This page discusses Joe Fitzpatrick’s involvement with Space Craft covers from 1960 to 1970 and highlights the correspondence that he meticulously maintained over the years. Joe’s preservation of letters exchanged with many different people and organizations has proven to be an invaluable source of information for collectors. Through these documents, we are given an insight into the day-to-day running of Space Craft covers and are able gain a deeper understanding of the challenges that Joe faced, as well as the innovations & passion that shaped Space Craft covers during Joe’s era.
A special thanks to Dennis Ranski for providing the material shown here.
I will separate the documents into the following categories:
1 – Correspondence with Carl Swanson [in-work, see below]
2 – Correpondence re: early KSC cancels [in-work, see below]
3 – Correpondence with SCC cover servicers [in-work, see below]
4 – Correspondence with collectors [in-work, see below]
5 – Correspondence with other space cover dealers [in-work, see below]
6 – Correspondence with organizations [to come]
7 – Invoices / paperwork [to come]
8 – Miscellaneous [to come]
Scans of the the original letters are shown, along with transcriptions in blue, and my comments in black.
1 – Correspondence with Carl Swanson | Top
Carl Swanson was Joe Fitzpatrick’s business partner and the artist for Space Craft Covers. Joe and Carl began corresponding in 1960 and produced their first space cover together for the Echo I stamp issue. Fortunately, Joe seems to have kept quite a lot of the letters he received from Carl over the years. Shown below is everything that I have in my collection.
8th Feb 1964:
Sat 8 Feb 1964
Dear Joe
Received the letter that Sarah wrote, glad to hear you are home. Glad you decided to cancel the Explorer for this month, you will need rest and you should take things easy and gradually get your strength back. I wrote to Frances and explained so she will understand.
The four covers you have are enough work and will keep you out of trouble?
I am enclosing the letter from Whitney for you to have. I will have some news here from the P.O. as I have someone checking now to the heads that will let us know if a change is in works or what. I’ll find out here.
Joe will you be paying Whitney some money to service these? I guess I shouldn’t meddle but I can’t see why Clark can’t in his usual duties cover 500 on this when or if it happens? If we send 500 to Whitney and they could lay there indefinitely, do you think we could cover these through Clark and from our usual reserve draw 500 when this event were to occur? I don’t want to stick my nose in this deal but Clark does so little for us in comparison it is a shame to pay for service when he could. I feel after he received the letter I wrote about each of us as partners we all should handle each part to the best of our ability etc and all phases done properly is money in our hands, I feel he just needs to be told how to do his part and maybe feel he isn’t forgotten. I stressed in my letter that each of us doing our part is the key to success. Well he may do better until we encourage him a bit?
Joe i’d do what you want on this Whitney deal. First i’d wait until the news of P.O. is final etc. As you read his letter i’d have to address each or by pencil as he want his address ?
Am enclosing a clipping of PMR where the future seems like many good shots of manned Air Force, space station etc will be going up.
I hope we always have a good contact in Vandenberg like Colburn. I will ship another 500 to Ed this week some time. I’ll let you know. I expect a card from Clark telling me how many he has on hand, my records state he has 1,000. So once I hear i’ll send a new 1,000 so he’ll have the usual 2,000 ready?
A clipping of the two amateurs (?) was good. Maybe you could get a letter to one and have him keep you posted as when, where etc this shot would take place, it could be a worthwhile one to cover?
The U.S. Canada clipping is one you may send to Bardwell.
Joe give me a list of the stencil headings you want cut over on the longer-ish stencils? I’ll do these up and ship back to you.
Carl
The letter from Bob Whitney to Carl Swanson mentioned above:
Dear Mr. Swanson:
Received a letter from Joe Fitzpatrick saying to contact you regarding covers for a Cape Kennedy name change if one comes about. The way things look here a change is not likely. There is a possibility of a new Branch Office taking that name but this is only speculation.
I told Joe i’d handle the covers for him if and when this comes about. Most of these offices will accept unsealed covers with 4c stamps. However if this is a new office to be on the safe side you might use a 5c. I think the small 5c flag would be appropriate. Would like them addressed to me – the labels on the individual covers.
Sincerely, Bob Whitney
In this letter to Joe, one can sense Carl’s frustration with Clark (Clark Nickel, who was servicing covers for Space Craft until later sometime mid-1967). Carl poses numerous questions to Joe. These days, people typically opt for phone calls rather than the hassle of writing letters! I believe the Post Office name change mentioned in this correspondence pertains to Cape Kennedy. From 1963 to 1973, Cape Canaveral was known as Cape Kennedy, named after JFK, but it later reverted to its original name after a referendum. It appears there were rumors of yet another name change back in 1964, which never materialized. In this letter, Carl also conveys his well-wishes for Joe’s recovery. It is known that Joe Fitzpatrick battled various illnesses throughout his life until his untimely death in 1970, though I’m uncertain about the specific illness being referred to here. The side letter from Bob Whitney to Carl Swanson subtly suggests that Joe and Carl were considering the utilization of third-party services for the advantage of Space Craft Covers. Eventually Bob Whitney does take over from Clark Nickel as the main cover servicer for SCC but I don’t have an exact date of when, but this happened sometime mid-1967.
6th Nov 1964:
Thurs AM 6 Nov 64
Dear Joe
Just a short note with this material. Another one will go shortly, then Centaur-4 on the 17th of November a busy month.
Received the expense check, thank you, you didn’t have to rush it. I’ll be writing over the weekend and sending some space material.
As Ever
Carl
P.S. Mariner 3 has failed to attain the proper trajectory course due to a burn out of agena. It will not be on course, but we should cover it as is with the information that it was intended for? The Mariner 4 is scheduled for the 13th of Nov (next Fri) so send Clark a new batch for this one? These mechanical failures suresly keep adding delays and I fear we will drop behind on our man to the moon project. All fingers crossed!
P.P.S. I wasn’t sure if you had given the printer the new ink numbers I request some time ago. If not use substitues. But get the new colors I requested.
Seems as though Clark is still part of the business at the time of this letter in late 1964. Interestingly, this letter is written in red pen and almost all subsequent letters I have from Carl to Joe are also written in red. Also note how Carl signs off: As Ever. This is how Carl almost always closed his letters to Joe.
28th Nov 1964:
Sat Eve 28 Nov ’64
Dear Joe
Received your long letter today, boy you surely covered the typewriter? I wish I could type but I never did and my handwriting is lousy, I can letter as my job keeps me doing that a lot.
The contact at Houston from Sarah (?) is fine, and she will no doubt be of invaluable assistance to you on many things. I have also cultivated a good contact in the News Room. Shot (?) requisition (?) area. I give her covers, and various little things and at xmas I give her cologne, she never wants me to do this but I do it so quietly and put them in a brown bag and slip it to her so she doesn’t need to be embarrassed. I get the latest time, any photos, etc with just a phone call. So a few nice things can get a lot of answers.
The Thanksgiving letter was a real nice item and is well stated. You are gifted Joe in writing and it shows up in each thing you write how dedicated you are. Very proud to have you on our staff, I will speak to the boss and see if he can give you a raise?
I will be doing some checking in the books you ___ (?). I have a man in the library who is a good friend of mine, he can research this and give me needed titles etc, so i’ll be checking this out for you.
The Explorer 23 (Wallops) cover was good. The inks seemed very weak, I hope he didn’t run the next so weak. The ink must of been 10% not 90-100%, the cancellation was more than 50% of envelope. Boy what do they think these guys who set the machine? The Wallops cancels of the past were an inch to the right. I had this cachet drawn a long time ago and did not change the design to put less on the width. All of the new ones I try to keep at a certain width so the cancels don’t over print, some will touch as I can’t make them too skinny. Oh well we can’t complain.
I guess you’ve received the Xmas first page? I hope you approve of it? I was a bit worried you may not approve of this kind of drawing.
I have cut a stencil heading for Westbrooks column which I will send you with the artwork etc on the next shot. I will cut others in between cachets.
As Ever
Carl
Overall, Carl comes across as a supportive, considerate, resourceful, and detail-oriented colleague and friend who values Joe’s contributions and is willing to help him both professionally and personally. Their relationship appears to be characterized by mutual respect and comaraderie and they even share the odd joke together. I wish all my friendships were like this. I also wish we could read the long letter that Joe wrote to Carl (referred to at the beginning). Apparently it was written on a typewriter. That would be very cool to see !
7th Dec 1964:
Mon Eve 7 Dec ’64
Dear Joe
Tonite memories come back 23 ago, do you recall where and what you did, I can recall and it seems so long yet it hasn’t been that long?
Received the copy of Dec Explorer, it looked good and the content was excellent. The back page was a well said editorial and i’m sure everyone will see where we are and our plans that we need the support of everyone. This was a good closing article for our fourth year.
This week should be busy at the Cape. The major shots we will get are Gemini, and Centaur, next week an Explorer the S-3c. Also coming up will be San Marco (Italian-US) shot from Wallops due in a few days.
The two shots (test) from the Cape this week are Asset & Titan. I have sent cards etc to Clark to warn against these tests and I hope he does not foolishly cover one. I will keep my fingers crossed but fear at times. So December will be a good cover month.
Again we must start to discuss the Feb Gemini shot. Let’s decide the total to be covered. 1500 seems good but you let me know. I have 2000 envelopes. Another 750 put aside for the PMR reserve once any shot does go in Dec which I don’t believe it will. In Jan I would have you send to me 2,000 or 3,000 envelopes for futures etc, once I stamp up 1500 or more for Gemini I will be clean (?).
We decided to put on the 8c Goddard stamp. So why don’t you as a starter in Dec send me 4,000 this will purchase 500 Goddard’s. I will stamp these up, early Jan send $40. more and late Jan $40. more. I will get these 1500 all stamped & ready to go to Clark, he will stamp up address and be ready to go in Feb on this important shot. Let him continue with the embossed for a while, and in Jan he could switch to the new 5c Eagle embossed for a change?
I only mention this Gemini idea of stamping up 500 at a time to make it easier here and to be all ready by late Jan. If you agree i’ll let you go ahead from your end.
As for the Astronaut Series, the basic design will be of an astronaut (waist up) at night, he will be in an astronaut suit & all, his eyes will be looking up and the title of “Let us explore the Stars” will be to the left.
Do you want any more letters at the top? We could put a line as you suggsted to put in the Space Craft Explorer ?
like Astronaut Series – Space Craft Explorer –
You think this over and let me know as I feel we should place a stand line there somehow.
I’d suggest these pages be done separately and on one side, if necessary should some of the biographical information be more than others it could go on the back side. In your announcement of this series you can specify this idea of separate pages and for the members it could be a nice idea to keep in a folder. In this way you can send out one, two or three depending on printing. It would be nice to complete this 28 in 65, this would mean two a month and some months 3 in order to complete by ’65?
Oh did you receive the package of the photographs of astronauts I sent last week.
Today the Mariner-4 went successfully, I am on the last stages of cachet & stencil and will ship to you in a few days.
The enclosed clipping of space in (Zambia) was a hysterical article and knew you’d get a bang out of it.
The two outstanding items & bills (?) are the two I have put on an enclosed card.
As Ever
Carl
In this letter, Carl reminisces about a memory from 23 years ago (I wonder what he is referring to ?) and mentions various upcoming space launches. He proposes stamp ideas for the extremely important upcoming Gemini 3 mission. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this particular letter is the discussion around the Astronaut Series (in my opinion, one of the coolest things that Space Craft Covers ever did). Carl predicts 28 sheets to be issued 2-3 a month, with an approx. end date sometime in 1965. As it happened, 32 sheets were produced and the series ran until late-1966. It was a monster effort from Joe & Carl to put that series together.
8th Apr 1965:
Thurs 8 April ’65
Dear Joe
Enclosed is Comsat and filler, also the stencil for CERN. I received the two new covers and have retuned two for John John. These covers were real nice. I do see that the metallic ink prints up lighter than sample I have, but it was still good. The cancellation of the Cape for Gemini was over to the right real good, hope it is kept there so future cachets won’t be overlapped.
Have enclosed the brochure for the plastic covers that I sent you a sample. I would suggest you put the name etc in the Explorer and have our members ask for this at their stationery stores.
Oh I have heard that Oscar III was sent into orbit on a piggy back at PMR 10 March. So it is no use to try to schedule there at PMR as they give no prior launch data. Only the NASA shots like POGO etc will we get.
You asked me if I need any 3c stamps, well I could use a few to make up with the 4c I have when I mail packages to you, so if you want to include a group send some to me.
I sent you a separate package with 36 plastic pages. Let me know if these will do and as I said I get these at the senate (?) stationery for 8c each.
The war situation is getting messy and sometimes I give a lot of thought to this and wonder what will come of it and what lays in store years from now. I can’t help but feel if we do go to a conference table and peace is restored it will be for only a few years. Then when China gets a stock of A bombs that could be delievered by plane the Chinese will act up again and press toward SE Asia and we will warn them if they start we’ll hit them, they will counter with of __ hit us we will hit Saigon (?), Bangkok (?) etc with an A bomb. We will be stopped and once again have to stop them or retreat. I’ve read several good articles lately of military thoughts and one particular is meaningful. It states we should continue to hit N.Vietnam and hard and vreate a crisis that would create a Chinese incident, then we would have an excuse to go inside China and hit targets. The first would be Lop Nur the atomic center, then the missile range then the industrial centers, transportation, all military targets etc, just bomb them to their knees and they would be set back 25 years or more. They’d have to withdraw all there troups etc and the asian countries would get no aid etc and peace would be int he SE area & Africa etc. Russia would be pleased because they have threatened (?) world leadership and would be a menace if they ever overran SE Asia. Then the people may overthrow or the younger group may seek peace and co-existence. They would see that their world domination plans were lost and to go to war is useless. Then trade etc could regain (?) there people to all levels and we could live together. It will have to take such a war to set them back once and for all. yes it would mean losses for U.S. but it would be better than a nuclear world war. Russia would not go to war against U.S. over this issue. No matter how you evaluate it we are in for years of struggle one way or other.
I for one had my share of war in the Pacific and know the mess it can be but when we are faced with a strong bluffer (?) like China now that is all for war and won’t stop unless we really hit her hard for good, then it may stop. The conference table is only for their time table. Oh what next. When the world could & can be prosperous now they are stirring up all this trouble. They need to be cut down and fast. I never get worked up but in this case I feel we need strong guidance and long rance planning to get at the cause fast. I pray that Johnson and his aids & military planners do come up with the right steps for now and later.
As Ever
Carl
This letter covers a few topics, including some of the latest covers made by SCC, as well as cancellation placement on the envelopes. Carl explains that it may not be worth trying to cover future events at PMR because no notice is given prior to launches. Note: PMR stands for ‘Pacific Missile Range’ which was controlled by the U.S. Navy. The letter then quickly changes to the topic of war, and Carl is clearly worried about a possible conflict with China, and the need for a strategic approach to maintain peace. He reflects on the potential consequences of a nuclear conflict and hopes for effective leadership and planning to address current and future challenges. This is a highly unusual discussion topic for Carl & Joe. It sounds like Carl has been to war himself already, and since this letter is dated April 1965, Carl is reflecting on personal experience, possibly from either World War II in the 1940s or the Korean War in the 1950s.
11th Apr 1965:
Sunday 11 Apr 1965
Dear Joe
Glad to have heard you on the call of the Switzerland deal, sounds very good and a chance to make a few dollars in one deal? The 25c per envelope is about right Joe this would cost them $500 and they could make 100% profit if sold for 50c, this is reasonable on all sides, our costs would be near 200. This is 100, postage 50, printing, then fillers and envelopes would add up to nearly 200. So we’d make about 300. Tomorrow AM I will be stopping by the P.O. and i’ll get some embossed World Fair and new Eagle envelopes and enclose with this letter so you could send and suggest these as the cover. It would be simpler for us? Otherwise we’d have to purchase 2,000 new blank envelopes and put 5c flags on them? One thing do you want to suggest a filler. This could explain a lot, suggest it if you feel it would help. If they do not want fillers then we’d put the blank ones in before cancellation and remove them or Clark would and wrap and send. This would be less weight in mailing air post?
I have already sent Clark a letter and I covered the Swiss deal & the next Gemini shot. I said to him to weigh one of his boxes of 500 and add it 4 times to get the weight approx of what 4 boxes would be and send you the cost air parcel post. Then you could let your contact know what the charges would be. Also I asked Clark to ask the PM how long it would take? Oh you mentioned June 4th? This is on a Friday not a Sunday. I don’t know if this date was the one you mentioned to me.
I also covered the Gemini shot to Clark. That you will soon arrange to send him 50 for 1,000 flag stamps to begin to stamp up these for this shot, also that another 25 would follow to cover 500 or so he should keep these separated from his others and have them ready to go in May.
Look in Stamps Magazine Apr 10 issue page 58 a good article on rocket mail. The society that goes to this extent and trouble deserve to get a good deal. The way our friend Koszaski (?) is doing it is not worth the effort.
I’ve sent Colburn a letter expressing my approval of his covering the SNAP 10A shot. I told him that I would get another 750 to him shortly. I plan to get these stamps this week and stamp up 750 envelopes and mail them out so he can be covered for another shot. There are 3 that I know of due. POGO, another Alouette-2 and FR-1 a French shot.
I am at work on the SNAP 10A cachet and will send it out as soon as I complete it.
Hope you are feeling better, maybe when the warmer air and weather arrives we’ll all feel like living?
As Ever
Carl
Much of this correspondence is about the “Switzerland Deal”, which Carl thinks sounds promising, and is busy planning for. He also discusses the upcoming Gemini 4 launch.
12th Apr 1965:
Mon Eve 12 Apr 1965
Dear Joe
Just a few lines to go along with the cachet + material of SNAP 10A.
Received your letters today and also dividend check with I thank you.
The letter from Geneva is good. The ___ sketch is simple I will be working on it soon you can them make a copy of each and send over for a proof? One thing I saw on sketch was at the top. U.S. Cosmos I think he meant astronauts? I may say something of this, that Jordan issued a beautiful set of six triangles of an astronaut, on the border of each stamp was ‘Honouring the astronauts’ then I see where they have issued a new series of six with the faces of each cosmonaut, and again in the border it states ‘Honouring the astronauts’ This I feel is an error? They have given each the distinct astronaut & cosmonaut. Let me know what is right on this score?
I went to the P.O. this AM and got the embossed envelopes and enclosed two of each for you. They are 28.20 per 500. Also I talked to the wholesale man about an outer box I saw that some were wrapped in, he said I could have four when I bought them. They are a outer box that the regular box slips into, this is sturdy and well sealed and could hold up real well. If another ____ cover plus a wrap on each it would go well. So we’ll see how it comes out if we get this deal and if he goes for the embossed. I feel they would make a good looking pair of covers.
In fact as I was mailing them to you it occured to me why not have the next Gemini 1500 in this Eagle cover? Our members haven’t yet had any in this, it would be less than the 8c yet a bit more than the 5c flag issue? Let me know what you think, the only draw back would be no address. Well Clark could stamp these up with the stamp? Or maybe if his P.O. were to order them the P.M. would allow these to go unaddressed? Then we’d clue Clark in on the outer boxes that these would come in from Wash DC from an order if they haven’t these to sell. These are new and all P.O. are to sell the old ones before ordering the new ones but special orders are OK.
In the Geneva letter he mentions June 4th and this is on a Friday, He also mentions a cosmos event. Since the shot is scheduled around this date 4th to the 8th it would be wise to be alerted up to that weekend and hope maybe the shot were to come on the 4th or 5th in this case Clark could send them on air parcel post on Sat late and they’d get to Geneva by the 7th at least. Of course if our shot were to go the 8th this would be too late, well we can pray & hope that it lands on the date we hope for anyway?
The Kosarski (?) letter was a real one? That rous-_? is nothing but a cheap chister and a nasty cheat. No wonder people hate some Jews (?) These group ruins it for the good ones.
I will note the school colors. I am glad he can re use the stamp, and i’ve written him to ask for any change of letters etc also new design of cachet etc.
The Civil War Society is nice but as you say you can’t take on every ones problems? I’m sure he will hvae to go it alone with some advice from you etc.
The clipping of Com Sat headquarters was nice. May I suggest that you mail the president a couple covers, the ones we tried to get interested in? Also i’ve underlined the name of the manager. Send him a cover too? It’s a Maryland address. Maybe they will see where they wished they’d of had a few thousand to give to their business associates?
Well Joe I attended the opening baseball game today and Johnson threw out the first ball, we lost 7 to 2 oh well back to the minors !! The day became one of our first warm days and a full home 45,000 attended.
As Ever,
Carl
Carl thanks Joe for a dividend check. He discusses a sketch from Geneva and questions an error regarding ‘astronauts’ vs ‘cosmonauts’ terminology. Carl bought embossed ‘Eagle’ stamp envelopes and suggests using them for an upcoming Gemini launch (1500 covers), possibly Gemini 4 or 5. However it looks like this never happened, and instead the ‘Eagle’ embossed cover was used for this Titan launch later in June 1965 as well as a few other launches in 1966/1967/1968. Carl comments on a letter from Kosarski (?), expressing displeasure with him. Then he discusses sending some covers to the Com Sat headquarters in Maryland. Finally, Carl mentions attending a baseball game which was another interest of his.
30th Apr 1965:
Fri Eve 30 Apr ’65
Dear Joe
Received your letter yesterday and was very glad to have heard from you. So sorry that Sarah had such a mishap, my that must have been a painful accident. It sure seems hard to take after you having had your share of pain and illness for 1964? I hope she recovers nicely and real soon. How have you been feeling lately. I hope better. It is a shame that you have to use your days off for the SCC business, I realize you are up to your ears in work in both places, your regular job plus ours. Your the one who if all those are doing such a heavy load and long. I do hope it eases up for you some how.
The enclosed material is for the Explorer 27 from Wallops, he will be shiping the 500 shortly.
What did you decide about the upcoming Gemini shot in regards to the 1500 that Clark will handle? Are you going with 5c flag or maybe the Eagle embossed envelope.
Enclosed is a cover for you. I got several from Sarzin and I have a couple old timers here at my office who may want them. It’s a different kind of cover?
I don’t believe Wallop has a scheduled shot for some time so I’d wait until I get word of a major shot before I prepare & mail more to Hudson, we don’t need to rush until I get word of one.
It’s too bad we can’t use UN stamps? The new Communication issue in May is a nice one of a syncom a relay type. I see where Czechoslovakia issued a separate pair on Grissom & Young and our Gemini shot. This irks me no end to see how other countries can do our pushing(?) & advertise? Oh will our P.O. dept ever grow up.
As Ever
Carl
Carl expresses his concern for Joe’s workload, mentioning that using his days off for SCC business is a shame. He inquired after Joe’s & Sarah’s health and discussed sending materials for the Explorer 27 launch (this cover). Carl mentions the embossed Eagle covers again. He also explained there is no need to rush in sending more covers for future Wallops Island launches. Carl lamented that they couldn’t use UN stamps and criticized other countries for promoting US space efforts through their own stamp issues.
8th May 1965:
Sat Eve 8 May ’65
Dear Joe
I have a lot to discuss so here I go. In reference to your letter about yellow pages of telephone books an SCC being in, I for one believe we should have this status as small as we are it is a necessary expense that could prove our worth. So do what you need for this.
Now about the article you propose for nationwide magazines? I will be glad to assist and I will work on this with you. ? what I know I will be writing for various ideas etc and I will tell you of mine and we then can get our thoughts jelled and we can go on from there. The one concerning the illustration of space stamps that I will do is this. I feel that the best ones and especially the ones that have portrayed our US satellites, astronauts should be the ones used and all others should be mentioned in the text only? Any magazine could not display a large group of space stamps proposed in an article. If I may suggest this only as my thoughts. I visualize this article as I see others depicted in life etc and the illustrations are given no more than 50% coverage so we must select I think the best that could put this article over. I feel too that we could overdo this with a mass of stamps and then they’d reproduce them so small that the value would be lost. A stamp is small as it is and any more reduction can fog the detail which we want people to see.
If we do decide to select and show the best I can arrange them artistically in a good looking form other than on one straight line and have captions brief under them describing each. One thing Joe I will have to put this off until June as May is a heavy month. With our Gemini cachet, Geneva cachet several others that could pop, so I will work on this in between and will get it out real soon okay.
Tell me of what you plan to cover in the story briefly so we can zero in on the entire article then we can decide on the type etc of illustrations. We will get this worked out in a few letters so we will know more of the end product this way? If only we could sit down and talk it over it could be accomplished in one evening? Well letters will have to do now.
Now about the Geneva cachet etc. Time is short but it will work out i’m sure. As for the WF envelopes i’d get and send to you (2,100), about getting the cachet completed is one thing now. You see they want the astronauts photo in helmet. Well so far NASA has not received from the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston this photo. I will work up the other part and we can send cachet less the photo with explanation?
Now Joe can you writ air mail to your contact at Houston for the autographs. Be sure to get all four (the 2 major & 2 back ups) in case a last minute switch. Also could you ask your contact if possible she has any photo of the 2 major & 2 back ups in helmet or space suit? They may have them and Wash DC just late in getting them? When you ask for signatures just keep in mind the size. Send a envelope and specify the area you’d like each to sign. Then they’d all keep theirs the same size. I don’t feel a large signature is good. If we get some large I guess we can have the printer reduce them in size? So you may not bother and ask for any smaller ones, just ship that request as long as we can have them reduced okay. But if we could get these photos this is our must now. I will call NASA (my contact) Monday AM and see what I can get. In the meantime you get your Houston gal alerted, will get these soon i’m sure. I plan to layout a background and lettering now and get to you shortly if we can’t get the photo so we can send to Geneva for a Okay and then we’ll have to push it. We’ll have to complete the printing in your hands by the 28th and send to Clark on the 29th Sat so he would receive them by the 2nd of June or sooner if possible. Should the Gemini go earlier but so far its the first part of June. The way I look at it is I complete the cachet less the astronaut & signature and rough in this part and have a copy made reduced so they would see the actual size on an envelope. We’d suggest the color etc and you could send it via air mail & request their OK with changes etc via air and then we’d just wait for the photos & signatures to complete, once that is done you can go ahead and print them.
One thing you mentioned in your letter, an insert. I do not know what you mean, not a stuffer with information? I think you mean a card blank? This will be necessary to insert by Clark only for the P.O. cancellation part. He would then remove them and pack for sending. If he left them in it would cost so much more as they are heavy. I will cover this with Clark as I write him on the steps we will be taking here and for him to handle. I’ll request he checks cancellation die so the ones (?) will be over to right and not ruin the cachet. I’m sure the PM will approve the no address. So i’ll get this cachet part out now for you to send.
So we both have a lot to do and the word is Rush!! We should clear 300. at least on this deal which is nice. I feel we could have asked more but in this way others over there would see them and feel it cheap enough and we may get other deals like this. I believe a moderate price & profit can turn into a better long run thing than a one shot high price.
I’ve ‘talked’ your ears off I guess but I had to cover all of the things we need to do in order to get this done properly & fast.
As Ever
Carl
In this letter, Carl’s main focus is on the “Geneva cachet” and issues related to obtaining astronaut photos and signatures for the design, as well as the pressing need to get it completed. He appears to be extremely proactive and demonstrates a commitment to getting things done properly and quickly, even amid his busy schedule. Clark Nickel is clearly still involved with SCC at this time. I believe this is the actual sample cachet design that Carl mocked up and sent to Joe for approval. What is curious is that this mockup cover did not come from the SCC estate (where all these letters came from), rather it came from the estate of Lester Winick many years later. It would be interesting to know how Les came into position of this cover in the first place. The mockup shows Gus Grissom. I think Carl chose this picture because he is wearing the helmet, which was listed as one of the requirements. No similar photos of the Gemini 4 astronauts (Jim McDivitt and Ed White, or backups Frank Borman and Jim Lovell) were available yet, as mentioned in the letter. So Carl used an older photo of Grissom, probably from Gemini 3. The final design of the cover in question looks like this and this, with a side-on view of each astronaut wearing his helmet. According to Chuck Vukotich in his excellent book on Space Craft Covers, “Two special covers were produced for the flight of GT-4 for the International Philatelic Exposition in Geneva. One features a photograph of and ‘Greetings from Edward H. White, II’ and the other James A. McDivitt. These are the only SCC ever produced which contain an actual photograph. Joe Fitspatrick reported in private correspondence that 1000 were produced, with Cape Canaveral, Florida cancel only. While these bear the SCC logo, they were never advertised or sold by SCC. As a side note, Mr. Fitzpatrick indicated that SCC had never been paid for these covers; it was never disclosed if this situation was remedied.”
10th May 1965:
Mon Eve 10 May ’65
Dear Joe
Another letter, I’ve bombed you with them in the past few days but the word is GO GO Rush !!? Well anyhow I’ve enclosed the new Pioneer, I got your letter today concerning it and so you can do whatever best now. Let him cancel the envelope first is best and print later? Maybe best that you send cachet and have him get a printer do it up. As for the rubber stamp, he told me ina lette r that he was going to use the old one with a new date. Also I’m sure the back side of the old card can be the same.
After I air mailed you my letter I wrote this AM at the office the Aviation Week magazine came and I’ve enclosed the article where the early date of 3 June is proposed. I called NASA and it’s not official but let’s hope it is. Then Clark could service these along with ours. This could be a ‘boom’ for Geneva ? Let’s hope its this date as our covers would go over big and have extra meaning.
The stencil I cut is for a future front cover. I placed it so it fits the front. I left the right side area for a short story you may want to dream up. I felt that our members and readers would be interested in knowing where the various shots were going from and to see the growth of Merritt Is. and where the future shots will launch from. I think a short brief on this would be ample?
You sent 10 over my 20 covers. I need only 5 over each now and will ask you for more as I need them okay.
I now feel we will make schedule on the Geneva deal. If you get the okay on cachet I will begin the final artwork and by then I’m certain we will have the photo of the two astronauts heads in helmet. I’ll leave the space and you can have the printer reproduce a reduction of a neg. and strip in the blank area, also the two signatures under the heads could be reduced to fit the size you receive from them?
So the latest date you have to meet is about the 25 completed to ship to Clark so he could receive by the 29th and he then will place fillers in each and stand by. So I think all will work out, it will be close but made.
I am holding off on my design for GT-4 due to the open hatch. The 15th is when the announcement will be made on this.
I called the scheduling room today and so far no date on any new launch for AMR, PMR or Wallop. The next shot from Wallop is Scanner and I’ll check about when its due and be sure we have 500 there. We are out of them now since Explorer 27 went.
Well be good and don’t push it too hard.
As Ever
Carl
15th May 1965:
Sat Eve 15 May ’65
Dear Joe
Just a short line to keep you up on the events & schedule etc concerning the Geneva deal. As I told you I purchased 2,000 W.F. envelopes on Tue (?).
The asst superintendant was sure he had these but N.Y. requested a lot for the Fairs opening etc. So he had to call Alexandria Va. He called me on Friday and said all is well the envelopes will be here on Mon AM and I will go down and check them and they will wrap all 4 in a neat box they will not bend now and will ship these to you. I will get the time schedule of 1st Class vs 3rd Class rates from W.Va to Fla and you’ll know then the time it will take to ship to Clark. So you’ll get these shortly.
I plan to complete the cachet and filler stencil and mail on Sunday. Then when you receive these you can run the stencil and hold the art work. The astronaut photo and signature is all that is waiting now. I hope these will appear fast. Here is the date which we can go by now.
Last day to send the finished envelopes to Clark would be Sat May 29th probably 1st Class or whatever I find out here Monday. This means the printing will have to be done between the 24th & 27th of May. So this leaves us next week plus a few days to receive the photo and signature. If all comes through faster then you can ship earlier to Clark. Since you are adding this stenciled filler Clark will not have to insert a stuffer which he only has to deliver to P.O. on the 4th and rewrap for the air mail trip on the same day. So lets not panic. I feel that NASA on my end or yours will show up with the photos.
I felt sort of bad when we talked the other nite. You sounded so tired and worn out? I hope you are OK and will not run yourself down.
The $120.00 I have paid out is the amount for these W.F. envelopes 2,100.
As Ever
Carl
Note: W.F. means “World Fair”, the type of envelope that Carl is referring to is this embossed envelope that was used for the Geneva cachet. Overall, Carl comes across as a responsible and detail-oriented individual who continues to value his friendship with Joe. He demonstrates empathy and provides clear and informative updates on their project’s progress. His optimism and willingness to take on responsibilities reflect his dedication to their joint endeavor.
16th May 1965:
Sunday 16 May ’65
Dear Joe
Well here is the Geneva artwork and you can hold this until the photos and signatures are available then the printer can make the negs. In fact the printer may want to being making the negs from this and strip in the photo negs later with the signature reduced under each photo. I have sent along the two names and these can be stripped in each neg (same size). Be sure to indicate to printer the correct photo, signature and name. I think these will look good. The filler is the same as we had in our first Gemini but it gives a good picture. And our address is shown which may catch some new orders.
There is one thing you will see on the card where I have the two names. On the one Edward H. White, if he signs his name with the II after then have the printer lift up the II and add after White II. This is known as second. Example Carl A Swanson II. So this I made in case he signs his name thus? I plan to use this cachet with modification for a future Gemini shot so when you are completed have the printer return to you and you can send it back to me.
Let’s hope when I get to the office Monday that some good word about the photos are available. I’ll keep close touch here and know one of our contacts will pop and we can proceed with the final printing.
Joe we discussed a recovery cachet over the phone? May I suggest this. Let’s have one for the 7 day shot in August? Then in Oct the plan is rendezvous and this is 2 day but the big part will be to dock, and the 4 day one in June is a possible hatch opening and one recovery is sufficient in the ’65 Gemini series. In ’66 again where the Jan shot is going to be 14 days a recover on this is worthwhile, then it will be rendezvous later.
I’ll be contacting you soon again, so for now
As Ever
Carl
P.S.
Joe I have thought about the possibility of Clark being able to cancel should the GT-4 go with the 3rd or 4th. In any case I don’t feel we need to put the launch time etc on this cover? I could not see this as all the covers would be printed and if Clark is lucky then Geneva would be fortunate that’s all?
As for the 100 extra covers you will print and some spoilage can be expected. We can check with Clark and see if the extras can be held out and leave a few for us there? I can mention this to him so that Geneva will get their 2,000 and any over we can split and he can ship back a few to you and I later?
Carl mentions that showing the Space Craft Covers address on the filler card might lead to some new orders for them. It is interesting to read that Carl is planning ahead so many Gemini missions and what SCC should consider covering for each event. Overall, Carl comes across as a meticulous and forward-thinking individual who values collaboration and takes into account various contingencies in their project planning. His attention to detail and thoughtful approach contribute to the success of their joint efforts in the world of space cachet creation.
17th May 1965:
Mon Eve 17 May 1965
Dear Joe
Well I went to P.O. this AM and the 2,000 were ready plus the 100, they packaged them and I sent them to you and you should get them on Wed. Here is the schedule dates etc. Parcel post + Sp. handling plus insurance from DC to WVa. 2 days. When you send to Clark it should take about (?) 3 days no more than 4. My fee was 1.54 + 50 SpHd. + 50 insurance of 100. Your fee would be 2.40 + 50 SpHd. + 50 insurance. or maybe a bit more as you will be adding the fillers, as it is now it’s 19½ lbs. Then I asked about the air rate to Geneva. It would take 3 days but allow for 4 to make sure, so Clark should send and cancel on the 3rd if by then he finds out there will be no manned shot? The rate air mail is 2.81 First lb and 1.72 each lb thereafter so at 20 lbs it would be $35.50 + insurance. Which Clark should take out for 200 at least? It will be a bit more than 20lbs with fillers in. So this seems to be our schedule now?
I called NASA this AM and the word on the photos are good. They said a release from Houston is due by Wed or Thurs and I hope by Friday I can get these photos and send them to you so you’d have them by Sat or Monday, then the printer could reduce them and strip into place. The only item needed would be the signatures. Hope Houston could get these to you by next Monday? You mentioned over the phone that you may have had these in your files? Maybe ?! So it looks like we will make it, close but okay. As long as Clark gets the box by the 1st of June the latest we are in, and by then the Gemini schedule will be known and if its past the 3rd or 4th Clark can cancel and ship early to insure that Geneva get them. I know that in Geneva these will sell for 75c or 1.00 each or two for 1.75. They stand to make a nice profit. Even though ours will be close to 300. We may find others who will contact us later? Let’s hope.
Your Explorer of May 15 came today, it’s good !! Lots of work and you can be proud of it.
I see where the P.O. at Merritt will have a nice cancellation. We can use these once the Saturn start to go from this area?
NASA announced a May 25 shot of Pegasus. I guess Clark has the usual 2,000 on hand.
I received a card from Clark today. He states that the P.O. where he works do not have any W.F. envelopes, that’s all. He doesn’t send any checks or ask me to purchase these here. I don’t question or ask anymore, it seems he just is dull and doesn’t worry I guess.
As for future W.F. envelopes I have to order them here and they can get them for me. In fact the clerk said they soon will be gone but he could put away a stock of as many as we think we would use from now until November. He would order these and put them in his vault and I could draw on them as I needed. I think this is a nice deal. Let me know if you think 6,000 would be good? I do not need to pay, on(ly?) when I draw from them. This is a nice deal. I will give the man a lot of the odd covers I have and this will keep him in a good humor? As for getting the W.F. for the next Gemini shot is not good. So i’d suggest that you notify Clark now and tell him to purchase 1,500 Flag 5c and get them stamped up ready for the GT-4? Then for the August shot we will have on hand the stock of W.F. that I can purchase in July and ship to Clark. I will be writing to Clark tonite to warn him on the Pegasus shot of 25 May so i’ll also mention the purchase of 5c Flags for next GT-4 also. I’ll tell him of the Geneva schedule also.
Whatever check you sent Clark for the W.F. envelopes, you can mention this extra he will be have over the 75.00 when he purchases the 5c flags? It should be about $10.00. You can account for this when you send him money to pay for the air mail for Geneva. When you weigh your package at WVa to Fla use the rate I gave you or ask the P.M. to tell you what it will cost from Fla + insurance etc. Not necessary to put Sp.Hdlg. as air is first class. Then the total cost of air mail you will know and then you can send a check via air mail to Clark for this, less the amount he has over now in purchasing the 5c flags? This is fair business don’t you say. So Geneva will reimburse you on this which is O.K.
The enclosed NASA brochure is the latest on Gemini, if you feel you want to enclose in the boxes of covers to Geneva? This could be put up and be of good educational use.
The other enclosed clipping could be of interest. I get the magazine from JPL Pasadena and this article was in this month’s issue. It may be a good bet to contact the pres. of the club and interest them in Space covers ?
I have just received the letter with the campaign promises of Ronson, I will comment in next letter?
On Wed I will attend my first luncheon at the Press Club for the Nat’l Space Club. Von Braun will be here as the guest speaker plus movies (?) etc it should be up to date and worth while. I’ll tell you of it later.
A press kit for GT-4 was issued this PM and I will get one tomorrow or Wed and it should give details as to the experiment of opening of hatch & look out, this is holding up my cachet design. I’ll send it on to you once I get this done. Or do you receive these?
Well I’ve covered enough for tonight.
As Ever
Carl
P.S. I hope & pray that you are feeling better and are rested.
Much of this letter is still discussing the ‘Geneva’ deal. It is interesting to read that Carl is congratulating Joe on the latest Explorer magazine, so it sounds like Joe pretty much does all the work on that himself (i.e. without Carl) although of course Carl did do much of the artwork. Carl seems annoyed that Clark is no longer enthusiastic about things (or at least doesn’t come across as being so). I’m not sure why Carl is so enamoured with the World Fair envelopes but he sure seems to like them, and talks about them a lot. Maybe it is the convenience of using a pre-stamped envelope, i’m not sure. SCC did use the W.F. envelopes for many other launches in 1965/1966. This is the first time Carl has mentioned Ronson (Bill Ronson / Orbit Covers) in the letters that I have from him to Joe. Also interesting to read that Carl Swanson attended a luncheon where Werner Von Braun was the guest speaker.
18th May 1965 (?):
UNDATED but probably 18th May 1965 / Tues Eve
Dear Joe
Today my contact called me and said she could get for me the two signatures from two colored photos on Dr. Seamans (?) desk. I would go over and trace these and whatever the size I can re: ink and your printer do the reduction or enlargements ? Let’s hope she can arrange for me to come over by Thurs. when her boss is out so I could do this trace. By then she is sure the photos will be there so I could get my copy. So if all works out I should get the last delayed material and be sending to you by weekend. Then on Monday you could have this. Or maybe even better Houston may beat my timetable? Anyway we will click (?) and our schedules will be met.
One thing I want to bring up and that is be sure to make up a couple of labels with the correct Geneva address, recheck to make sure of correct address as we do not want the last lap to go astray? Also tell Clark to put these two labels on real good. Scotch tape the edges etc and I have thought one thing about the delivery date. Could Clark place a note: Postmaster-Geneva on the left corner and state that this package must be delivered no later than 7th June because of scheduled contents. If you could maybe type up a small square note to this effect it may speed the delivery so it won’t lay around the P.O. once it arrived.
I think too that once you send to Clark and you know what date he’ll cancel and ship you could send an air letter to Geneva and state the shipment on its way and to be alerted ? All of this is necessary as we can’t afford this shipment to go astray and be delayed etc. All precaution I feel is due until we get word its safe and there. Ask your Geneva man to let you know that it arrived so we can rest assured?
The letter you sent to Horace and the propaganda sheet was something. I agree 100% on your stand and hope the others see it that way soon. If Ronson does get the Apt then you shall act as you say and give the members their choice (those of ATA Space Unit). Joe we are living in a strange time, people all around us are surely odd balls they have the oddist set of rules, no religion, no morals no laws no nothin ?! Students that riot and demand freedom, can you imagine this. In a country as we have it, its unbelievable. I fear the future should some of these nuts gradually get into our State & Fed Government. Our kids have a tough period ahead and I am glad there are the majority that will have level heads and carry on, but it won’t be easy they will be harrassed and ridiculed, booed etc and it will take a tough man & woman with steady nerves & patience to cope with these individuals. The breed of people that these are should suffer a good depression & war years as we did.
It seems that when one or the other came once in 15 or 20 years it straightened these out? Well we shall see. If the unit goes astray I wouldn’t lend a hand to help, we have our hands full to supply our loyal customers the good material and we only can feel sorry I guess.
The clipping you can see puts the space material going up up and by 1970 these early covers & stamps will be a big deal.
No final decision whether the astronaut will open hatch & look out yet. So I will hold up my drawing on this. I may be a bit late Joe if they decide last minute but I feel the cachet should reflect the major experiment such as this?
I am working on the next one Pegasus for next Tuesday. I wrote Clark about the next show and also covered the Gemini 1500 to go ahead and stamp up 5c flag and the next shot is Aug 8 I will ship 1500 W.F. envelopes.
I hope you are feeling good Joe. I worry a bit as this work is so much and never ending and one gets so exhausted. Take warm long waking baths and relax a long while, this could relax ones tension body wise. Have Sarah give you an alcohol rub down, this I guarantee will relax your muscles and sort of wake up your pores and you’ll feel fresh. Do this on your back area shoulders arms and neck area this is so restful. Business men that are on the go and have these steam baths and rub downs to stimulate their muscles etc. Do a change somehow to make you feel relaxed it will add a lot to your feeling and you’ll be surprised at the results. I got a cheap hand massager and my wife gives me a rub down as I lay on my stomach and I ___ & boy it is good.
Well Joe I will be getting the necessary stuff for NASA I hope by Thurs & ship to you air mail.
As Ever
Carl
This letter is undated but Carl refers to an upcoming Pegasus launch “next Tuesday”. This could be Pegasus 1 which launched on Tuesday 16th Feb 1965 or Pegasus 2 which launched on Tuesday 25th May 1965. Seeing as Carl & Joe weren’t discussing the Geneva deal back in Feb ’65, the Pegasus launch most likely referred to in this letter is Pegasus 2. Also the way they are discussing fine details about Gemini 4 (like ‘opening the hatch’) suggests a date close to Gemini 4 launch. So that would date this letter 18th May 1965, in my opinion.
21st May 1965:
21 May 65 Fri AM At Work
Dear Joe
Went to NASA this AM and got the two photos and signatures. These are the only close up helmet shots and all others are during test which their heads were down, up etc. When the printer photographs these and reduces each to the size approx. I have shown on cachet he can mask out the background and paint out the area on the neg, leaving the helmet only showing plus the neck of suit. These will have to do as its the only available shots. The signatures are good, it can be enlarged a bit to go under each portrait. Be sure that you proof each one to be sure the right astronaut & name & signature are on right negative?
The two colored photos are nice. I will get one for your files so you could send over this one to Geneva as theirs, it would make a nice addition for their show exhibit.
I will go to P.O. and send this air-special delivery so on Sat sometime you will get it and can get this to printer. If he prints the envelopes between Mon and Wed you are okay as you can ship the finished box to Clark on Thurs. and he will get it Sat or the 1st of June. This is fine as all he does is service on the 3rd if the Gemini goes, if not he will know whether the 4th would be on schedule if not he should ship and all will be well?
Be sure that Clark gets the address labels for Geneva.
Well this has been touch and go and a close schedule but I did all I could here and that’s all I can do for now.
As Ever
Carl
P.S. White does sign with the II at the end of his name so have the printer add the II I sent along on card.
It doesn’t look like the printer ended up colouring out the background behind the photographs on the Geneva covers. I feel this letter is more direct and assertive than Carl’s usual letters. This directness may come across as bossy to some, but also indicates that Carl is deeply invested in the project and wants things to be executed precisely as he envisions. Overall, Carl appears to be highly invested in the success of SCC and is not hesitant to provide clear instructions and guidance to Joe. While his tone may be perceived as assertive, it may also reflect his passion and commitment to achieving the desired outcome. It is quite possible that Joe might have appreciated Carl’s guidance and leadership in their collaborative efforts.
24th May 1965:
Mone Eve 24 May ’65
Dear Joe
‘Well that was the week that was’, it was touch and go and i’m glad things came out as they did. I know the schedule will go well now.
I wrote a letter to Clark about the Pegasus for the 25th and IMP for 28th and brought him up to date on the Geneva deal. I stated that the 3rd cancellation was the only date and to go ahead in the AM and wrap up and send out in PM same day air mail, insurance $200.00, if one large box plus a small one to go 200. + 50. and be sure to wrap well and put cord on and secure address label well and notice etc. The cost of air etc will be around 40.00 I’m sure so I guess you will have to send this along? Any under should be known for any future 5c you send? Any over you’ll reimburse. I made it clear that if the Gemini was to go the 3rd then this is a bonus, if it should be delayed to the 4th to forget that as this deal is not a launch date cover. That he must get it on its way by air on the 3rd that’s it. So I hope and feel he will do this. Then the person at Geneva will be checking at the P.O. about the 6th, 7th and I’m sure it will arrive by then. You & I will rest easy when we hear it arrived.
We will get a few bucks from this and take us out of our hole momentarily ?
I called the P.O. contact at the wholesale dept and he will begin to lay aside envelopes. I said 6,000 to 10,000. He said they are getting scarce and this idea will make sure we get what we need this year.
Enclosed is a card with some new space members, these were from APS. They do not give street number or full address but only city so I hunt them up in our library telephone section (sneaky deal?)
I attended the May luncheon of the Nat’ Space Club and it was a full house. Braun spoke and he was excellent, questions were later asked and it was very informative. I was able to hit up a contact, Glen P. Wilson a professional staff member of the Senate Committee on Aeronautical & Space Sciences. We will get aquainted and these will develop into others in time.
I have completed the art cachet on Pegasus and will cut filler tonite. I am on the IMP now and have proceeded to start the art of the Gemini-4 with the hatch open & McDivitt standing up, I feel it will go, fingers crossed !!
Enclosed is your copy of all astronauts.
In the future I plan to work in the two astronauts on one cachet (small) and have their signatures so we have them now to work up.
I telephoned the young lady who helps me get these materials and thanked her so much, she was pleased to hear it and will be more than glad for future problems.
So much for now.
As Ever
Carl
As it happens, Gemini 4 did go on June 3rd 1965 so Carl & Joe were lucky (and wise) that they aimed for the 3rd June and had Clark cancel the Geneva covers on that day. It was fortuitous and shows excellent planning on their part. Carl again shows his nouse by looking up addresses of new members interested in space, I guess he’s thinking of them as potential SCC subscribers. The SCC cover for Gemini 4 does indeed show the hatch open. Of course not many people knew that a space walk was planned for GT-4. It looks like Carl might have modified the original GT-4 cachet design to show this as an afterthought. As always, Carl is detail-oriented, resourceful and business savvy, while remaining appreciative & grateful to others around him.
30th May 1965:
Sunday 30 May ’65
Dear Joe
Received your two letters and was glad to have heard from you. The proof cover looks real good. The best the printer has done! Let him know how well he did this, real outstanding don’t you think. I’m sure Geneva will not expect to get such a cover? They had in mind a large photo plus lettering, well i’m glad this looks as good. The people will no doubt buy them out since they will be hearing of the great space feats being planned for these two? I’m so glad we are going to do so many daring things. The walk, plus the hand rocket & camera and near rendezvous with the spent stage of titan will be perfect. I pray all goes well and then the headline will give the world something to look at, Russia will be scratching her head and i’m sure saying “well boys we’ve had it.” I pray too that the war in Vietnam will slowly go our way in summer and we can begin to push & pinch the Vietcong back & out of S.V.Nam and then really pour it on the North and we can choose the time to negotiate? Then is when the world will finally come alive and see who is all powerful in military might and space. Johnson could move up to the top and highest spot ever? This is what we need today, a strong U.S. and then the west will unite and stick by and the communists will co-exist and we could have a quiet world. I’m almost certain that in order to maintain world peace the U.S. must be big in every way and act whenever any country gets out of hand and slowly we will see countries doing for themselves and not allowing others to come in and _____ (?) their politics. (Sorry I got carried away, but sometimes I get so upset and i’m glad LBJ has acted and taken the lead and things are going to change)
Enclosed is the Explorer-28 material, also a stencil you can use later. I will do some of these special types as I feel people would like to have some space terms explained etc?
When the printer gets a moment have him run off 6 or 10 of the symbol cut, the ones I use on each cachet, you kept the negative after you sent me a few some time ago.
I sent Clark 3 boxes (1500) that nite you called. These he will use for the Gemini, then I sent Railway Express the large box. He should get this by Wed or Thurs. These are for future. I think this box holds 12 boxes or 6,000 total.
I’d suggest you get an order for more. I have 3,000 on hand for Wallop and PMR. These go slow 500 Wally 750 PMR. If when you order I’d suggest two large cartons to Clark (12,000) and a small box of 3,000 total here. No glue if you can and printed?
Poor Ronson the guy is a tough nut to crack but someone will eventually and he will be an unknown then, taking with him a lot of sad customers.
After re-reading your one letter about the W.F. envelopes. Maybe instead of ordering a large order of envelopes at this time, we can get 10,000 WF and have my man put away 10,000 for later? I can purchase 2,000 at a time in one large box like I sent you, I could send direct to Clark and with the ones he has on hand and the W.F. I would mail he’d make the blank ones stretch. We can use the W.F. for the Aug flight GT-5 ??? So in June I can ship 2,000 & July 2,000 then he can use 1500 for GT-5 in Aug and Aug 1,000 we direct for other majors.
If you think this is a good idea I’ll go ahead and set up this schedule here at P.O. These as you say will vanish soon and will be a good cover value.
I’m so glad Jim liked the pen & pencil set, I know he will use it and i’m so glad he is such a level headed boy. I know you both are proud of him. Today when you see & hear of the boys & girls that are coming up and what they are doing and there crazy ideas etc it is a pleasure to see a good wholesome young man like your son come up and set his goals ahead and one day he will make a fine spot for himself and may God richly bless him as he goes forward. I’m sure he knows he has a wonderful father & mother who has sacrificed and are seeing to it that he gets the education etc that will put him in a good situation. My congratulations to Jim and to you Joe and Sarah. May God bless you both for your part in life.
Now that I know the GT-4 activity I am proceeding on my cachet with the astronaut in space. This will be our best one yet and of course the event our finest ever? The space feats to come give me thrills and I’m sure you too feel this way?
As Ever
Carl
Interesting to read Carl’s thoughts on the Vietnam war, which was about half-way through by this point in time. He is deeply patriotic and invested in the well-being of his country. Also interesting to read that Carl send some envelopes to Clark via ‘Railway Express’. Must have been a cheaper/safer option for sending so many at once. The quantity of envelopes being ordered and sent around the various SCC parties is quite astonishing at this time. It is a very good thing that Carl & Joe had the foresight to try and use envelopes with no glue. Carl makes another brief mention of Ronson and shares his prediction with Joe that Ronson will not last long (however he does, making space covers for another 27 years or so, excluding his time in prison). Later in the letter Carl mentions sending a pen & pencil set for Jim (Joe’s son), and this is the first we’ve heard of him in these letters. Carl says “Now that I know the GT-4 activity I am proceeding on my cachet with the astronaut in space” this suggests Carl had a hunch there would be a space walk as part of GT-4. Note this letter is dated a few days before GT-4. I wonder how he learned that information as it was not widely known, apparently. Carl is enthusiastic and optimistic about the future of space, and is supportive, caring & considerate towards Joe and his family.
2nd Jun 1965:
Jun 2 ’65 Wed Eve
Dear Joe
Well I hope the shot goes tomorrow, I feel it will. Received your letter with check yesterday, thanks. Today got one and it was about our dear Clark? It seems he is a lame brain plus ++ — ?! Your records are right except I sent to him stamps you sent me for him to afix and it was no charge to you, I wrote you in these and explained he had 2,000 etc and then when a shot was made I knew when he needed more, you sent for W.F. envelopes for several shots 5 is right and he purchased these O.K. Then you have mailed a check for 1500 Flag and 1,000 after Pegasus & now IMP, to replace, so he has 1500, 2000 inventory. I sent 1500 envelopes so he could afix the 1500 and a box of 6,000 for later. If he can’t keep these straight I don’t know what to do. Maybe you should arrange to have him purchase each time 1,000 from his own funds like I do and bill you so then he will know he is in debt and won’t receive a check and forget. This could keep him aware he is due a check? I hope he gets straightened out and he sees he has the 1500 for Gemini and the inventory of 2,000 ? Here it is tomorrow and he better have the 1500 ready. If he ever drops one shot through his ignorance or stupid fault and would not amend and just wrote you and said I didn’t cover a shot, will I don’t know what I’d do. We stand a chance that he could screw us up by missing one shot and that would do it ? I get chills thinking about his lack of interest. When you & I sweat and toil over deals like Geneva and help make money and he just takes the 1/3 share and smile (?) no interest or care in the world (?), just expects his cut. Boy it burns me deep to know what a easy job he has, no worry no care just service and that’s it period. Oh for a deal we could depend on but that’s the tough question. I pray he is straight now.
Keep your checks listed and noted of what each was for so you have proof etc. You told me you sent him for 1500 Gemini GT-4. I’m sure you did, check our check stub $75.00 If you send future replacements etc on anything state in no less terms he air mails a card stating he received for what replacement and that he has 2,000 on hand all paid. You need to be tough and firm with this jerk.
Keep your end straight on records and make doubly sure each time when mailing. I realize you have a lot of letters, checks going out and can miss judge etc, if you make note on check stub you’ll see you wrote it?
The enclosed letter from Shepard is strange. I have sent him several envelopes cacheted of U.S. and forign issues of him and all has picture in space suit and it shows launch rocket etc. He signs them no problem. Well for now let’s not send these Geneva covers to anyone. Hide (?) ours and let Clark know this too. Let’s take no chances until we check. I’ll do some checking here for future pictures & signatures.
I hope Clark gets his records straight and has the 1500 ready for Gemini tomorrow. If he fails this one I think I’d would just be through as for sure we’d have to cease operations if we couldn’t deliver to our customers the covers? He would personally ruin SCC in one easy way? I can’t help but fear his kind of stupid acts and he is capable of doing this in just a casual manner, and later say excuse me, sorry !!
I get so upset just thinking how he could ruin us and I could get ulcers over it.
Well I guess I imagine this but I can’t help but feel uneasy and I will have to think of some method somehow of getting rid of him one day. The replacement is the thing and I won’t give up until I have an answer, once we do I’d just have to drop him but fast ———- ! He has been a drag and a burden. Let’s pray that something opens somehow?
As Ever
Carl
Carl is clearly extremely worried about Clark’s incompetence and lack of interest in the business, fearing that his negligence could jeopardize SCC’s operations and customer satisfaction. Carl suggests that Joe should make Clark more accountable for his responsibilities, perhaps by having him purchase items from his own funds and bill them to Joe to keep him aware of his debts. Carl emphasizes the importance of meticulous record-keeping and urges Joe to be firm with Clark. He also expresses his desire to find a replacement for Clark to improve and stabilize business operations.
7th Jun 1965:
Mon Eve 7 June ’65
Dear Joe
Received two of your letters, one of the cover to be autographed, completed and mailed. The other about Koszarski artworks. Joe I mailed this complete package to you a couple weeks ago. I thought it strange that you did not mention the receipt of it but knew you were busy. I hope you can locate it. I do not know if I remember all I put in it, I do remember he sent me a sketch and I did make a new one to conform to his idea. The rubber stamp was okay to use from old one to just change a new date. Check around your desk and let me know ?
I want to go over the schedule for Clark for June-July. There will most probably be six shots. Titan 3C, Centaur, Geos, Pioneer, OSO and maybe Tiros 10. Now this would exhaust his 6,000 on hand I sent him. We planned to send him 1,000 W.F. for Mariner 4 Fly By Mars and 1500 WF for GT-5. So this is O.K. But we better see to it that he gets a box of 6,000 before too long, say early July. I may suggest you order 6,000 one carton the same as we have gummed & printed. The glue seems good on these and they will be used up soon in August & Sept. Then with your order of these 6,000 put in an order for 12,000 ungummed and these could follow in August. We must see that Clark has envelopes on hand and he will need 6,000 now in July, so if you see this need go ahead and have a carton sent to Clark and order the ungummed to follow which takes longer.
Now about the GT-5 if I send 1500 W.F. do you want the recovery envelopes the same? If so how many. 1,000 of this cachet or the full 1500. I think 1,000 is enough as not everyone in the future will order these. Let me know on this amount.
I will send Clark the 1000 W.F. for Mariner in mid June so he’ll have these ready to go by July 14th on the passing of Mars. Again do you want 1,000 of these ? Or do you want 500 or 750. Let me know on this also.
I’ll ship the W.F. for GT-5 in mid July in case this shot goes the last of July?
I have to go on a trip on Business July 25-30th or 31st to San Francisco so i’ll have everything to Clark before I go for sure.
The GT-4 was a wonderful event and the future looks great for NASA. Each success makes the moon schedule for late ’68 a possibility.
The GT-5 is going to rendezvous with an Agena instead of GT-6 so things look good. The selection of new astronauts (Scientists) are being done 6 months ahead of schedule? The Vertical Assembly Building at Merritt Is is on time and things ready to get started soon. So the spending of 5 billion $ a year has paid off and things are shaping up now. If the Russians really plan to go for the moon they have their work cut out now. We feel they will try a circumlunar shot and go around the moon and return to earth, this will scare people to thinking they are about to land? Phooey, this will be more of the same propaganda and that’s all. We must see their launching (?) idea etc before they can land. They may rush things now too and be wide open for failures too. Now our slow patient pain staking efforts have paid off. Our unmanned & scientific payloads are all like a jig saw puzzle each fits into the right show and are part of this moon program. Our schedule is set and we are on the way. I’ll predict 3 years 5 months (Dec 1968).
Well enough for tonite. Back to cachets. I air mailed the GT-4 tonite. I hope you will like it. The printer will adjust to the metallic colors as he said he knows the answer now?
As Ever
Carl
In this letter, Carl discusses the schedule for Clark in June-July, which involves several upcoming rocket shots and ordering more envelopes. He seeks Joe’s input on the number of envelopes needed that SCC should produce for various events. Carl expresses his optimism about NASA’s progress, especially with regard to the planned upcoming moon missions, and speculates about the Soviet Union’s lunar ambitions. Carl concludes by predicting the first moon landing to be in December 1968 (not a bad guess!) and also discusses printing with metallic colors.
10th Jun 1965:
Thurs Eve 10 June ’65
Dear Joe
The letter of a P.O. to cancel at the Cape is really good. The letter sounds like they do not intend to handle large orders. But I believe once they get a few inquiries like yours about several boxes and so forth they may OK it, especially if the party leaves a box or two and asks that they cancel and would return for it? Well we shall see. This only goes to prove that this space topic will move up and interest will mount I’m sure. This will be a boon for collectors of small interest and if they go to a rubber stamp to stamp up for special large shots this is good.
The Leo (?) August letter was something. I’m sure he was “teed off” and so what. No I would not answer it as I feel he can’t do us any good. It will help I’m sure if he does get out envelopes. But Joe let’s not counter with our do it yourself envelopes. I don’t believe there is any profit in this envelope idea, cause they do not depict the shot only a general space theme. When the Cape gets out a special stamp to go on blank envelopes this will kill off Leo (?) fast and we should concentrate on our regulars only. I like you feel that space will grow to such a popular topic that we will feel the growth and profit by of I’m sure.
I have given thought to your idea of taking out a bank loan of 1,000. To be used especially for the purchase of 10,000 W.F. ($600.0) and the rest to spend on a good advertisement pitch, 1/2 page or so in Stamps. We could hit hard at our offer to new members stress what they get, and the value of receiving different cachet every time to match each major shot and to play down the do it yourself idea. Show the disadvantage of one sending his or her special envelope like few would produce and getting a cover back with no mention of what shot it was. This could open the new members eyes and see what worthwhile service we would offer. Our research, 2 color print, filler of technical value, Explorer, having no responsibility but to receive our valuable covers etc etc. I feel if we made a big pitch and had a couple of our best covers shown and this explanation of what they get and how valueless a cover that is just general space could be. This would upset Leo and we could get the new members that have been awakened of the space topic through the latest ‘Walls in space’ (?) We could keep this 1,000 as a separate deal and pay back to the bank 50. per month and in 18 months we’d have it worked off. The idea is good I like this. Joe we are a small company but have good assets and we should do a loan once in a while to attempt a layaway idea or advertisement. I know how it is to budget each month like you do, and when you’d want to buy a deal of W.F. we can’t. I feel these will go off after summer as the World Fair closes then we’d lose them. Let’s give this loan a new thought and advertise idea too. It would be a good idea. Your suggestion about Astro-bits space dealers etc is O.K. I agree this can’t hurt us I’m sure.
I will plan on 1,000 for Mariner Fly-By and 1,500 GT-5 plus 1,000 for recovery. As I mentioned before to stretch Clark 6,000 he has a hand in envelopes I could ship 1,000 W.F. for the Mariner. Then once he gets the new 6,000 you order we can just go for W.F. to Gemini shots or as important ones ?
I’ll check Monday at P.O. to my girl about the possibility of ordering 10,000. We want to be sure we can first.
Joe since I wrote you regarding the Geneva envelopes of upside down cancellations etc. I never looked at the backs until last night. Everyone of mine are a mess, all stretched and double cancelled etc. I can’t imagine what was done. I receive regular mail and it never has a mark on the back. I can’t understand what the Clerk does to make the lines & cancels show on the back? It may be we will hear from Geneva on this if they got theirs this way? Boy the clerks just don’t give a damn. On anything special where the P.O. doesn’t have to deliver these letters it comes back looking lousier than if they went through the regular machine. It beats me and I shudder sometimes !!!
Today I received a large envelope from ATA Jerry Husab (?), he sent 3 mock up first title pages of 3 Topical handbooks that he wants revised, redone etc and 2 more to come. Since I did a few letter heads for him he has felt I guess I would do more art work. Well it so happens that I would but I can’t. My regular job has me up to my ears in work and I have to take a lot home to work on it and this is heavy, then the cachets etc takes the balance and this uses up 7 days per week. I’m up till 10-11 each nite all day & evening on weekend, never watch TV but special news, I just haven’t the time. Then in July I have to prepare this S.F. trip and before & after will take a lot of time. Also the office has sent me to N.Y. tomorrow and I’ll return Sat afternoon and this makes my regular work behind. So Joe I hate too but I have to write Jerry & explain.
There is one more thing Joe, we got Jimmy’s thank you card today, I’m so glad he enjoyed the pen set. I wish him the best with it and know he will make his future worthwhile.
I’ve talked your ear off tonite and only wish we were close so we could talk over ideas, plans and such. But we do very well as we have?
I’ll write more soon again.
As Ever
Carl
In this letter, Carl is confident that interest in space-related collectibles is growing. He strongly advocates the idea of SCC taking out a $1000 bank loan to purchase 10,000 W.F. envelopes and run a promotional advertisement to highlight the advantages of SCC’s cover service over DIY envelopes. Carl mentions his disatisfaction with the condition of the reverse of covers returned from the Post Office for the Geneva deal. Additionally, Carl explains his time constraints, which may also explain why his hand-writing seems to be getting worse. His letters are becoming harder to read and that could simply be because he was so short of time.
13th Jun 1965:
Sunday 13 June ’65
Dear Joe
Received your letter plus the Sase’s (?) letter and I too felt very low and yet we must sweat this out a bit longer I guess until we hear from Slosman (?). At one time you wrote how he said he’d send money in advance etc? Well lets pray and see how this deal works out for us now. I don’t think you and I should let Clark know any of the details unless we are held holding the bag? You mentioned our loss of $500. We really will only lose our costs, $120 for the envelopes, postage aur 61.39 plus the postage from me to you 2.34 and your postage say 4.00 to Clark, plus the printing costs so our real loss is about $250 or near this amount. 500 we would have received plus air 61.39 and we’d of made 300. Well Joe we can’t but grit our teeth for now and wait and see what Slosman (?) does. I’m sure he sold all of the covers because they were so timely. This profit he made could have been a nice quick one and he may be able to send the 500 + air costs and we would be in. I surely hope so.
Is strange how there is so many people in this world that are so shady and one never knows until he ruins things. This puts a damper on future arrangements for him & others. One ruins it for all. If we ever get any future bits to do the same we will know that we should ask for our costs and references etc. ‘Another Ronson’. No this isn’t the end of the road but we as small as we are feel lousy when someone should take advantage of us? I know how this must have shattered your faith in others. Your the kind of fellow who would go overboard and help and assist and do anything and then to be confronted with the possibility that we may have been taken surely must have upset you. But Joe don’t bear the whole brunt, I too understand and will be the first to say to you, ‘We’ll weather this’. Chin up ole boy. God will bless us with a deal to make up for it I’m sure if all turns against us on this deal.
I’m glad your friend Mr Sase (?) wrote you so the shock of Slosman (?) wouldn’t have floored you any worse. As he writes he isn’t sure yet that all will be lost, maybe some materials etc but somehow the deal may come out.
If it doesn’t are you going to pursue the matter further. At least to keep after Slosman (?) and to let him know what a dirty deal he pulled etc. I would let him know that you intend to let everyone know through organizations in the U.S. etc what a louse he was and to warn them for future business etc. Someone like him should not be let go without a threat or knowing what a mess he caused plus his future dealings would be at stake over one deal.
As I said I’ll pray hard this straightens out and our confidence of others will not be shattered.
As Ever
Carl
This is the first we hear of the “Geneva deal” going wrong. Joe and Carl are facing a potential loss of between $250-500 due to the actions of an individual named Slosman (?). I’m not sure I have his name right. This may not sound like a lot of money now, but adjusted for inflation, this is somewhere between $2500-$5000 so it certainly was a lot of money at the time. Carl acknowledges feeling extremely disappointed about the situation and suggests that they wait to see how the deal pans out, hoping that Slosman (?) will fulfill his commitment and send the money he owes. They discuss the financial loss, which, while substantial, is not as high as initially feared. Carl expresses frustration with people who act dishonestly and acknowledges the impact this situation has had on their trust in others. Carl comforts Joe, reminding him that they will overcome this setback, and that they may find another opportunity in the future to make up for the loss. Carl suggests that Joe should consider pursuing the matter further and letting Slosman (?) know about the consequences of his actions. He advises Joe to warn others in the industry about Slosman’s (?) behavior, as someone like him should not escape without repercussions for his unethical business dealings. Carl ends the letter by expressing hope that the situation will be resolved and that their confidence in others will be restored. A sad time for SCC considering all the effort that Carl & Joe put into the covers. It’s not fair they ended up being upside down on the deal. Can anyone clarify the name of the invidual involved, I think it’s ‘Slosman’ (?) but I can’t be 100% as Carl’s handwriting can be difficult to read.
21st Jun 1965:
Mon Eve 21 June ’65
Dear Joe
Received your last letter and copies of Ronson’s trash. Yes we must stay quiet and let him fight it out with whom he can and I hope he will be still once he is shut up from the societies.
About our dear partner Clark, my I must say that if he doesn’t give you an ulcer it’s a miracle? I have written him this weekend for the second time since mailing him the 1500 envelopes for GT-4 and the large box of 6,000. He never sent a card that he received these, I only ask him to drop me a card so I would know. Nope nothing. I even made up a cachet for him for GT-3 he asked for one, I asked for a few copies after the launch, never heard a word, so he will never get a cachet out of me period. This kind of character deserves a kick in his pants, just so darn lazy and careless and no serious bone in his body. If ever we should locate a trusted contact down there boy we should do something about it. In your files do you have any member of our covers who is near by? Let’s check and see. I am hoping the office will send me to the Cape by fall or winter, I promise this time to check and see how we could arrange for a good contact. We should be able to get addresses of Space Club etc before I do go and so I could in advance have a contact ready to ask. Once we could shake this odd ball we would do better and relax?
I know you have the cancelled checks that he signed when you paid him for each shot? These should be copied and sent to him to remind him. It burns me up to know how he can make 50 or 100 from his poor money and poor records, I know he has capitalized on this in the past when his records went astray and you resent more. Boy this guy is some bird.
Each replacement check, label each exactly and recheck his receiving etc.
Why did he buy 200 embossed if he had received my box of 6,000? He had envelopes so why the envelopes, too lazy to put on the stamps? This guy is on my list to go one day and when it happens we’ll both breathe easier.
I did tell you I sent Clark 1,000 (2 boxes) of W.F. and a letter telling him these were for the Mariner 4 Mars Fly By. I’ll write in early Jul again to remind him.
Joe I would like for you to do me a favor. This is a must in my books. I want you to take an extra bonus every now and then for your extra time you take off from your work. This leave is yours and I hate to see you so loyal and to devote this valuable time to SCC without some return small as it may be. Honestly Joe you must take these as compensation, I really insist that you do. You are the heaviest worker, the most responsible position and you deserve and are entitled to an extra every quarter. I want you to work these in and not mention it, you should not feel like it’s unfair, phooey, this is business and you should have a larger share. Just take into account your wife & sons time. Why can’t you put it in the books as there compensation, you do this, I mean it Joe. You’re so loyal and fair and I realize this, but I also know how long & hard you & your family work, so try to work this out please. Do not argue but start to think of yourself and do not worry but be ___ and do it ! Now I’m glad I said this as I had this on my mind to tell you some time ago.
Now that the Titan 3 is so successful this ___ will build up and more real big shots will come up from this rocket.
For the GT-5 in August they plan to both get out and also experiment with a large pod that they will eject and home on it manuever etc. Then the 8 day will be in this, then the next one will be a docking with an Agena.
’65 will chalk up a great year and ’66 should be the biggest and bang ’68 the moon!
As Ever,
Carl
Carl expresses his extreme frustration with Clark, who has been negligent and unresponsive. Carl highlights Clark’s lack of communication regarding the envelopes for GT-4, his request for a cachet for GT-3, and the purchase of additional envelopes despite having plenty already. He emphasizes the need for Clark to improve his record-keeping and suggests that Joe remind him with copies of canceled checks as a way to keep him accountable. Carl also mentions that he sent 1,000 W.F. envelopes for the Mariner 4 Mars Fly By and plans to send another reminder to Clark. The letter then changes tone. Carl expresses his concern for Joe’s dedicated efforts and suggests that Joe takes an extra bonus for the time he dedicates to SCC, recognizing his loyalty and hard work. He insists that Joe deserves fair compensation and encourages him to consider it as part of the business. No mention of the “Geneva Deal” in this particular letter, but the next letter is a different story.
23rd Jun 1965:
Wed Eve 23 June ’65
Dear Joe
Just a short letter to answer your letter about Cern and to return it.
This friend Sase (or Gase ?) is a good contact and the information about dealers is very honest and worthwhile. When you deal overseas they can ‘shaft’ you because they realize we are so far away and couldn’t much or wouldn’t try? Let’s hope we can make contact and can do more of the ‘specials’ in a profitable way and not on the fence as we are with Slosman (or Glosman ?).
Joe if it is true that our covers were sold at $10 per set someone made a pot of dough. And to think our part is $563. If we don’t get it this Slosman (?) is the lowest crook i’ve ever heard of. I don’t know Joe but my feelings are not optimistic, I must admit we will never see our part, I hope i’m wrong but this Slosman (?) sounds like he would like to make everything he could spend it and have nothing left for his bills. I never dreamed there was such devils but we must distrust everyone I guess when it comes to business. I guess the best way to handle business in Europe is cold, cut and dry, quote a price ask 50% and if they don’t like it forget them. If covers on specials will be priced so high or even 3 or 5.00 we should make our prices a lot higher?
Sounds like you were terribly busy and I know you and yours were all at it.
The schedule of TIROS-10 is due for June 29. Centaur-6 early July.
I will send Clark a notice for these and hope his nephew opens the mail and will be alerted?
It’s hot here and no rain, we’ve had this for several years, all rain in winter and very little in Summer. N.Y. is as dry as the desert and the water supply is so low.
Things here are fine.
As Ever
Carl
In this letter, Carl briefly responds to Joe’s communication about Cern and acknowledges receiving Joe’s letter. Carl mentions that their friend, Sase (or Gase), is a valuable contact for obtaining information about dealers, especially when dealing with overseas parties. He highlights the potential challenges of international business dealings due to geographical distance and suggests that making contacts and engaging in profitable collaborations would be beneficial. Carl expresses doubts about ever receiving their part of the money from the deal with Slosman (or Glosman), given the circumstances. He conveys a sense of pessimism about the situation and the possibility of recovering their funds.
26th Jun 1965:
Sat Eve 26 June ’65
Dear Joe
Received your last several letters and will write on these here.
Thanks for the Nat Space Club letter. If you wish to continue mailing Mr Turner a cover at his home here is his address: Thomas Turner
8112 Hamilton Spring Rd
Bethesda, Md. 20034
He is a top man with Republic Aviation Corp.
About the envelopes, yes I will check here. I can get envelopes at the senate stationery and wholesale. I will see if I can buy a lot at a reasonable price printed ungummed. If no luck I will go to another place through my purchasing agent here at the Library. So i’ll check out all my leads here, and report. Glad you purchased 1000 (?) now so Clark can have a big backlog while we are going after a new deal ?
When Clark returns and gets straightened out with you, have him report all of the envelopes he has on hand etc so we can keep a correct account here after we ship him any large amount plus the WF’s ?
I will put the address away of the contact at the cape for cover service and if I get there I will see her.
I read in your letter the explanation why you won’t take additional money for the work over & above. Well Joe why can’t you put down in the books the labor costs that your wife and your son give ? You should pay some on there and this is operating charges that are due any business. So try to understand why I am insisting that you pay these amounts as this is labor and must be paid. So work on this angle. I hate to know that they are working hard and long without compensation, I don’t think we should debate this Joe they should get the compensation even though it would be small but some.
I will check and return the prices that Sarzin charges for the special covers you will send. I’m sure he is way up I can assure you that. The customers we have are getting a break and they will soon realize this.
The enclosed copy of the Zambia space race is one I think I sent you some time ago? Its a strange world ? What poor souls they are ?
I have information that John ‘Shorty’ Powers (the voice of Mercury during the early days of space). He left NASA for a job with the World Book Encyclopedia Science, Inc.
Anyway I saw in the Indianapolis Star a column he writes called Space Talk and he answers letters that are written to him of space. And at the end of his column he states. The sender of the two best questions each week – in the judgement of Col Powers and the editors of World Book will receive a $25 bond.
So if you are interested to know more on this i’m sure you could write to Powers care of the Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis Incl. and he could give you all information, addresses etc. It may be worthwhile to get and put in our Explorer for our members to have a crack at writing questions ?
———————– END ———————–
Unfortunately there must be a page (or pages) missing, as this letter ends abruptly. Carl’s insistence on compensating Joe’s family members for their work highlights his concern for fairness. Joe’s decision not to accept money for his family’s work shows his commitment to the business and also reflects a real sense of generosity and selflessness.
3rd Jul 1965:
Sat Eve 3 Jul ’65
Dear Joe
Received the package of covers 4 issues (25 each) also received your letter with checks of past expenses.
Enclosed are the list of new space members to ATA from the Jul-Aug issue of Topical Time. I am encouraged to find so many new space specialists, every issue a new crop. In the issue page 25 is a reproduction of our Comsat cachet and they refer in the write-up our cover plus our regular ad to see in issue. So people search for it i’m sure once they see the cachet and it interests them? Are you going to drop July Explorer ? This is the summer month and one issue is to be eliminated. Maybe this will give you a breather.
Enclosed is the Tiros material. This one was good as far as the time went. It went up on Thurs Eve 11:07 EST and this made it 12:07AM EDT on Friday so the cancellation on Friday will be just right. I did put the 2 July on in case ?!!!
Getting the Mariner cachet ready for the 14th of July. This one will be a nice follow-up. No other service thinks of these i’m sure. And our members really have it nice to just sit back and know that we will cover the necessary shots? I did write you some time ago I think and told you I purchased 1,000 W.F. envelopes and sent them to Clark? I guess they came after he left but i’m sure he will be back before and i’ve sent a letter reminding him to use these W.F. and I will send another letter air next Tuesday so he’ll get this and be reminded again so we can be sure of the cancellation of 14th July. I purchased these and this is the only outstanding bill I have with you of $60.00.
In your last letter about the foreign FDC from Russia, Czech etc and how they except your check, this is good and your selling job is excellent. No doubt the buyers sooner or later see they are getting the best buy and you will have good steady totals on this extra service. Yes it is work this comes when the shots are made so in between you can catch another breather ?
I guess all your going to do is catch breathers ? Well you have a lot to do and your family is pitching in and as I said before Joe you must find a way to put their expenses on our SCC and they should be paid.
Please make a real effort and find a way to cover this without going to Social Security etc ?
Oh one more item. I’ll be needing the Space Craft symbol I use on my cachets, if the printer can get me a dozen this will hold me a while.
As Ever
Carl
Carl continues to encourage Joe to find a way to use SCC to cover the expenses of his family’s contributions. Carl knows that Joe spends a HUGE amount of time on the SCC business, but reading between the lines, it is clear that SCC is not really bringing in very much money… So Carl is worried about Joe’s financial position. It is nice to see that Carl acknowledge Joe’s hard work and dedication to the business, as well as his concern for Joe’s family’s involvement. This underscores the collaborative nature of their business partnership, but also suggests that Carl is better off financially than Joe. Maybe Carl feels somewhat guilty about this?
7th Jul 1965:
Wed Eve 7 July ’65
Dear Joe
It was good to have talked a bit last evening and I hope the Clark arrangement straightens out.
One thing I feel may be worthwhile, why not send a letter to Hilda Pfirman P.O. Box 333 Cape Canaveral Fla and propose a price at least know what it would cost. It may be some time before I would get down there and I feel we should explore this in case. I would ask her what she would charge per 1,000 serviced and state that each envelope would be stamped and addressed all ready to go so her work would be but service at P.O. and mailing to you. We’d supply her with a backlog and keep her posted as to what shots we’d want. I feel once we know what this would cost and all details then we could see what, why, where etc. One thing if we ever do get some one to service we should have all done at Canaveral and not bother the Patrick P.O. This would be easier and simpler for the servicer?
Anyway we must look around and be in a position to act. I have a feeling we could be slowly ruined by Clark. There was no excuse for him to leave his cousin to service and not wrap for mailing, and to not have instruction to use the other stock on hand. I know he has missed records and has cost us 300 in the past since we have been in business. This is a shame and I for one do not approve of it, knowing how you & I sacrifice and put our all into this when he loafs and doesn’t give one dam for if we missed a shot or not. He’s one mess and even if we paid to have our covers serviced we’d be in better shape in all ways in the end.
I’ve thought over how we’d go about dropping him. One thing we never incorporated and once he were dropped we’d make an arrangement and work that off gradually over the years. He couldn’t do anything but be mean etc.
I’d like to be deciding soon before we stock him with 10,000 envelopes etc once he gets any stock that’s the end of that plus the 2,000 on hand money 120 or 100.00. If we can arrange anything to our favor that is something else but why don’t you drop a line to Hilda and get a reading of what she’d charge in volume.
In Sept or October I have been asked to talk to a Boy Scout group being formed. This is a new chapter in McLean VA to be called Space-Explorers. They will be oriented to Space and will have projects etc. I will make up a large exhibit and go into Philately in Space. I’ll have you send me 18 Explorers of that past month since the troop has 18 now. Parents will be there and I can go into collecting and could get some parents interested to our service plus new interest of the newly interested. I will arrange to have pictures taken and we could put it in our Explorer and send to ATA for publication interest ? We could send the troop the Explorer plus a cover for their record and to have for reference. I’ll tell you more when it develops okay.
I have to act so gloomy over this Clark deal but it has me worried and i’m sure it bothers you too. If only he’d be on the ball and act like wanted to really be alive and keep records and make you feel he has full control over his part then it would be fine, but he’s a confused mess and if you or I would drop in and see him i’ll bet we’d flip to see the condition of his place and the way he operates. I’ll bet he couldn’t tell or show you where our stuff was or anything. I know he’s like this, all confused and happy !
Well I’ve rambled enough tonite.
As Ever
Carl
Carl believes that Clark is not taking the SCC business seriously, while he and Joe are making significant sacrifices. Carl wants Clark gone, plain and simple. Carl’s attitude towards Clark appears to be increasingly negative and he wants Joe to consider switching to a new servicer – Hilda Pfirman. Her address ‘P.O. Box 333 Cape Canaveral FL’ is seen on many, many space covers from all different brands, just in case anyone ever wondered who this address belonged to. It is also interesting to read here that Carl suggests only using Cape Canaveral for serving covers and not bother PAFB any longer. Carl also shares the news of his upcoming speaking engagement with a Boy Scout group focused on space exploration, where he plans to promote the SCC service.
10th Jul 1965:
Sat 10 Jul ’65
Dear Joe
Received your last letter of 8 July and was glad to hear you made contact on envelopes. This price is very good. So far my leads are not final but prices were running around 4.00 and the no glue was beginning to become a problem. So lets see what there envelopes develop in regards to printing colors etc. You can have Clark use 1,000 of these when he gets them for a test on a major shot to see the results at the printers? Glad the orders are coming in and usually they hold for end of month or pay days as usual.
Got a card from Clark telling me he was home and that he received the 1,000 W.F. for Mariner, well he will see that they were used up for Tiros-10.
Joe once you get your bearings cleared up with Clark on the $ etc let him give you a inventory of all the envelopes he has for us now on hand plus stamps and then let me know. We will both try to keep a good control on him.
I’ll write you after each shot to remind you of the check to replace the ones used etc and we’ll keep up a tally on his envelopes etc and the notation on each check for the replacement will help remind him?
I received a statement from the Nat’ Space Club for dues (?) of next fiscal year. I will hold it up as I think you got one, okay.
I’ve also enclosed a notation to remind you of the 1,000 envelopes I purchased that you have to clear up as my only outstanding bill to SCC.
Its hot & humid this weekend, phew !! I mowed and was out in the yard 4 hours and about burnt up. Good ole Spring & fall. Oh well we can’t have everything we want.
As Ever
Carl
Not too much to say here, really this letter is just Carl wanting to keep Clark in check, as usual ! I wonder whether Joe felt a bit awkward about the whole Clark situation. Or perhaps did Joe feel the same way about Clark as Carl did ? In that case, I wonder why they kept using Clark for so long, despite the less than ideal working relationship.
1st Aug 1965:
Sunday 1 Aug ’65
Dear Joe
Spent a wonderful week in S.F. and it was a good week for space education. I covered 4 days of lectures, movies etc on the latest and futuristic events and feel well educated. S.F. is a lovely place and the weather is the best average 68° all year, no air conditioning needed. Lots to see and do there and it has a lot to think of when retiring or moving out.
Received your 900. check for WF envelopes which I will order on Monday a fast 2500 first so I can get these to Clark, then they will get me the remaining so I could stock up and ship Clark for special issues?
Then the other check of 50. was a surprise. After the Geneva mess I figured we’d be in a short period of making up? Thanks.
I have a desk piled high and lots of work to do. I will get out Pegasus this week and send you shortly. I see where Centaur 6 is due Tue or Wed this week. I send a air letter to Clark on this and other shots to be alerted for OSO, Pioneer & GEOS.
Got your letter while I was in S.F. and heard of your telephone call here.
Enclosed are the reproduced 3 frames of the Mars shot you can have, these will be history in several years.
Will be busy at the office preparing a briefing of this trip and the night work of SCC is behind so I have a lot to do.
Hope you and your family are well?
Will write again soon
As Ever
Carl
Carl has been a trip to San Francisco and seems to really like it there. The handwriting in this particular letter is scrappy and difficult to read so perhaps Carl was tired when he wrote this. Carl thought that SCC would be a bit behind after the failed Geneva deal but Joe sent Carl a small distribution check ($50) much to Carl’s surprise.
23rd Aug 1965:
Monday Eve 23 Aug 65
Dear Joe
Well it looks as if the 8 day space event is going to be attained? I hope so. Well anyway we did get squared away and to Clark in case of a short duration not to cover but it looks good now? Of course it will be Sunday AM when they touchdown. This will be another time when we shall see if Clark makes an effort to go to the P.O. and have the 1,000 cancelled by the substitute crew on duty Sunday. If so we’d have the only splashdown covers i’m sure. Well i’ll complete the cachet now for this event. Also the OSO I am on now. The major cachet GT-5 is held up on account of the time etc. Should rush all to you as soon as completed.
Of the W.F. I sent Clark and after the splashdown Sunday if all goes he will have used 2100 of the 5000. The 600 he sent Mar____ (?) and he later sent you was from this box? So if the 1,000 goes Sunday he will have 2100 on hand paid. The only replacement you need send are the 1,000 stamps of OSO if all goes this Weds.
This deal at Merritt Is of the P.O. is one that is a sticky problem, they do not know how popular this could become and the volume of work involved, but will have to wait and see.
Oh one item, I sent to NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston a month ago an envelope and enclosed two of the Spacecraft covers, one of Grissom/Young and McDivitt/White for autographs also enclosed returned stamped envelopes. Well today I received the two envelopes, postmarked Webster, Texas. I opened and both were empty. The envelopes were messy and I could see where they had been opened. So I wrote a letter and enclosed the two envelopes to Houston. I believe they were rifled and that the secretary who handles these gets a large group ready and seals them and a messenger takes them to the P.O. Well he became curious and no doubt knew what each contained i’ll be he took a group and opened each and resealed. The stupid jerk mailed them and now the officials can trace where these messengers live and if any are from Webster they will be hot on them. So we still can’t send things without thiefs? I’m sure my result will help stop the old procedure and they will be wise now.
My 4 covers I sent to Moscow also never did come back. I’m sure some dirty red took these, they all are rotten and I would never do that again ever. Even when people I know ask me if it is safe I tell them no. Today people have sticky fingers and I have lost faith in anyone who I cannot see or know well. The Geneva deal also cursed me. The world is full of crooks and I would not trust anyone in business unless I had real good references and personal contact. I’m sorry I feel this way but i’ve been burnt and won’t get caught again.
Well until next time.
As Ever
Carl
The 8-day space event Carl is talking about is Gemini 5 (Cooper / Conrad) which ran from 21-29 Aug 1965. It is also interesting to read about Carl’s concerns with the Merritt Island P.O. (is he referring to the KSC post office here?). Thsi letter takes a turn toward Carl’s distrust and disappointment in various situations. He describes an incident involving NASA where returned envelopes arrived empty, suspecting tampering by a curious messenger. This experience, coupled with his covers not returning from Moscow and the bad Geneva deal, has led him to lose faith in distant business relationships. Carl now firmly believes in needing personal contacts and solid references before trusting anyone in business. His experiences with missing items and deals gone wrong have made him highly skeptical and cautious. Carl is becoming more guarded in his approach to business.
1st Sep 1965:
Wed Eve 1 Sept 65
Dear Joe
A few items I will report. First I called the Space Club and Miss Martha Olin (?) was very nice and said she’d take care of this now, so you should get a letter from her.
Checked with NASA about OSO and they state it as a failure, no comment. So if we plan to go ahead try to word it up so it doesn’t appear to be a total failure, as we have done so well not to push this kind, so I will complete the material here and send as soon as I can. I feel we shouldn’t send it along with the GT-5 hold for a future cover that will come up and pair it up then?
A reminder that since Clark covered this 1,000 you need to send $50. build Clark back up to 2,000 stamps on hand.
Joe can you send me two of the Explorer for August and when you send Sept to me send two as I am using these extras with the material I plan to take along on the lecture in Sept for the Explorer Scouts.
The address of the new president of Space Club
Mr Dale H. Grubb
Arlington Towers 5-919
Arlington, Va
Enclosed are a couple new NASA items of Walk in Space & Mars photos.
The clipping of the College Moonport was good (?). I made a copy so you may want to cut a small story for future Explorer.
The astronaut lingo was really cute, the one who put these together was clever.
The list of new space members from the new ATA magazine seems to be coming more and more on new space interests.
This is all for now.
As Ever
Carl
Here is an envelope that Carl Swanson sent to Joe Fitzpatrick in 1967. I looked up Carl’s address on Google Maps and was able to find the exact house that he lived in. It was built in 1937. What a really beautiful old house ! There is a very good chance that much of the SCC cover artwork was designed in this very house by Carl back in the 1960s/1970s.
2 – Correspondence re: early KSC cancels | Top
Here we have a few letters back & forth re: early KSC cancels, which are collector favorites these days. Most SCC covers with a KSC cancel demand a premium, and as a general rule, the earlier the cover, the more desirable it is. From my understanding, the earliest known KSC-cancelled SCC cover is Surveyor 6 (7th Nov 1967) and there is currently only one example known to exist. If you have any further information to share here, i’d love to hear from you.
The first letter is a reply from Paul Siebeneichen (KSC) to Clark Nickel (who serviced covers for SCC for several years).
21st May 1965:
Dear Mr. Nickel
Your letter of May 14, 1965 is acknowledged and has been reviewed by my office.
Since there are many details involved in handling a special cover or first issue stamps, etc., I have been referred to a contact within our Space Center through which I am sure that you may obtain all necessary information. I suggest that you contact the following individual directly, either by letter or telephone:
Mr. John E. Markovich
GA-742
Kennedy Space Center, NASA
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Telephone: 867-2411
I do hope that you obtain satisfaction through this contact.
Sincerely,
Paul O. Siebeneichen, Chief
Education & Community Services
This is very possibly a reply to the first attempt SCC ever made to KSC regarding cancelling covers at the (soon to exist) KSC Post Office.
This second letter is the response from John Markovich (KSC) to Clark Nickel, so Clark must have written to John (as Paul suggested he should).
25th May 1965:
Dear Mr. Nickel
Reference your letter of May 22nd concerning cancellation of postal covers. Please be advised that the proposed postal facility at the Kennedy Space Center will be a Contract Station of the Orlando Post Office. Mail canceled at this facility will be postmarked Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The Postal Facility will be located in the Merritt Island Launch Area and will be available only to personnel having access to this area. Mail deposited in the Postal Facility will be canceled on the date of deposit in accordance with Postal Regulation.
Sincerely yours,
John E. Markovich
This response from John Markovich doesn’t sound either positive or negative to me, it’s fairly “matter of fact”. However it does hint that it might be difficult to have mail canceled at the KSC Post Office because it will be for authorised personnel only. Interestingly, it says “Incl: 1 Cancelled First Day Cover” at the bottom of this letter, perhaps he was returning an SCC sample to Clark, or perhaps Clark had asked for a cover to be canceled.
Here is a letter reply and original envelope from Forrest Rhodes to Joe Fitzpatrick.
4th Jun 1965:
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick
Your recent letter to Gordon L. Harris, Chief, Public Affairs, has been referred to me for reply. The Postal Facility to be activated at the installation July 1, 1965, will be a Contract Station of the Orlando Post Office. Inquiries concerning purely postal matters should be directed to the Postmaster of that Office.
The Contract Station will be located in a controlled access area and will not be available to the public. The Kennedy Space Center does, however, conduct escorted tours for some groups and is planning an Information Center to be constructed next year. Special mail deposit boxes will be made available to visitors for cancellation in the Contract Station Postal Facility. Mail so deposited will be cancelled on the date of deposit as required by U.S. Postal Regulations. It is planned to have a special cancellation cachet depicting the Space Center in the cancellation stamp. Further, special cachets for major space events are envisioned in the future.
The Mail and Postal Section of the Kennedy Space Center will honor individual philatelic requests for special cancellation. Requests for bulk cancellation will, of necessity not be honored but will be returned to the sender.
If you desire further information, please address me.
Sincerely yours,
Forrest Rhodes
Chief, Mail and Postal Section
There is a lot of interesting information in this letter:
(1) It provides a definitive opening date for the KSC Post Office – 1st Jul 1965;
(2) It suggests that some tours will be offered, and it will be possible to have mail cancelled at the “Contract Station” which suggests for the first time that the general public may be able to access KSC cancels;
(3) It hints at a future special KSC cancel, which of course did eventuate, in fact there are two main types: ‘normal’ with a black/closed globe and ‘Visitor Information Center’ with a white/open globe;
(4) It also hints at special covers being made for major space events, which did eventuate (KSC Official NASA Cachets);
(5) While bulk mail requests will not be honored, invidual philatelic requests will be, which must have been a reasonably positive sign for SCC.
I believe Forrest (Dusty, as he was referred to) Rhodes gave Joe Fitzpatrick a glimmer of hope with this letter, which perhaps prompted Joe to send Dusty some SCC covers, which didn’t land as well as Joe must have hoped (see next letter).
Here is another (final?) letter from Forrest Rhodes to Joe Fitzpatrick.
23rd Jun 1965:
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick
Thank you for your offer to send future commemorative space covers. However, personally, I have no interest in Philatelic Collections. I am therefore returning the covers you enclosed in your letter of June 20, 1965.
Sincerely yours,
Forrest J. Rhodes
Forrest ‘Dusty’ Rhodes basically shut Joe / SCC down with this short and quite grumpy-sounding letter. I wonder whether he was just having a bad day, or maybe he wasn’t allowed to accept items/gifts like this, but it must not have been much fun for Joe to open and read this particular letter. In true SCC style though, we know they didn’t give up trying !
This letter is from Clark Nickel to Joe Fitzpatrick, about KSC cancels.
1st Aug 1965:
Dear Joe
Just received your checks, one for stamps & one for us. Thanks.
Having a heck of a time trying to find out some way we can get covers cancelled at Kennedy Space Center, but so far haven’t come up with anything. I know they cancelled the other day when Pegasus, Saturn went with a little cachet like on the first day cover from there.
Marguerite took our covers over to the Cape for cancel, but they would not cancel them while she waited, they had too much work, they would cancel them some time during the day they told her, then they sent them on out. Let us know how they came through. Hope we can do better on the next one, but that is due Wed. The Centaur.
Did you write to NASA about the Kennedy Space Center? Let me know when you hear anything.
Write,
Clark
It took 2+ more years after this letter was written before SCC could reliably get covers cancelled at KSC (when Ray Burton started helping out). It sure is interesting to read that SCC were trying though, as early as May 1965 (before the KSC Post Office even opened, which was 1st July 1965). The Pegasus cover Clark is referring to is this one, and the Centaur cover is this one.
Here is a letter Joe Fitzpatrick wrote to John Markovitch after a phone discussion on the matter.
14th Aug 1965:
Dear Mr. Markovitch
It is very pleasant to have talked with you over the telephone the other afternoon. Anything you may see fit to do to help our philatelic enterprise will be sincerely appreciated, I assure you.
Am sending the current copy of our monthly newssheet, The EXPLORER. You may find it interesting and it will give you a rough idea of what we are trying to do.
Also, am sending you our commemorative envelopes for the GT1, GT2, GT3 and GT4 flights in order that you may get an idea of the type of cachets we do. Our artist, Carl Swanson is a professional artist (he is a civilian employee (artist) with the Air Force with office in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Would very much like to offer our services in the event we could help in designing future rubber stamps which you may use for commemorating future space shots. Of course, there would be no charge of any kind for this — we would be happy to be of some assistance.
If I do not hear from you to the contrary, I’ll continue sending you our covers as they appear. Don’t hesitate to accept these because they do represent, and in a colorful fashion, space steps by the United States which are historic in the extreme. In fact, among the people who take our covers are Dr. Emme, Historian of NASA; Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Chief Astronaut Office, Houston; Mrs. John F. Kennedy (for her little John); Sarah W. Lopez, Adm. Ass’t., Astronaut Office, Houston; Richard T. Mittauer, Public Affairs Office, NASA, Washington; Thomas Turner, former Pres., Nat’l Space Club; Donald Witten, Public Information Officer, Greenbelt, MD., etc.
Respectfully,
SPACE CRAFT COVERS
J.R. FITZPATRICK
APS – ASDA – ATA – POLONUS
After reading this, I imagine the phonecall between Joe & John must have gone quite well. Perhaps John was keen to help, but (as can be seen in the next letter) his superiors said “no”.
Here we have the reply from John Markovitch (KSC) to Joe’s letter above.
16th Aug 1965:
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick
I received your brochures and first-day covers, but am returning same. I discussed our phone conversation with my superior and the Orlando Postmaster, and bulk cancellations are still being held in abeyance until further notice. I am sorry I cannot service your request at this time but it is definitely out of my control.
When the controls are lifted at a later date, due to increased capability, you may be sure we will be glad to accomodate your wishes.
Sincerely,
John E. Markovich
This is the first real negative response to SCC regarding servicing covers at the KSC Post Office. Joe must have been disappointed to receive this letter.
3 – Correpondence with SCC cover servicers | Top
SCC used a few different cover servicers over the years, including Clark Nickel, Bob Whitney, Ed Colburn, and Ray Burton. Have I missed anyone? Clark was the main cover servicer in Florida for many years, and was replaced sometime between late 1965 by Bob. Ed was the cover servicer at Vandenburg AFB, and Ray was the cover servicer at KSC. Here is some correspondence that I have between these gentlemen and SCC. We also know that Robert Rank sold blank serviced covers to SCC, on occasion, but I do not believe these were used for general SCC releases. The many letters between Robert Rank & Joe Fitzpatrick can be found elsewhere on this page.
Clark Nickel
I have only seen two letters from Clark to Joe. One can be seen in the ‘Correspondence re: early KSC cancels’ section above. The other letter is shown below. Clark is mentioned many, many times in the correspondence between Carl Swanson & Joe Fitzpatrick. He was the main cover servicer for SCC for many years until sometime mid-1967 (I cannot figure out an exact date yet).
Sunday 20th Feb 1966:
Dear Joe
Had a fellow stop in to see me at the PO the other day, his name is C.W. Scarboro. You will find a picture of him on page 2 of the American in Space – 1965 (enclosed). He has a set of 16 pictures of missiles etc (also enclosed) they sell for $1.49 down here in Sears Roebuck etc. He is going to have other items go to space, charm bracelets, banks (?) etc. These pictures will sell for $2 outside of Florida & the Space Center. He will sell them to us for 85c a set, also will give us prices on his other articles. He has written a book, he will give us a price on. This book is also in this Space for 1965 on page two. He is a very interesting fellow to talk with, I believe he works for NSA, not sure.
Look these things over & let me know what you think, maybe we could make a little extra money off these articles on space. People down here have a lot of ideas for making money. I get a lot of people asking me for pictures etc.
Sorry about the Tiros covers etc. I’ll get them at PAFB until I hear from you. Write let me know what you think about these pictures etc.
Write
Clark
Nothing much exciting in this particular letter from Clark to Joe, but see letter from Bob Whitney to Joe Fitzpatrick (9th Sep 1966) which also mentions Scarboro and the book.
Bob Whitney
Bob Whitney took over from Clark Nickel as the main cover servicer for SCC sometime mid-1967 (maybe with some overlap). So for the first letter below he was not a cover servicer for SCC, but for the rest he was.
6th Nov 1964:
Dear Joe
Glad to hear from you again. Have been real busy and will take time to answer your last couple of letters.
Talked with CLARK last week and he is about the same. He can’t exert himself and has to take things easy.
When I talked to him earlier he had been sick while on vacation this summer. Said he had EMPHAZEMA in both lungs. After I talked with him, my father-in-law passed away up in Conn (?). He had been with us last spring and hadn’t felt good. My wife went up in July when he was bad and again last time in early Sept. His death was listed as the same reason but he also had other complications. Clark is easing up on his smoking which is something my father-in-law didn’t do. I hope he continues to take it easy – I think he knows his limitations and won’t overdo it. So much for that subject.
Enclosed are the Kennedy First Day Covers I told you about. Whatever is decided can be ___ on them.
Had a chance at work to get in on a deal to get a book on Kennedy. It’s called “THE TORCH IS PASSED”. It’s an Associated Press account of the assassination day and published by the KANSAS CITY STAR. It was only $2.00 and picked up an extra copy in case you might be interested. Let me know what you think – my compliments.
To answer your latest letter on the covers, I don’t have any more Merritt Islands available. That was my first venture and on a limited scale.
The Cape covers were sponsored by our MISSILE STAMP CLUB to help finance the STAMPORREE ’65 to be held at COCOA BEACH in the CAPE COLONY INN, the first part of June. Our Club is host to the FLORIDA FEDERATION OF STAMP CLUBS for that event.
Since the covers are club property and were to be a source of ___ the minimum per cover would be .10c each. That doesn’t represent much more than actual cost when all is considered here. We can spare 200 at that price if that would help you. Hope you can appreciate my position.
Guess this is all for this time. Hope you are out of the hospital now, and stay out. Have got to the point that I can am not doing much to add to my stamp collection. I collect US PRECANCELS AND PERFINS in addition to covers. My Brevard Postal history is still being worked on. Was just selected PRES. of our club and our main effort is STAMPOREE. If you ever hear from a MRS NIGLEY from BOULDER COLO. I referred her to you for space material. Best regards Sincerely Bob Whitney
This letter explains that Clark is actually very sick. I’m not sure whether Joe Fitzpatrick ever told Carl this, because surely it would have been mentioned in the many letters between Joe & Carl discussing Clark, but it never was. I find Bob Whitney’s handwriting very difficult to read !
6th Sep 1966:
Dear Joe:
Regarding your letter of the 21st August and the failure to hear from the INTERNATIONAL SPACE CLUBS.
To answer your questions.
1) I am only associated with the INTERNATIONAL SPACE CLUBS to the point that I have $500 invested in it, which at this point is considered down the proverbial DRAIN. This investment was supposed to help finance the latest book – CAPE KENNEDY AMERICA’S SPACEPORT. It is a better book than the first one, but no mention is made of the ISC. There are others here like me, including the artist Don Mackey who are on the short end of things and sort of waiting to see what develops. It all revolves around Mr. Charles Scarboro who is the chief wheeler. He doesn’t have any money himself, he has a family with 4 children and he has manipulated things as most is in his wife’s name. Several persons have lawyers watching him and sooner or later some action will be taken. His credit locally is nil and he is strictly for CHUCK SCARBORO.
I don’t like to be involved in anything that is questionable. I tried to give him ideas to help the club and ways of having more vision (?) for the club. Instead I guess he pocketed some of the money for his own use.
For example on how things are: Was at the Cape PO with covers for GT-9 I believe it was. Saw what looked like a MAXIMUM CARD for the flight. Several pictures on it and places for launch and splashdown postmark etc. Inquired who had these. Was told my friend ?? Chuck Scarboro was selling them for $1.20. As you might imagine I didn’t get any.
I’m still checking on the cover situation at KSC. At present I have one of our club members who works for NASA mail mine when he mails his. I’m trying to find out about cancelling boxes of covers. Don’t see why they wouldn’t. They don’t have a hand cancel except for M.O. Guess they haven’t got Bill Ronson’s case over with yet.
Will let you know more on this later. Would like to work into something like this if possible. Haven’t worked, except at home since I got retired. 2) I have checked around and the books are still available locally in stores. There is no reason for not sending them due to a local shortage. I checked with the Postmaster at the Cape to see if they are still getting mail there. He said they were. I explained the situation to him and showed him the letters.
At the Postmaster’s request, I sent him a copy of each letter and a note requesting action to be taken to see why correspondence has not been answered. He assured me action will be taken on this matter. There are not isolated cases he said. I know of other complaints some time ago.
I hope this will clear up some of the questions you had.
I’m sorry things have turned out the way they have for all concerned. There were real good possibilities in this sort of info and with the visitors coming here it had real good possibilities. Now the wheel of NASA and the Patrick P.I.O. don’t want anything to do with SCARBORO, and some local people would persecute him except for his family and would get nothing in return.
Made two trips to Conn, given (?) the 4th of July and both were a close time schedule. On one trip up I stopped at D.C. and visited the PHILATELIC AGENCY for the first time. Wished I had more time there and money.
Guess this is all for now as I want to get this to you. Hope you are feeling OK.
Sincerely
Bob Whitney
The most interesting part of this letter is where Bob doesn’t see why SCC should should have a problem getting lots of covers canceled at KSC, but as we know, SCC did have trouble and were only ever able to get small quantities of covers canceled at KSC (at least until Apollo 11 onwards).
23rd Jun 1967:
Dear Joe
Got tied up with so many things yesterday I didn’t get a chance to write as I had said.
Here is the situation at the moment. Wednesday night I went to Cocoa and saw Clark. Received from him the following items:
1 ea. Rubber stamp-1 line address “P.O. Box 2296, Huntington, W.Va., 25724”
1 ea. Rubber stamp-3 line address J.R. Fitzpatrick- rest same as above.
4500 ea Envelopes,(9 boxes,500/box) printed small 1 line address on them
He also has another box of 5000 envelopes unopened like the above. I told him I would write you on the disposition of these. If I did not get an answer before he left I would take them off his hands and get it resolved with you.
I have the 1M Eagle embossed envelopes as you requested. My question now is-What color ink do want the address stamped with?
If something should prevent me hearing from you in time to get an answer to this, I will stamp them with Black ink, and there will not be a holdup in the process.
On this Titan IIIC I will wait as long as possible after launch to be sure of a good mission before getting them cancelled. It usually takes a while to know if the satellites (5 in this case) are in proper orbit. Will consider this plus the A.M. or P.M. launch time and the time of P.O. operations to get them cancelled. Will get them in the mail as soon as possible after launch, according to your instructions.
At the moment, I would like to have it made known that I would service covers for collectors with a rubber stamp type cachet for the major launches at Cape Kennedy and later at Kennedy Space Center if possible. This is assuming I can get the necessary rubber stamps from you to do this. I would like one showing the Titan IIIC, Atlas-Agena, Thor-Delta, Thor-TAD, Saturn-1, Apollo-Saturn-5, and any other you think would be used or appropriate. I haven’t seen a tentative launch schedule but those launch vehicles will probably be used. Collectors would send self addressed stamped envelopes to me, and indicate where they wanted them postmarked. This could be at Satellite Beach, Patrick AFB, or Cape Canaveral. In the future if possible, K.S.C. will be added.
This servicing decision is the result of numerous requests from collectors for this service.
Would consider servicing for dealers also, but I would reserve the right to service those I desired to. I want to start out in this sort of slow and clean up some things I have pending. Also I don’t want to get to the point it all goes for taxes.
Right now I could use a small 3 line address stamp reading R.B. Whitney, Box 2382, Satellite Beach, FL. 32935. This could be of a size about ½x1¼ overall size. This would replace one I have with an older address.
The rubber stamps for the launch vehicles I would like to be authentic so you can tell the difference in them. Also a way to add their payload possible with a 1 line stamp, such as with the Atlas-Agena, Mariner 5. Another I forgot was the Atlas-Centaur.
Didn’t mention any details to Clark. Told him I’d keep in touch with him and give him any help I could with his move etc.
All for now, so I can mail this.
Sincerely Bob Whitney
At first I didn’t understand why Bob was telling Joe about the rubber-stamp stuff in this one particular letter, but if you read the next entry (below this one) it becomes clearer. It is interesting to read that Bob is in touch with Clark and has been picking up various SCC-owned materials from him which suggests Clark has completely stopped servicing covers for SCC by this time. Bob also mentions Clark’s upcoming move. We find out later that Clark moves to New York State.
25th Jun 1967:
Dear Bob,
Thanks very much for your letter of 23 June, just received. I am mailing it today to Carl for his information.
First, about the 9 boxes, 500/box, printed with a small 1-line address: Will you, just as soon as is convenient, pack these and send to Carl? Third Classpostage, SPECIAL HANDLING, should get them there as rapidly as first class. Send to:
CARL A. SWANSON
5303 – 29th Ave., S.E.
Washington, DC 20031
Then: Just as soon as is possible, and convenient for you, will you get the other box of 5000 envelopes, unopened, as above? Carl will write you about the disposition of this box. But Carl will need the 9 boxes just as soon as is possible, because he will affix the stamps and get back to you 2M. I believe this is the amt. of stamped, addressed envelopes Carl likes to keep on hand at ETR.
Now, I notice from your letter that you do not mention anything about the 1,000 5c mint stamps which Clark still has and which belongs to SCC. Above all we do not want to get into any kind of rhubarb with Clark, Bob, because I understand that he is very sick with a lung disability. But if at all possible, we would like to get these 1M 5 centers. If you can bring up the question to him about them tactfully, and without placing yourself on a spot in any way, please do so. Our finances are quite low (due principally to the low output of launches so far in 1967) and we do have to watch our pennies. I will, in the meantime, ask Carl’s advice on this ticklish matter before writing to Clark directly about this.
Be sure, Bob, that you place inside the 300 for PAFB P. O. the stuffers or stiffeners. They do have the old type cancel die there and we have been getting so terrible post marks from there because of a lack of stiffeners.
Your schedule for the TITAN 3C sounds real good. Better than we have heard from that area in a long long time! Particularly about watching carefully (1) the surety – so far as possible – of a good launch; and (2) watching out for the a.m. or p.m. launch time — again, so far as is possible. I feel that at long last we have someone down there, Bob, who is really watching out for us.
About your rubber stamps: I have referred this to Carl and we’ll work out something satisfactory to all as soon as is possible.
I’ll order the “R.B.Whitney” stamp tomorrow morning first thing. I’ll order 3 of these: 1 each for Carl and myself. Let me know (and Carl too if convenient) exactly when you mail the envelopes to Carl. More later:
Joe Fitzpatrick
Here is a letter from Joe to Bob just discussing some particulars around logistics of envelopes and stamps. Joe suggests to Bob to gently raise the topic with Clark Nickel that he still has some stamps belonging to SCC. Joe words this section very carefully and encourages Bob to only bring this up if he can, because Clark is sick. It is nice to see an outward letter from Joe as there are not many in this collection.
UNDATED (Not a letter, but looks like a draft for an entry in Astrophile magazine, probably some-time later in 1967 and possibly written by SCC).
FOR DO-IT-YOURSELF COLLECTORS
Have you been dissatisfied with the servicing of your own covers from the Eastern Test Range (Cape Canaveral, Fla.) area ?
If so you may be interested in knowing that a new servicerer is available: a retired Air Force non-commissioned officer. One who is a space-philatelist himself. A dependable man who is active in philatelic societies — who keeps well-informed regarding the needs of the collector of space covers> He is
R.B. Whitney
Box 2382
Satellite Beach, FL 32935
He will service, and affix a rubber stamp cachet [designed by Carl. A Swanson] on your addressed, stamped envelopes provided by yourself from the Cape post offices of Patrick Air Force Base, Cape Canaveral, and Satellite Beach. Later, if and when the Kennedy Space Center opens up its postal facilities, Mr. Whitney* will also service from there. But at present this is not possible.
Because of the recent transfer of Mr. Nickel to New York State, Mr. Whitney is now the official servicerer for Space Craft Covers.
He will also service for other dealers.
Price per cover is .10c to all.
When you send your stamped, addressed envelopes to be serviced, please be explicit in your instructions. It is suggested that all collectors, neophytes as well as experienced buffs in the field, read carefully (and retain for reference) Joe Frasketi’s article, “Preparing Your Own Spacecovers” which appears on Page 9 of this issue of The Astrophile.
This small article/advertisement suggests that the KSC Post Office has opened already, but is not yet available to the public. It also explains that Clark Nickel has moved to New York State and that Bob Whitney is now the official cover servicer for SCC. It would be possible to date this exactly by finding the corresponding Astrophile issue, but I don’t have access to them unfortunately, however I think this probably dates to the second half of 1967.
23rd Jan 1968
Dear Joe,
The covers for the Saturn-1 are on their way. The Postal charges are $2.60. I will deduct these from the balance, after the Surveyor-7 charges, which was $4.35, from your check for stamped envelopes which was changed to Space stamps.
Your check $57.50 My disbursements from that—-
1M Space stamps $50.00 16Dec68
postage .45 ”
Postage for Surv-7 2.60 10Jan68
Total $53.05
53.05
Balance 4.45
Saturn-1 Postage 2.60
Cash on hand $1.85
I think these cover are somewhat better than the last ones. The extra makes it hard to get a good cancel. After seeing the results of the last batch, I put the stamps under to get a good machine cancel, and the others I used for hand cancels as the readability of the postmark on the stamp was questionable.
VAll probably have some covers on the 27th and also the 31st – the 10th Anniversary of Explorer-1. Have had requests from collectors for these.
The next Space launch will be an OGO on an Atlas-Agena. After the last ATS launch NASA announced that was the last of the Atlas-Agenas and would use the Centaur for future Ats launches. Don’t know for sure what the dope is but find out. When I checked with NASA a week or so ago they gave me this info and today it was in the paper.
Haven’t received a check yet for the Surveyor-7 covers. Will be glad when the month is over. It has been rough with these new rates. Had a lot of work on covers for collectors who needed postage. Had a bunch of First Days for the new stamps.
I hope next month I’ll have a chance to get out and work in my yard a while. Think I’ve only been out 1 day since we got back from the holidays up north.
Will close hoping things are OK up there and you are feeling well.
Sincerely
Bob
In this letter it sounds like Bob is getting a bit sick of servicing covers and perhaps there is not much money in it for him. (I think he is talking about rubber-stamped cachets in here, as well as SCC covers). His tone in this letter is less enthusiastic than other letters, but perhaps he was just having a bad day.
17th Feb 1968
Dear Joe,
A few lines to let you know I haven’t received a check for the Lunar Module covers of Jan. 22nd.
Could use the money as I utilize this to keep up with my stamp and cover needs.
Also, could use that Polaris stamp as soon as I get it. Have had numerous requests for these launches and I have covers for about 4 of these on hand already postmarked waiting for the stamp. These include some for the first launch from a Nuclear British sub on the Eastern Test Range.
Nothing was in the mail today. If you have already mailed these disregard this. Last week I received the covers from Vandy, and those for Surveyor-7.
The British sub had their first launch by the Port crew on Thursday. The Starboard crew will launch one in about 2 weeks. The sub, the H.M.S. Resolution is the first of 4 such subs due in this year and next.
Hope you are ok and things are going ok up that way. We have have had some cool weather here this month, but it should start to warm up soon.
All for now.
Sincerely
Bob Whitney
This is the last letter I have between Bob & Joe. Finances must have been tight at SCC because Bob is still waiting for money from Joe, by the sounds of it. The “Lunar Module” cover Bob is referring to here is Apollo 5 which incidentally is the first SCC cover I have with a KSC cancel (possibly/probably serviced by Ray Burton, not Bob Whitney). The “Vandy” cover he mentions is probably “Essa 6”, and almost certainly serviced by Ed Colburn.
Ed Colburn
16th Aug 1962
Dear Joe-
First, my complements to Carl for doing such a super-dooper, extra fine cachet design. Its really 1st rate as all of his work is.
Yes, I received the package of 30 covers from you – also a box of 500 from Carl. These were not addressed and I doubt if the local P.O. people will take them without addresses – they laid down the law a while ago on this. Let me know how you want to handle this – I can supply a rubber stamp or gummed label address if you desire. I can have a rubber stamp made on this end or you can send one of your design if this is the method you choose. Of course I will try to get them unaddressed even if I have to “seed the stack” with addressed covers on top & bottom and unaddressed in between !
It’s very kind of you to offer me a bi-line in the Explorer. I plan to send you a good deal of data but I would rather be anonymous for a couple of reasons (1) Being military & living in government quarters I must be careful regarding outside “employment” and “conflicts of interest” (2) The OSI gets very interested when stamp collectors know as much of the space program as the scientists (they don’t understand that we also can read Missiles & Rockets). So – I will send you (or try to) material – use it as you see fit – it will not be classified – but don’t mention my name except as one who services !
Thanks for the complements on the rubber stamps – I have 3 now. One I modified as I didn’t like it in it’s original design. These were all designed by an airman who worked in my office. He’s an electronics technician but has a natural gift for art work and far prefers that to electronics ! I very much like the Satellite cachet.
Here’s an item I may have mentioned before but would like your comments on same. As you may know this installation was known during the war years as Camp Cooke and was a training area for Tank crews. In 1958 it was split up into 3 major areas. The US Dept of Justice got a hunk which is now a federal prison (they prefer to call it a correctional institution), the Navy got the southern area which is now known as Naval Missile Facility, Point Arguello (NMFPA) and the Air Force got the Northern & largest area now knows as Vandenburg AFB. It was desireable for the Air Force to build several launch pads at Point Arguello and they fire many of the satellites from these pads. As these are Air Force vehicles launched from Air Force pads, I have always felt that they should carry the Vandenburg postmark. For some reason in the past, it became the vogue to cancel the Arguello shots at Lompoc. I cannot concur – for the Air Force shots at any rate. (The Navy has only launched 2 or 3 from Arguello – they are concerned mostly in little air-to-air or air-to-ground rockets, most of which are tested near Pt Magoo – PMR headquarters – about 80 miles south of Arguello.
Well, I’ve rambled on long enough – enclosing some reading material for you & will try to secure some more. Here’s a couple of recent shots – don’t believe you got coverage on these.
Thanks for your kind assistance and I hope I can do right by you.
Sincerely,
Ed
Ed holds Carl in high esteem, praising his design skills and calling his work “super-dooper” and “1st rate.” Additionally, Ed expresses appreciation for Joe’s assistance and offers to provide data for the Explorer publication while preferring to remain anonymous due to his military affiliation and potential concerns with outside activities. It is interesting to see the 3 familiar cachet designs that Ed shows Joe in this letter. Ed also discusses the history and usage of different areas of Camp Cooke, in particular the section which became Vandenburg AFB in 1958. He provides context for his opinion on postmarking practices for Air Force shots. Throughout the letter, Ed maintains a friendly and appreciative tone, showing gratitude to Joe and offering further support in return. Overall, the letter reflects positively on Ed, highlighting his kindness, appreciation, and engagement in shared interests between himself and Joe/SCC. Ed also writes very well, in my opinion.
12th Jan 1964
Dear Joe-
Returned from 2 weeks in Mexico a week ago and had one mail bag full waiting for me! Will try to answer your notes of 30 Nov & 29 Dec tonite.
You asked about the cover business – It seems to be booming here – of course I have tried to help it along with ads in the stamp wholesaler & NY Tribune & Boston Herald – scouting out new blood… Especially interested in the small dealer. I have a lot of contacts from Europe – especially Germany & Switzerland. There seems to be a great interest there.
Of course I don’t sell covers only service – except for rare instances. I only run about 3 covers per launch for myself & many times I never get any.
There are some real nuts in this business tho – both collectors & dealers. I’m sure you have had dealings with both!
Yes the $27.00 you owe me, Carl did not pay in advance & I prefer not to be paid in advance. Hope the covers arrived in good shape. I try to pack them so that they won’t get bent corners in transit, but sometimes the boxes are so battered when I receive them, I wonder if they will survive the return trip !
Must run now. Best to you in the New Year
Sincerely
Ed
—— THE 1963 COLBURN CHRISTMAS LETTER BELOW WAS ALSO INCLUDED ——
Hi all,
When you receive this we should be packed for our “Christmas in Mexico” or as we say in Spanish “Navidad en Mexico!” Yes, we have been learning Spanish at Night School for the last few months. Neither of us have a natural talent for languages, but we hope we have absorbed something. For some reason our limited knowledge of Japanese always crops up and I’m sure we are bound to confound any Mexican without a good English background!
We are very excited about our trip. We made a deal with the children, Mexico —-in lieu of presents —- and I’m sure by now they feel they ended up on the short end, especially suffering from car sickness as they do. Our first night enroute will be spent in the vicinity of Tucson, Arizona, the second in Guaymos and Christmas in Mazatlan. We hope to have time to go on to Guadalahara. It not, we’ll make like beach-combers and collect shells along the coast.
We have had a busy and consequently a quick year. The boys both played on the Little League baseball teams followed by football in which Ken was on the winning team of his league. He has trophies to prove it – just ask him! Basketball season is with us now and this is our rest period, only Cubs and Girl Scouts will keep us on the run now! In addition to school and scouts Diana has been active in a school choral group and babysits several nights a week – – so grown up. Carol at “almost five” loves her Nursery School and also attends a special speech school to help her pronounce her “C, S, K,’s and L’s”.
We were fortunate to have Ed’s Mom and Dad join us for a two weeks’ vacation this summer. Met them in Reno, then on to Tahoe, through the Mother Lode country, and several wonderful days in Yosemite before returning to Vandenberg for a rest. Before the summer was over we were also lucky enough to spend a week camping in Encinata, Baja California.
It seems unbelievable that we are about to start our fourth year at Vandenberg. We hope to be able to swing a trip, via our compaing trailer, to Florida next summer and will visit as many of our friends as possible between California and Florida.
Please do write us and let us know what happened to your family during the fantastic, frantic 12 months from January to December in 1963. We’ll be looking for your letters.
Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
THE COLBURNS
Ed, Jane, Diana (12), Chuck (10), Ken (9), and Carol (5)
In the letter, Ed discusses his recent return from Mexico and the busy state of his mail upon arrival. He plans to respond to Joe’s previous notes and talks about the booming cover business, actively promoting it through ads and seeking new contacts, especially in Europe. Ed primarily offers service rather than selling covers, occasionally selling them. He mentions encountering eccentric individuals in the stamp collecting world and reminds Joe of an outstanding payment from Carl. Finally, he concludes with New Year wishes and signs off sincerely.
The Colburn’s 1963 Christmas letter (included with the letter above) announces their upcoming trip to Mexico, sharing their excitement and their recent endeavors in learning Spanish. They’ve opted for a holiday experience instead of traditional presents for the children. The letter reflects on a busy year, highlighting the children’s activities in sports, as well as family vacations and milestones. The Colburns express gratitude for time spent with family and friends and anticipate their fourth year at Vandenberg. They conclude with warm holiday wishes and an invitation for correspondence.
13th Jan 1967
Dear Joe-
Sorry I haven’t answered your pre-Christmas letter sooner but as usual I have been on the “go”. I thought I might get a few days off during the holidays but ended up working overtime instead! I am always amazed that you have time to do all the things that you have going. Maybe I’m just a poor manager! I was disappointed that it was necessary to cut down on the frequency of the Explorer – it’s such an excellent reference work & really the only publication in the space cover field. I think it holds the interest of those that have “gotten the bug” and stimulates the interest of those that haven’t. I think your readers would prefer technical articles on the spacecraft, such as the NASA release on GEOS II enclosed, rather than a biography of myself! However if you insist, I will comply. A year ago I started a paper on the Apollo tracking stations but never got it completed. I would like to finish it, have it validated by NASA and pass it on to you for the Explorer if you can use it.
I still need the following Explorers to complete my set: Vol 1, # 5, whole # 42, 44, 45. Would be happy to buy them from you if you have extra copies.
I mailed GEOS II off to you yesterday, special handling, so you should receive them soon. I personally hand cancelled 500 at the PO & the machine cancels look good this time (for a change!)
I can’t go the $25.00 per lot route just yet but will take an even $40- no postage. I know this postal increase is going to hurt us. I must have some 2500 covers from customers & had to add 1 & 2 cent stamps to each! What a job!!
Oh yes, almost forgot. If you don’t run the complete GEOS II release, I have a number of copies of the clipping that I will send to those interested free upon receipt of a self addressed, stamped #10 envelope.
I also have several hundred copies of old technical magazines; Missiles & Rockets, Technology Week, Aviation Week etc which I’ll send postpaid to those that want them at 15c each (USA only). As you know they are excellent reference works & hard to come by if one isn’t in the Aerospace business.
If you think it’s worthwhile I’ll add your stuffers to my customer’s envelopes again – it’s been about a year now since I’ve had any so should have a number of new customers.
Sincerely
Ed
In this letter, Ed apologizes for the delay in replying to Joe’s pre-Christmas letter due to a busy schedule. He expresses admiration for Joe’s productivity and discusses the disappointment in the reduction of the Explorer publication frequency. Ed offers to contribute a paper on Apollo tracking stations for the Explorer and mentions his need for specific issues to complete his set, offering to purchase them from Joe. He informs Joe about mailing GEOS II and discusses postal rates and challenges with stamping covers. I’m not 100% sure what the GEOS II cover referred to in this letter is. I do not have a SCC GEOS II cover in my collection (1966?). Could it be PAGEOS I or ESSA 3 instead ? Additionally, Ed mentions offering free clippings and old technical magazines to interested parties and proposes including Joe’s promotional materials in his customer mailings. Interestingly the original envelope for this letter from Ed to Joe survived, so it shown here too.
4th Sep 1967 / Labor Day
Dear Joe-
So much to get done and seems that there are so few hours in the day – tonite I must get a few lines back to you in response to your several letters recently.
Yes I made up that OGO cachet – it isn’t much but it does get the point across – barely!
No I don’t know Bob Whitney at the Cape. I hope he works out good for you. I start my 8th year here in Dec and know I must be short (?) — 18 months is the longest I have been at 1 spot until Vandy… hence my box no. so when I leave my replacement will be set up. There are big things (?) to come here in the 1970’s and I hope to be able to pick a replacement that will do the job the way you need it done.
Appreciate the covers you have been sending. I use these to soften up the local P.O. employees – Postmaster & base supervisor. They are nice guys and appreciate these covers. I sure hope to _____ (?) a new cancelling machine at the base before I leave here but since I’m the primary user it is a hard fight !
I need the following Explorers to complete my series – can you help me?
Aug 62 – Vol 1 #5
Whole # 42, 44 & 45
I think you asked if I could service FDC of the new space stamps at VAFB – you know I can’t on the 29th but will sure get some covers off on the 30th – the 1st day it goes on sale here.
Now you want my views on this new space stamp – they follow !!!
It seems that Carl Rueth of Linns (?) ran a survey of collectors desires about a year ago. I thought the results were quite significant and I don’t believe my personal ideas have changed in the interim.
My collecting of US stamps began in 1935 and I’m afraid in wained (?) with the mass production of adhesives turned out by Jim Farley in the FDC era. In all fairness I must admit, however, although Jim Farley produced stamps in great quantity hi s design quality would be welcome today. In the last few years there have been stamps issued that I have refused to buy to prepay my postage. I have laid in a quantity of the various flag issues & use these for all foreign mail and for the majority of domestic needs.
Back now to the space issue. I feel that the US – having launched countless satellites of various configurations should issue a sheet of 50 stamps – each displaying a different satellite – i.e. NIMBUS, TIROS, VELDA, COMSAT, PIONEER, RANGER, EXPLORER…, SECOR, SURVEYOR, ETC ETC ECT.
This sheet would pay homage to all the millions of people in the aerospace industry and government who worked to make the various programs a success. It would further advertize our national efforts throughout the world in a common non-scientific level.
Yes Joe – quote me if you think it worthwhile & if you can read my scribbles!
I sent my daughters & sons to school to learn to type – I hope that maybe some day their dad will take the time that others can benefit! — The spelling I won’t even try to correct ! Schooling won’t help a habit of this many years.
Gotta call it quits tonite-
Best Regards
Ed
Ed’s hand-writing is becoming harder to read ! In the letter, Ed apologizes for the delay in responding to Joe’s recent letters due to a busy schedule. He mentions creating an OGO cachet and discusses his upcoming eighth year at Vandenburg AFB. Ed expresses appreciation for the covers Joe has been sending and mentions again needing certain issues of Explorers to complete his series. He confirms his ability to service first day covers of new space stamps at VAFB and shares his views on US stamps, particularly the idea of a sheet of 50 stamps displaying different satellites to honor the aerospace industry. Ed concludes with regards and mentions his hope to improve his typing skills. This is the last letter I have from Ed to Joe.
Ray Burton
Ray Burton’s association with Joe Fitzpatrick started as a space cover collector, but eventually he serviced small quantities of envelopes for Space Craft Covers at the Kennedy Space Center in it’s early years (when it was difficult for collectors to access the post office there). Ray Burton later became president of the Kennedy Space Center Philatelic Society. I will show all the letters I have between Ray & Joe here, even though Ray wasn’t a servicer for SCC during the entire time period that these letters span.
25th Jun 1965:
Mr J. Fitzpatrick
Dear Joe –
Last batch of covers received short while ago : 3 GT-4s, 2 Explorer 27, 2 Explorer 28, & 2 Pegasus (total of 9 covers) the covers were great! There is only one thing wrong – my balance – as indicated on the sheet is 65c which is in error. Prior to shipment my balance should have been $6.50 ($1.50 from a while back + $5.00 sent a couple of weeks ago). At 50c/cover, of course, my current batch of 9 covers should have cost me $4.50, leaving a balance of $2.00. Please check this out, apparently I was erroneously charged @ 65c/cover. So much for that.
I am currently working on another project: that of inscriptions on the selvage of stamps of numerous countries. First country will be Bulgaria – they typically print a few dozen words along one border. I thought it might be of some interest to inscription strip collectors to have these translated. What do you think of this for a potential article – any interest?
Under your “News from Members” – I would appreciate insertion of the following:
Have 9/27/62 FDC of Nitiksky Botanical Gardens including Canna “Vostok-2” and Chrysanthemum “The Way to the Stars” to trade or sell. Contact Ray Burton 3211 Arapahoe Rd, Pittsbugh PA 15234.
I don’t know how many of these are around – I have a hunch that it is a fairly rare item – it took me 2½ years to get a couple of them. This item was first mentioned by James Negus in “Spaceflight New Issues”, Astrophile VI-4 Jan 1962.
That’s it for now. Best wishes for a nice vacation-
Your friend, Ray
At this stage it appears as though Ray is a subscriber to the Space Craft cover service, is a friend of Joe’s, and is actively taking out advertisements in the Space Craft Explorer magazine.
27th Mar 1967:
Mr. J. Fitpatrick
Spacecraft Covers
Dear Joe –
Little item for inclusion in the next issue “News from Members Column”. Fund raising sale: I have the following duplicates (all Spacecraft/Swanson) to dispose of: Explorer 27, 28, 29, 30, 32 and OV 2-1, POGO, Pegasus-2, Pegasus-3, Pioneer 6, “Twin Watchdog” Detection Satellites. Prefer to sell 11 covers as a unit @ $15.00 / lot.
Your personal opinion – is the price reasonable?
Quite a while back, I wrote you a note concerning additional copies of some of the Gemini shots – not too long after they appeared, since I presume you could still supply at that time. I gathered from recent issues of the Explorer that you are way behind on correspondence etc. but now I am wondering if note ever reached you??
On back issues of the Explorer, I have all numbers from Vol. 2 No. 8 on to present, and should like to fill the gap from these back, with the exception of Vol. 1 No. 3 & 8 which I also have. Any chance of borrowing an issue or two at a time so I can make Xerox or SCM copies? Please let me know if this is possible, I’ll appreciate it.
Cordially, Ray Burton
It is unfortunate that we cannot see Joe’s reply to this letter, but from what collectors say, Joe was an extremely generous man and so no doubt he would have agreed to Ray’s request to borrow back-issues of the Explorer magazine.
1st Nov 1967:
Mr. J. Fitpatrick
Dear Joe – Enclosed is $5.00 to apply to my covers fund.
You may be interested to know that I am in the process of changing employment. By Jan ’68, I shall be employed at the Kennedy Space Center – as part of a Malfunctions Analysis group with headquarters in the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (right next door to the Astronaut’s NASA headquarters).
Job will consist of solving all problems related to the Manned Spacecraft program & associated “bugs” in the Apollo craft, etc. I am, of course, quite excited about the prospect of being right in the “thick” of the space program. (The group I am joning, by the way, is the team that has been proving the unfortunate accident that took the lives of Grissom, White & Chaffee).
Until I notify you otherwise, please continue to send all correspondence to my current Pittsburgh address.
At the moment, the above info is confidential, at a later date I may be able to help some of the folks out on mailings, etc if possible.
Sincerely, Ray Burton
The key part of this letter is of course the last sentence, “…at a later date I may be able to help some of the folks out on mailings…”. We now know that Ray Burton was instrumental in helping Space Craft covers access KSC-canceled covers for Space Events during the early days of the KSC Post Office. These remain some of the scarcest and most sought-after of all Space Craft covers. If you compare the hand-writing from Ray’s letters above (especially the address at top-right) to the hand-written addresses on many KSC-canceled Space Craft covers, you will see an immediate similarity. It’s almost like Ray used to write his capital letters with a ruler underneath to keep things perfectly straight.
4 – Correspondence with collectors | Top
To come
5 – Correspondence with other space cover dealers | Top
Robert Rank
More information about Robert Rank can be found here.
3rd Sep 1963:
9/3/63
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick
Now I have had to leave my job due to recurring illness. It is principally an inflammation of the duodenum (not an ulcer yet, thank heavens), but there were other things that resulted in unexpected weak spells that forced me to both leave work on certain days and also be out a lot this summer. Luckily, both the company Doctor and my immediate supervisor were aware that I was pretty sick (in fact they were surprised that I kept coming in as often as I did) so although I wasn’t doing my share of work, lately they offered me a good recommendation wherever I may go next. My own Doctor prescribed 2 weeks complete rest (now over) and then a longer period of partial rest, if possible. The company was willing to assume any out of work costs (even though I asked for 2 weeks without pay) but were wise to the fact that I wasn’t lazy about the job, so if I preferred to leave, they offered me 4 weeks severance pay (which will allow me to collect N.Y. unemployment or disability pay, if necessary).
Although, I have most of the payments due on the machine and life insurance payments my parents have offered to pay them until I can reimburse.
They are teachers and would like mt to go in for it. Since I only need 18 credits in addition to my Bachelor Degree and some Ed courses I sampled 2 yrs ago I will take a few courses this Fall and calmly (?) organize my space covers and get them processed so they are in saleable condition. By then I’ll know what I want to do, definitely and am hopefully that i’ll feel well enough and also will know if the space covers are worth continuing.
Since I owe my parents a considerable sum already (the malaria fiasco (?), etc) I’d like your help someday. I hope to be able to make up information pages on Project West Ford; Coopers personal satellite (?); the Telstar “Town Meeting of the Air” and advertise the covers I have of them, in your Space Explorer mailings.
I could add up to 2 or 3 pages per issue to the Explorer and will have them printed fairly inexpensively (separately at the end I believe would be best). I might work this into a bi-monthly bulletin with a heading sheet to send to editors + new-collectors-I-get on the one hand, and simply additional pages to your bulletin on the other.
Also have about 600 covers from Nutley, N.J. from the receipt of messages from Relay of the Kennedy Europe visit. I went to Nutley every day of my June week of vacation (I didn’t feel so bad at that time). Have a great pic of JFK for a “velvet” cover but I don’t think it’s important enough to sell at $1. So i’d like to give it away to Explorer readers as a sample of velvet cachets. Also to ATA members, as I promised them earlier.
Anyway, I’ll surely need your help later, possibly in November, but doubtful sooner since the electric typewriter I want to rent is rented on a weekly basis and I’ll need to get ready to type as much ahead as possible.
I don’t want to “hang up” my parents on the money I owe them, too long.
I have 350 of those Wallops secret satellite covers. All I know is that is a geophysical satellite. A letter I sent to Wallops Air Force referred me to an Air Force Office in D.C. I’ll write there when I get home, but would like to use any info you may get on it – for my own cachet. ___ it will be OK with you. I doubt we’ll get a pic but I wish you luck.
By the way I’m getting hand cancels from Wallops + Cape C so I will have something different, postally, than you to offer. Vandy has none.
No need for you to write, until I can get some tangible material to you. Maybe now i’ll even find time to get my typewriter find (?) !
Sincerely
Robert G Rank
Perhaps by now Robert Rank already has some kind of business understanding with Joe Fitzpatrick (or perhaps they are good friends) because it seems to me they are really competition for eachother, both creating and selling space covers. Yet Robert seems to think it will be OK for him to add extra pages to Joe’s Space Craft Explorer magazine and promote his own covers for sale through there. Curious! It is sad that Robert has been ill and has had to leave his job, but nice that he wants to settle the debt to his parents quickly. He sounds quite entrepreneurial and has various ideas to make the money back. It is very interesting to read that Robert preferred to use hand-cancels on his covers, to stand out and have a point of difference compared to SCC covers. This makes sense when you look at early Rank covers as they often do have hand cancels. Finally, I find it fascinating to think back in the early 1960s it was commonplace to rent a typewriter, considering how everyone has easy access to computers these days ! I can’t even imagine what that must have been like.
6th Dec 1963:
Dec 6, 1963
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,
Please let me know the following without fail:-
1) Are you planning a cachet for the second Project Asset?
2) Are you planning a cachet for any Little Joe 2 rockets ?
The amount of covers I get on these will depend on your answer. I’m enclosing a card you can easily return. Thank you.
Still no cachets, but it is also talking more time to transfer all my materials to the place that will do the silkscreen + flocking for me, than I thought. Once that is done, they will start appearing pretty fast. I’m working on a good set of records too.
Good luck in the New Year, I believe there will be more for you to cachet than 1963.
Yours truly, Robert G. Rank
P.S. Also, are you covering Project Fire? The NASA list for 1964, lists it as a major launch. There are only 2, I believe. Possibly you haven’t decided yet on some of these, but they’re all due pretty soon, I think.
From this we can deduce that Robert Rank was probably providing blank cancelled covers to Space Craft covers (at least in 1963). It appears as though Robert & Joe had a mutual respect for eachother and helped eachother out with advice.
19th Dec 1963:
12/19/63
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,
It was nice to hear from you. I now have sent out 12 cachets to be done and am working on 35 other old ones and 25 for the future (I want to use my remaining free time to get ahead as well as catch up), even drew my cachet for FRE-1 (French Satellite on our Scout, due in 1965). Am slowly delegating all aspects of this work but the planning and it is only realistic since I tend to count my own work as valueless until I realize what others want in payment for it. First the cacheting (worst headache) and now Horace Westbrooks has agreed to write up my information cards to accompany the covers in return for a few free coves per item (another headache soon out of the way). Soon as I am back to work i’ll give the storying to another to be done, and the routine filling of orders. I am not going into business with anyone else but rather will run the whole show myself and get the best work possible at the lowest price from others. I hope to line up 300 customers eventually, and may add a 75c first day cover in 4 color with velvet in late Spring or early Fall. My first task is to raise the money for debts incurred with my very patient relatives (also don’t believe i’ll ever make a penny on time). The cachets planned will be a lot better than the IGY and UN Atoms I sent you. I think i’ll hold on to them because they may give a wrong impression of “Velvet” covers.
I’m glad you’re going in for LJ2, Project Fire, and more Asset. I think more cachets are the answer for you; 3 or 4 monthly should not be too many for your customers to absorb and you need 3 a month to suppotr your costs and make some return for your efforts.
Don’t pay any service charge for LJ2 or any others at White Sands. Contact Frank Ramirez, Branch Superintendent, WSMR, NM, (if you haven’t already) and get them at no charge. He or his men have to do the tedious cancelling anyway and some free cover to them (and perhaps an offer to buy stamps – but i’m not sure if that’s important to them) will make it of interest to them, i’d guess.
Can you tell me where you got Transit 5A and Transit 5B pictures? I have just found the Transit 5A with boom unfurled (except for that, identical in all apsects to yours) in A.W. but I never got a word on letter to John’s Hopkins. On Transit 5B, I have the same picture as yours but upside down and with an interesting atom background, which was in Nucleonics Magazine (but not named). On the first Transit 5A I used a picture from a solar cell that is not nearly as attractive as yours, so I made it small and aded a map projection; now i’ve added a little boom to the top. According to AW mag it is all but certain that a second Transit 5A (completely successful) was launched on Jun 15th at Vandy. It was secret and during the period from May 9 to Jun 29 when I tried 150 each of secret shots. M+R Annual claims a Lofti IIA and Solar Radiation Satellite, some day, same place. They’re Navy too. I have the Tr 5A pic with boom unfurled to use but no Lofti IIA and Solar Radiation pics. I need a good information source for Navy Satellites (i’ll settle for early Lofti + SR pictures if the latest are classified). On top of all this the Blue Scout on June 15th was the 200th Launch from Vandy + touched off a big party out there. E. Collins (?) says positive that only one Blue Scout went that day. He also says that he put his own cachet on the Agena of that morning and was away for the Scout, so that I have the only uncacheted June 15th Vandy covers. If I can find Lofti IIA + SR pictures to complete my cachet, I really have something and i’ll offer it to SC and Explorer people first. Second Transit 5B was Dec. 5th (I have at least 75).
Made the remarkable discovery that an older cousin of mine, living 4 blocks away and with the same last name as mine is an Electrical Engineer with Bell Telephone. I knew he worked for Bell but didn’t know he was an engineer. That should mean he can get A.W. + M+R and he will try by writing + sending subscription money this weekend. Then, if all goes well, we’ll put in a change of address and i’m all set. If it doesn’t work i’ll ask you again for M+R. Thank you !
Will write again. Are there any other events you will cover outside of Canaveral, Vandy, Wallops and WSMR?
Sincerely
Robert G Rank
Robert Rank and Joe Fitzpatrick seem to have a strong network of contacts within the space and philatelic communities, which they leverage to pursue their shared interests. It also seems they are willing to help eachother out (even though technically they are competitors). Robert faces financial challenges related to his philatelic endeavors, which he doesn’t seem to mind letting Joe know about. But overall the tone of the letter indicates that Robert is positive about the future of space cover creation and on-selling to collectors.
23rd Dec 1963:
12/23/63
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,
Thank you for the lovely cover and recent note. I guess fate will smile, if I will let it, in 1964, if I don’t try to get too many space items.
Anyway fate didn’t smile on Dec. 19 at Vandenberg. I’ve been getting about 35 uncacheted of every secret satellite and there were quite a few recently and I didn’t know it. Anyway, I only had 150 covers out there when the (Christmas?) (Injun?) (Air Density?) (I don’t know what it is anymore, now) was launched. Can you spare 50 or prefererably 100 uncacheted? If so I would certainly appreciate it. Let me know how much. Thank you. I guess it will depend on whether you got 500 or 1000. I have extra NASA/USAF Wallops Geophysical to trade.
Your comments about Cape C – Cape K in the December Explorer were good. I’m losing faith in the NY newspapers. Even the N.Y. Times didn’t have the facts on this straight.
Sincerely
Robert G Rank
P.S. I could use 150 Vandenberg Xmas Satellite, perhaps I have something you can use. Would like at the very least, 25. Thanks. Uncacheted.
I’m setting up a picture of the globe as an Xmas Tree bulb with the Polka Dot Satellite below superimposed on a star, but I don’t know yet where Injun fits in ! Should be a nice cachet, but I won’t put it in the first batch, unless I can get some more.
From this letter I guess Robert Rank and Joe Fitzpatrick swapped uncacheted (but cancelled) space event covers from time-to-time. I think it’s nice they were able to help eachother out. The Xmas cachet that Rank is referring to is this one. The frequency of communication between Rank & Fitzpatrick was very high at this time !
26th Dec 1963:
12/26/63
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,
This is as short a note as I can possibly make concerning our phone call- It may cost a bit but it will be worth it (i.e., the phone call).
I’ll probably take off for Cape C or Cape K around January 18th and will make a stop-off at your place definite, though you don’t have to give me any lodging if it turns out to be inconvenient. Your mention of the book with names to use for business opportunities is an added spur. My velvet Dag (?) complete set of covers is probably the best velvet set I ever produced and all in different colors. It cost about $10 wholesale and I’ll bring one for you because you sent off for the book. I’m not sure if you planned to bill me for that book but if so that’s OK too. I know you want space covers only in velvet but I think you will like this as a little separate collection. Hope so. I’ll look over Cape C and see if everything is suitable for making the move. I’m optimistic that it will be.
On Explorer 19, I’ll drop a note to Gross tonight but just wonder if he’ll have it in time. If not I’ll cut his order. 25 for me will be OK, but they are really to cover Gross’ order. I don’t worry about him offering me competition because he built his business on velvet FDC. (Ironically it is now foundering on same, since the original maker skips issues and is sometimes 2 years late) – come to think of it, i’m a year late too. But I don’t plan to give him more than 75 anyway.
Repeating my suggestions to you that I think are of value;
1) I suggest you risk a regular order for Thor Able Baker satellites at Vandenburg but lets try to make a deal with Mr. Colburn in case they produce nothing.
2) Get in touch with Frank Ramirez, Branch Superintendent, White Sands Missile Range.
3) Next time I am in NYC I’ll pick up a copy of Nucleonics and mark the page with the RFD-2 Wallops flight story, and send it to you.
4) Name and address of the dealer who has Bliss 3c at 3½c and France stamps at 5 3¾ is Roy Orton, 116 Nassau Street. This is the “loose” price and if you want too many you may not be able to get all you want right away, so be prepared for the possibility of waiting. However he is a dealer and a good one. His son is interested in rockets! Tell him I recommended. Naturally if he is low on loose stock, he won’t sell good sheets and plates at less. Maybe he’ll take plates off sheets but I’m not sure. I’ll check on other sources too.
5) Remember the labels at about $15 for 15,000. I’m pushing the idea only because i’d like to see the best from Space-craft and I think you underestimate the trouble in rubber stamping. You’ve got to get it on straight too! Not so easy. Enclosed are half sheet of labels to test out. Could probably cut cost for 100,000 but i’d need your money in advance.
I mentioned 85c (6 for $5) on subscription but back-issue price will be $1 minimum and Vandys at $1.25, also probably will offer a discount for sales over $4 to raise cash in the beginning. If I can pay off my debts and if I should have unusual success using your publication and be well in the black I’d be glad to help finance an offset press for you. You’ll cut your cost in half- but wait a minute- I think you said printing is $25 a thousand, not a hundred so it might be better not to buy same if that is so. Also at $25 a thousand that rules out my meeting your cost on the Polar baloon. It would be better if I try another item as free samples as soon as I can afford it, especially since I’ve yet to make good on my offer to ATA of free samples, which was made about one year ago. Be better not to have you change policies.
I pay about $7.50 for Strathmore per 1,000 but if you shop around you may find other brands with the non-stick glue at lower prices. Many have adoped it now. Also I now buy the 24 pound substance. 20 pound is just as good but cheaper. However, 20 pound won’t survive a machine cancel as well if not inserted. And I’m not going to insert Canaverals anymore- except Astronauts which I won’t ask for hand-cancels of. I buy at 5,000. Cheaper at 100,000.
Check on the 35 SB Telstra and 35 SB Explorer 17.
I’ll be looking forward to seeing you and I hope to bring 6 new cachets along, perhaps more.
Sincerely,
Robert G. Rank
P.S. Subscribe to Aviation Week and Space Technology at $7 yearly (I don’t know the year rate). They have no special application blank but are as strict as M+R against non-industry subscriptions. Write to Fulfillment Manager, Aviation Week, P.O. Box 430, Hightstown, N.J, 08520, with remittance, Title, Company and nature of business.
It would be interesting to know more about the labels that Robert is referring to in this letter. Is he suggesting that Space Craft covers could use pre-printed labels, instead of printing the actual cachet on the covers? Or is it something to do with the Local Post labels that Rank started making during 1964 (see here for more information). At any rate it is interesting that Joe & Robert are clearly talking regularly and dicsussing in a high level of detail each others space cover making operations.
31st Dec 1963:
12/31/63
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,
No questions here, once again:-
I checked out prices on 25% bond envelopes and found one in this area at 3.35 per 1000, in lot of 50,000 and 3.75 with a printed corner. I think you meant using a rubber stamp on your remaining envelopes that don’t take peelables well. If you switch to a bond envelope maybe you can find one at around 3.75 and have the space-craft address printed in a very pale color across the very bottom of the cover in the smallest possible type. I might consider doing that myself if I ever order 50,000 envs. at once. I believe most bond env. now use the glue that won’t stick in humidity. It is best to buy directly from a manufacturer and bypass the printer of the outfit that stocks various envelopes. I guess you knew that. I remove those little labels while watching TV.
My contact in Canaveral says 4c is sufficient on a cover! I hope she is right because I am only putting 3c Bliss and 1c on my Saturn covers on her say-so. Check this out for yourself and maybe you can use 4c Project Mercury again.
For good prices on loose stamps try Ralph Orton, 116 Nassau Street, N.Y.C He quotes me 3½c on Fort Bliss and Palomar; and $4.70 a hundred, $46 per 1000 on 4c Echo or 4c Garibaldi (for San Marco Italian Satellite due at Wallops in March), and $5.75 per 100 for Frace stamps. Don’t buy sheets unless you want the plate blocks.
Please write to me about the project you had in mind. I’m not too sure i’ll be making a trip as soon as i’d like to.
I have an idea myself that could be extremely profitable for myself on a shoe-string (cost less than $50; could make $10,000) – I’m not saying anything about it, but it will be nice if it works. At least it won’t cost.
Sincerely
Robert G Rank
Two things in particular stand out in this letter. Firstly, Robert Rank suggests that Space Craft covers have their address pre-printed on bond envelopes. I’m not sure if Joe took this advice or not (or perhaps he was already thinking about it himself), but the Space Craft address was often rubber-stamped onto their envelopes prior to 1964 or so. After that, it became more common to see the Space Craft address actually printed onto many covers. So perhaps Joe did listen to Robert on this matter. Secondly, Rank’s idea for making money (i.e. turning $50 into $10,000) could he possibly be referring to the Cape Kennedy Local Post and Satellite Beach Local Post stamps that he stated making and issuing in 1964 ? My guess is, yes, and this is confirmed later on.
24th Sep 1964:
September 24, 1964
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,
As the old saying goes- have I got news for you! Two items I enclose are must items for the October 15th Explorer. The third item is a little interesting research item you can include anytime. Of course, edit them as you see fit. The first is the article on the cachets I have that are scarce. I don’t know if you only meant Ham and Enos but in Sept. Howard Mechanic said the Apollo Nov 7 WSMR is eagerly sought (I wrote Mr. Mechanic tonight). West Ford with a cachet showing the vehicles is mine alone. Nobody else has it. I am still not working because my nerves are pretty bad at certain times of day. I worked at my old job of lifeguard this Summer and chose the most secluded beach I could find. Gradually my strength returned and now my organizational powers are getting better too. That means at least I can work on the covers and get them cacheted. I have to sell some to cachet others and any more from the plug in Explorer will mostly go toward that.
How do you like the local post idea? If Explorer readers are to get first day covers it must run October 15th. R. B. Whitney is the man who will run it and I’m the idea man who will supply him with the stamps (they’re coming along fine) and postmarks, etc. Mr. Whitney has handled several nice cachets in the hundreds as you know and I have complete confidence in his handling of the first day covers. In case you think it has no validity there is one in the south N.J. called the Cadillac post that does the exact same thing. Back in late Spring when I was broke and feeling miserable the idea grew. I ransacked my collection to get the money to legally register the local post names (notarized, etc.) under Florida laws. They’re mine now. Mr. Whitney gets all revenue from the mailed covers and he’ll certainly earn it he has to affix stamps and the local postmark too! for the trip he’ll have to make Nov. 22. We will split mint sales. I think this has far greater potential moneywise than covers do (for me). I hope you will be behind this idea which could be a great way to fill the void that the USPOD has created. As the thing develops I will value your advice and criticism.
You can put the Project Asset article in any time. I hope you won’t consider it unfair criticism. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m picking up Ham and Enos next Wednesday and taking out the Robot Capsule and Asset combo. My silkscreen printer is 25 miles away. They’ll all be done by October 7th.
I hope to have an article and the cachet on Europa One rocket (British Blue Streak, Jun 5 is it’s first stage) ready for November or December. Robin Crowley the Europa ATA unit President and #1 founder is very anxious to see it and I’m going to offer it to Europa Unit collectors first. Just hope I’ll have enough money to cachet it soon.
Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Robert G. Rank
PS Enclosed is some local material in case you’ve never seen it. Please return it. I’ll be glad to follow this idea in any worthwhile direction that space collectors desire but I really want to make money on it too (but don’t tell anyone- we are all supposed to be philanthropists if you believe what some collectors say Dealers should be).
If you wonder how I can afford to have local stamps printed – answer is simple – my Uncle is a printer. I’m doing all the “layout” and they’ll really be nice looking. Not like the monstrosities on the covers enclosed.
This confirms that Robert’s money-making idea from the last letter was in relation to his Cape Kennedy Local Post and Satellite Beach Local Post stamps. Again it would be interesting to know how Joe Fitzpatrick responded to this letter. The third page is a proposed advertisement to be placed in the Space Craft Explorer magazine for his “velvet” space covers. The fourth page is a press release for his Local Post issues and is the earliest mention of them that I’ve seen.
5th Nov 1964:
A random letter from Robert Rank, but i’m not quite sure why Joe Fitzpatrick had this because it’s not addressed to him.
?? Nov 1964:
A couple of typed (draft?) announcements from Robert Rank that were among the Joe Fitzpatrick correspondence from his estate.
14th Aug 1965:
August 14, 1965
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,
Thanks for the check! I will send 25 more West Ford cacheted. Did we settle up the 25 cacheted and 21 uncacheted WF yet?
How about taking 50 more of the secret satellites that we agree are correct., at 10c each. I’d like to clean out most of them. You should be able to resell at 25c wholesale. 75c retail. Nobody has any amount.
I’m skeptical about that “horses mouth”. Official reports are often a day after the actual. It is very significant that the dates from Colburn that don’t jibe are ALWAYS one day before the check list it disagrees with. It doesn’t say much for Colburn if so many of his covers are wrong! It also looks bad for SpaceCraft to be supporting anyone with such a high percentage of error. But! I believe Colburn. He was there. I must ask you to keep an open mind about the infallibility of your source. I will write to Colburn. It may be that we should warn against use of various logs. They have nothing to lose by being wrong by a day. But Colburn does! Suggest you hold on to the “wrong?” dates for a while. There aren’t that many to worry about, but the whole thing should be checked out. Just between you, me and Colburn of course!
Why do you want May 10th? If your source claims it is an Atlas Agena you might as well forget the source. That was May 9th.
Have filed your most recent letter so I can keep track. I have a special folder for our transactions now.
Will write when I send the above covers in a few days.
Here are the dates I’d like to sell up to 50 more of at 10c– (provided the dates are OK with you)–
May 17- Blue Scout, probe (140 available)
May 18- TAT- Agena D SS (125 available)
June 12- Atlas Agena B SS- (110 avilable)
June 12- TAT Agena D SS- (115 available)
June 29- TAT Agena B SS (167 available)
Oct-25- Atlas Agena D SS (58 available)
Oct. 29- TAT Agena D SS (47 available)
Nov. 9- Thor Agena D SS (50 available)
Nov. 27- Thor Agena D SS (49 available)
Dec. 18- Atlas Agena D SS (49 available)
Dec. 21- Thor Agena D SS (63 available)
Also July 18– Thor Agena D SS (only wish to sell 50)
I guess this adds up! But at 10c ea. might be good (50 ea.) for the future. Two dealers might be interested are Baudwin and Al Szaboh BUT I wouldn’t know for sure! I know Baudwin couldn’t supply A. Lang.
Would you go for a pkg deal of 200 Echo 2 at $35 and 200 Wallops Geophysical at $25? That leaves me 100 ea. for my velvet cachet. How about 200 Telstar 2 for $30? No rush. Buy over a period of time. (all uncacheted) I believe you could help me a lot in disposing of material I’ve got too many of. And also benefit SpaceCraft. For instance I’ve got a dozen each of the French colony Telstar FDCs. I’ll take any reasonable offer. I’m sick of looking at them. My present set-up has been no sale on them. How did you do with yours? I don’t send approvals. That may be it!
Maybe once I start knocking out the 100 each of various velvet that are different from yours you could take 25 each in stock? They will be 50c each with one postmark; 65c with two. If you have a good approval set-up you might do well. They are very colorful. Retail will be $1 and $1.25 or you can use Gross’ method of pricing them about 50% more than that on about 6 items at once and giving a lot price about 1/3 less. If interested let me know. No obligations. Do you do well on approval? Maybe we can work out a good system as I have with Gross. Everything on consignment of course. Now that I’m going to cachet them myself I don’t want to make too many. That’s why I’d like some idea on what you could use. A regular sale to you would be a great break. Then I’d go ahead full speed and polish off 100 each. Limiting to 100 would make them all very desirable. Could maintain a higher retail too if I had 75 out of the 100 pre-sold to retailers. Maybe I’m just dreaming. So far it’s been one disaster after another. Big expenses, poor sales except when I practically give it away. I can’t imagine where you dispose of 1000 covers! I can hardly sell 50 of anything and on a few only a dozen. If it wasn’t for 25 automatically to Gross I’d really be in trouble.
Hope we can work out a regular sales where my cover is not a repeat of yours.
Sincerely, Robert Rank
From the first half of this letter it sounds like there was some conjecture about actual/correct launch dates back in day. Rank takes the side of Ed Colburn (soon I will add some letters that Colburn sent to Fitzpatrick to this page, for interest). The second half of this letter is really just Robert Rank doing the hard sell on Joe Fitzpatrick with his uncacheted cover stock. He even suggests Joe / SCC take some of his velvet covers to resell (when they are ready) for 50 cents each). I’ll take as many as anyone can provide for 50c each !!!!
31st Aug 1965:
August 31, 1965
Dear Joe, (OK I remembered this time)
H. Westbrooks agrees with me on the times of the July 18 Atlas SS, July 30 SS and Aug. 24 SS. Also, Dec. 16 Blue Scout (a probe, not an SS). He thinks it may be that they were listed on Greenwich time ! Something like 8 or 9 hours diff between Pacific and Greenwich. Greenwich being later.
It sure is a bedeviling problem.
Write soon. I’d like to offer the additional extras elsewhere; though I can’t be sure anyone else will be depdenable to sell to as you are. Thats my dilemm.
Sincerely, Robert Rank.
Joe must have said to Robert “Call me Joe!”. It is amusing that Robert’s letters to Joe until now have always started with “Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick”. Things were much more formal back in those days.
10th Sep 1965:
Here we have the “pink copy” of an invoice that Robert Rank sent to Joe Fitzpatrick for covers purchased and an outstanding amount, which indicates that Joe Fitzpatrick / Space Craft covers were selling some of Rank’s velvet covers at this time.
30th Sep 1965:
September 30, 1965
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,
Nice to hear from you. Thanks for the check. The only thing left on this from the past is 25 June 26 uncacheted and 25 July 18 Atlas Agena uncacheted. Each is $5 or you can return them. If you keep the 25 July 18 I won’t be able to send velvet because I’m short.
I AM sending 25 cacheted Hitch-hiker and I’ll price them at $2 each, retail.
Enclosed are some photostats (the machine was working badly); but they’ll give you an idea of the many special velvet cachets I hope to make just 100 each of this Fall. If you’d like to lay away 6 or a dozen of each (at between 50c and 65c) I’d like to send them when ready. Retail $1 and $1.35. But I’d like to know how many each you’d want. I would send only what you could afford at various intervals. I’d like you to put them aside awhile if you could. Or would.
I have a buyer for all my extra covers but Satellite Beach. Would you have any use for uncacheted SB covers at 6c each? I’m only velvet cacheting 25 each. Have about 6 items per 100 and 200. A good salesman could convince collectors that Satellite Beach is better than Cape C.
Bill enclosed on latest secret satellite tally.
Would you care to buy Ham with sealed flap at 75c each? About 10 with velvet cachet. Some collectors don’t like sealed flaps. Or perhaps a batch with OK envelopes at $1.10 each. For stock. I’m always trying to raise money.
Sincerely, Robert Rank
PS Just got a letter from the President of the Cinderella Club in France. Too bad I can’t read French! Local Post stamps are considered “Cinderella” material.
One free Hitch-hiker was in the original batch. Will always send one every velvet item for your collection. Over 40 Jan. 31 if all goes well beginning in late Nov. or Dec.
Seems like Robert Rank really needs money (perhaps to fund more cover creations?). He is clearly trying hard to sell as much as possible to Joe Fitzpatrick / Space Craft covers. It’s likely that Joe was more easily able to sell covers than Robert, because of the SCC subcsriber base. It’s hard to imagine, but the $10 that Joe owed Robert at this time must have been a lot of money to him. From my calculations, this is equivalent to about $80 in today’s money, or approximately 40% of 1 day’s pay. The main cover in question (TRS4, 18th Jul 1963) is this one. I don’t believe a “velvet” version of this cover exists, it looks like Robert only made a thermographed version, so perhaps Joe (or someone else) ended up buying the 25 x uncacheted referred to in this correspondence. Interestingly, no SCC cover exists for this event. The other cover mentioned (Hitch-hiker 26th Jun 1963) is this one. Robert must have had more of these because it is a “velvet” cover. Again, no SCC cover exists for this event. Unfortunately the photostats mentioned in this letter are missing but it would have been interesting to see them.
27th Jun 1966:
June 27, 1966
Dear Joe,
Why don’t I hear from you. Are you OK?
Re: combos. I have about 150 to 200 Wallops Rat Arcas rocket uncacheted on rag bond. My original idea was to get the Biosatellite with rat Cape cancel at bottom. I will sell them at 8c if you’ll stamp and send them to the cape yourself. Good idea? Animal material usually sells well but I’m only making up 65 or so velvet and have perhaps over 200. Let me hear on this one soon.
Just paid off my parents $250 with about $1750 to go. Was sick 4½ days, but should be better IF I do little or no stamp work this Summer (heck, of course I’ll do some stamp work) and get to bed early every night. I hope. I don’t get paid when sick (one day a month) too much. Would like to sell some combos to you soon. I still need money.
Will try to send recently locals soon.
Sincerely,
Robert Rank
I’m not sure exactly which ARCAS biospace mission is being referred to in this letter, but I don’t think either a Rank “velvet” or SCC cover exists for this event. Also it seems like Robert hadn’t heard from Joe for a while. Could that be because Joe had been sick, or for another reason? Robert is still trying to raise money, apparently to pay off a debt to his parents.
24th Sep 1966:
September 24, 1966
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,
I would very greatly appreciate it if you could help me with the following immediately. For my new job as Welfare Worker in New York City I need to verify from several sources that I was in the stamp business from Sept. 1963 to April 1966. You are one of several persons who knows this.
Could you please type up a brief note, on your letterhead, that you have purchsed various wholesale materials from me and that you can verify from our correspondence that I was in the stamp business from Sept. 1962 to April 1966.
Thank you very much. Please return the note in the enclosed special delivery envelope as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Robert G. Rank
Just a simple request from Robert Rank to Joe Fitzpatrick, and i’m sure Joe would have been more than happy to oblige.
27th Apr 1968:
April 27, 1968
Dear Joe,
I had a disappointment today as regards the enclosed pictures. I sent them to ABC International to remind them of their order for 1000 each Apollo and they returned them announcing they were dropping the whole idea.
I hate not to make this series for manned Apollo for which I copyrighted a nice trademark of “Lunar Voyage Cachets”. I think you’ll agree the Bassett-See cachets are a good indication of what was to come. But, I have to cancel the whole idea if I don’t have the ABC order.
My price to ABC was ridiculously low–$200 for 1000. I wonder if you might not be interested in taking on this order. Same price. As a matter of fact I promised one week delivery to ABC and had everything set up to make such a deadline.
With less launches likely in the near future wouldn’t this be a good item for you to add? A great fill-in for the one item SC doesn’t offer in cachets–Astronaut portraits! Just show a picture of the Basset-See cachet in your June issue, announce you’ll be sending out such bi-color portrait covers with every SC Apollo manned launch as a subscription item and it will be limited to Apollo manned launches. Tell collectors they can request NOT to get them, I’ll bet few will; especially if you work up a good sales pitch (I’ll help you with some hints if you’re interested ). Perhaps they’ll want MOL too!
If you are successful with Apollo you might try offering MOL portrait covers too. Talk this over with your partners. It’s a money making idea. I’m not interested in retailing this line (or any other for that matter) so you could have an exclusive on it if you wish. It is largely a matter of not wanting to drop what should be a very attractive, worthwhile line of covers. Hope you’ll give this some serious thought.
Enclosed is a copy of a letter I got last week from ELDO. The two European dealers I sold most of the ELDO covers to wanted me to replace the March 22, 1965 F-3 covers I sent them with Mar. 23, 1965 because some catalog or “expert” in Europe said it was launched March 23. Luckily this letter proved my covers correct. Had great luck on ELDO. Sold $1000 worth so far; largely at half retail to European dealers ($10 a set) but 17 orders at $20 to SC collectors and ATA Unit collectors. Have 50 sets remaining. I may never have a good one like this again. In fact I know I won’t. So, let me know on the Lunar Voyage cachets. They’ll all be bicolor with a different solid color and flesh each flight. Of course if I can’t sell you on it, there won’t be any.
Sincerely,
Robert G. Rank
PS I’ll do the series on quality rag bond. Note how nice the JFK blue cover enclosed came out. Use of tiny facsimile autographs is something SC cachets don’t have either. I’m doing that with each cachet (if I make the series!) too.
It is most interesting to read about ‘Lunar Voyage Cachets’ in this letter from Robert to Joe. For more information about them, click here. As usual, Robert seems to be trying to sell something to Joe, however I don’t think Space Craft Covers ever did handle Rank’s Lunar Voyage range. The ‘nice JFK blue cover’ that he mentions is probably this one. The other topic of conversation in this letter is about a series of ELDO covers that Robert made & did quite well with. You can see what they look like on my Australian space covers page here. Also shown above is the ELDO letter referred to by Robert. The Mar. 22 1965 vs Mar. 23 1965 date issue is a curious one. Robert is correct (and as the letter proves), the launch date for the ELDO F-3 rocket was indeed 22nd March 1965. Rank’s covers look like this & this.
4th May 1968:
May 4, 1968
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick, i.e. Dear Joe,
Re my phone call. Thanks if you were able to send 25 F-6/1. Please bill me for all costs. My ELDO deals with the European dealers are OK with them now, but I was short 25 F 6/1.
Re your letter-
1)- Yes, please run something on the letter on F-3 I got from FLDO. However, I have assurances from all 3 European dealers who had the idea it was Mar. 23 that the letter satisfys them that Mar. 22 is correct. I suggest you make it short to save valuable space and I’d certainly like 50 copies if it doesn’t cause you too much trouble.
2) How about buying the Apollo designs from me at $30 each and having your printer run off 300? I’ll let you know what kind of color and “screen” my printer uses for flesh. Your printer could do it with no problems. I’m trying to at least cover my costs in artwork for an Apollo cachet which will be approximately $30 each. I’ll send ready for camera. I’m having drawings made to use for silkscreen anyway (small printing), so the cost is certain.
3) By the way- I think if you’re close to going out of business, that it’s silly to turn down a worthwhile series of cachets just because you only send your subscribers SpaceCraft. Rules are meant to be broken when survival is at stake.
4) I think that the price I’d give you on 1000 Apollo uncacheted would be too high, and I really don’t want to bother doing all that stamping, etc. unless it meant that my Apollo cachet would see the light of day. It might mean taking advantage of Whitney too.
5)- the only uncacheted I have left is 100 Transit 5a, 300 Tiros 6 Cape, and 300 Tiros 7 Satellite Beach. Let me know what they’re worth. Thanks.
6)- I don’t have every local I ever made. One is sold out, and some were printed poorly and I was only able to get enough out of the printing for FDCs to about 65 people. What percentage would we work on I’ll let you know later what I have.
7)- I don’t have much in cacheted covers in quantity. Will write more about this later on.
Sorry not to be more informative thist letter. Thanks a lot for writing. I’ll try to figure out where I am on cacheted covers and locals soon.
Sincerely,
Robert Rank
It appears that Joe has finally learned to decline Robert’s requests, as evident from the pencil markings on the left-hand side of this letter. However, it’s intriguing that Joe has chosen to mark the last three items with an arrow instead of simply writing ‘NO.’ This suggests he might still be interested in the remaining uncacheted covers Robert mentioned, as well as some of the Local Post stamps Robert has created. It’s disheartening to learn that Space Craft was facing financial difficulties at this stage. Joe’s decision to confide this information in Robert, possibly during the phone call mentioned at the beginning of this letter, underscores their enduring professional relationship. On another note, Robert’s ‘Lunar Voyage’ cover idea failed to gain momentum. While he did produce some of them, they remain relatively scarce, especially for the Apollo 7-13 missions. In contrast, there are more ‘Lunar Voyage’ covers available for the Apollo 14-17 missions. Fortunately for Robert, his later ‘Space Voyage’ brand enjoyed much greater success. This marks the final correspondence I have come across between Robert Rank and Joe Fitzpatrick.
DON SCHULTZ
Don Schultz was the President of the USCS ‘Nuclear Ships’ Chapter No. 61. More information about Don Schultz can be found here. I have just a few letters sent from Don to Joe Fitzpatrick between approximately 1963 to 1968.
15th Apr 1963:
2nd Mar 1966 / 1967 (?):
11th Apr 1966 / 1967 (?):
23rd Aug 1966 / 1967 (?):
29th Aug 1966 / 1967 (?):
24th Oct 1967:
28th Jan 1968 (?):
