviced by noted cachet maker Clyde J. Sarzin of Port Washington, New York.

Fine condition overall, with expected scattered toning, minor handling wear.

Highlights within the collection include “Man-in-Space” mission covers, “America in Orbit” themed cachets, launch and splashdown commemoratives, astronaut portrait cachets, and an autographed Gordon Cooper “Faith 7” cover signed by Cooper. The group captures the excitement and rapid technological advancement of NASA’s Mercury era, documenting America’s earliest manned spaceflights through contemporary philatelic memorabilia produced during the missions themselves.

Project Mercury, active from 1958 to 1963, was the United States’ first human spaceflight program and laid the foundation for Gemini, Apollo, and ultimately the Moon landings. Astronauts such as Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper, and Deke Slayton became national heroes as NASA raced to achieve major milestones in space exploration during the height of the Cold War and Space Race with the Soviet Union.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

Premium:
A 25% Buyers Premium Will Be Added to All Winning Bids

Reference sku: 11654 1415561-1