★☆★☆★☆ Arthur Bergen space covers ☆★☆★☆★
Arthur Bergen made commemorative space covers for at least 6 different ELDO rocket launches from Woomera (South Australia) between 1966-1969, as well as for the Wresat satellite in 1967, some Skylark events, for at least the Apollo 11-16 events from 1969-1972, plus more. He also had some space covers, air letters & aerogrammes serviced at the British Forces Post Office (BFPO) in Adelaide during the 1960s/1970s. I’d be interested to know if Arthur Bergen made covers for any of the earliest ELDO events (F1 & F2 in 1964, F3 in 1965), or any of the Sparta launches, Black Arrow launches, etc. It seems likely because he was very active during this period but I have not seen any yet.
WANTED: I’m sure there are many Arthur Bergen space covers that I don’t have as well as colour combinations & variations etc. I’d love to hear from anyone who can help !
Though not strictly space covers, i’ll start this page off with some covers that Arthur Bergen made to commemorate various British nuclear tests in the late-1950s. Do other covers exist ?
Operation Grapple – 1957 / 1958:
Operation Grapple involved a series of British nuclear tests conducted in 1957 and 1958 at Malden Island and Kiritimati Island (formerly Christmas Island, in the Pacific Ocean) aimed at developing hydrogen bombs. The tests included nine nuclear detonations, establishing the UK as the third nation with thermonuclear weapon capability. These tests, along with the nuclear tests conducted at Maralinga in 1956 / 1957, South Australia were part of the broader effort to develop the UK’s nuclear deterrent during the Cold War. The Maralinga tests focused on fission devices and refinement of nuclear warheads, providing foundational knowledge and technical expertise that fed into the hydrogen bomb development demonstrated in Operation Grapple. These British nuclear tests influenced the establishment of Woomera, South Australia as a key site for British rocket development and testing. Woomera became central to the UK’s efforts to develop delivery systems for nuclear weapons, such as ballistic missiles, ensuring the integration of warheads with advanced launch technologies as part of their strategic arsenal.
Skylark ‘IGY Rocket Week’ – 18th Jun 1958:
ELDO F4 Launch – 24th May 1966:
ELDO F4 & F5 / Combination Launch Covers – 24th May 1966 / 15th Nov 1966:
ELDO F5 Launch – 15th Nov 1966:
ELDO F6/1 Launch – 4th Aug 1967:
Wresat Satellite Launch – 29th Nov 1967:
H.A.D. Rocket Launch – 1st Dec 1967:
ELDO F6/2 Launch – 9th Dec 1967:
OTC Earth Station Opening Moree NSW – 29th Mar 1968:
Skylark SL403 Launch – 31st May 1968:
ELDO F7 Launch – 30th Nov 1968:
Skylark SL781 Launch – 21st Jan 1969:
ELDO F8 Launch – 3rd Jul 1969:
Apollo 11 Moon Landing – 21st Jul 1969:
Apollo 11 – English (?) covers serviced at BFPO (Adelaide) – 21st Jul 1969:
Most of these covers are signed on the reverse by Arthur Bergen. Variations exist with the BFPO stamp in black/pink/blue.
Apollo 12 Moon Landing – 19th Nov 1969:
Apollo 13 Splashdown – 18th Apr 1970:
ELDO F9 Launch – 12th Jun 1970:
Apollo 14 Moon Landing – 5th Feb 1971:
Apollo 14 Splashdown – 9th Feb 1971:
Apollo 15 Moon Landing – 31st Jul 1971:
Apollo 15 Splashdown – 3rd Aug 1971:
Black Arrow 3 / ‘Prospero’ Satellite – 28th Oct 1971:
Apollo 16 Moon Landing – 21st Apr 1972:
Visiting Astronaut Jack Swigert (Apollo 13) – 3rd May 1972:
NASA Black Brant 5 Rocket Launch – 16th Nov 1987:
