Morris W. Beck Naval Covers
Reference Catalog and Checklist for Collectors
Compiled and Managed by Owen R. Murray, A member of the USCS #5676, and ATA Space Unit #4500

Home     Morris W. Beck Cover Basics      About this Web Site      Contact
Beck Space Cachet Designs     #6 USS Dace Overprint    #220 USS Lowry
   Cover Varieties Oddities  Beck's Messages  Beck's Personal Covers Astronaut Autographs
1943-1970's Events     Nuclear Ships     Foreign    President Series     States Series    First Day Covers   

Numbered Series   About the Series  1-50   51-99 MA-8  S,100-150  151-200  201-250  251-299   300-350 MA-9
  351-402   403-455    456-514 GT-2    515-569 GT-3, GT-4, GT-5    570-621 GTA-6 GT-7    622-687 AS-201, GTA-8, GTA-9, GTA-10, AP-3, GTA-11  
688-769 AS-202, GTA-12, AS-204, AS-501, AS-502, AP-7     770-841 AP-8, AP-9, AP-10, AP-11, AP-12, AP-13, AP-14  
  842-899 AP-14, AP-15, AP-16, AP-17, SL-II, SL-III, SL-IV     900-951   952-1000 ASTP

Articles and Resources:
NEW Small Rubber Stamps on Space Covers  Apollo PRS Postmarked in Hawaii
ASTP USS New Orleans July 25, 1975 onboard Cover
How postage rates affected collecting  Beck Printing Log for Numbered Series 
GTA-8 USS Boxer  Why Different Quantities?  Beck 929 Hawkins
         Join the Space Unit  Join the USCS  Other Collector Links
  Updated Checklists Jan 2012   

Copyright ©2003-2012 Owen R Murray.  All Rights Reserved.      Revised: Wednesday February 01, 2012.

Click on Photos

Number produced: 

Number produced: 257

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $4.00, $3.00
2010  $3.00, $2.50, $7.00 
2011  $23.00
 

This is the cover that sold for $23 on eBay in March 2011

Number produced: 217

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.50
2010  $ 
2011  $3.00, $6.00
 

Number produced: 217

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $3.00
2010  $ 
2011  $3.00, $3.75
 

Number produced: 210

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $6.00 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 206 

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.00
2010  $4.00 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 201 

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $2.75
2009  $2.75
2010  $ 
2011  $6.00
 

Number produced:215

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 211 

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Number produced:207 

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $5.00 
2011  $
 

Number produced:207  

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $6.00
2011  $6.00
 

CREW

Number produced: See above

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 207

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $4.00 
2011  $3.75
 

Number produced: 337

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $8.00 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 210

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 206

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.00, $2.50
2010  $7.00
2011  $
 

Number produced: 202

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.50
2010  $5.00 
2011  $3.37
 

Number produced: 202

Number produced: 202

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.50
2010  $ 
2011  $6.00
 

Number produced:206 

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 198

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.50
2010  $2.00 
2011  $3.75, $3.00, $6.00
 

Number produced: 191 

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.50
2010  $ 
2011  $6.00
 

Number produced: 184

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.00, $2.50
2010  $ 
2011  $6.00
 

Number produced: 179

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.00
2010  $ 
2011  $5.00
 

Number produced: 184

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $8.00 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 182

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.50
2010  $ 
2011  $3.00
 

Number produced: 180

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $3.95 
2011  $6.00, $3.50, $3.00
 

Number produced: 175

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 166

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.50
2010  $ 
2011  $6.00
 

Number produced: 181

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.50
2010  $6.00 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 179

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $3.00 
2011  $6.00
 

Number produced: 177

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $ .55
2010  $6.00 
2011  $3.00
 

Cover is addressed to Morris W. Beck. Scan courtesy of Norm97 on eBay.
 

Number produced:176 

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $3.00 
2011  $2.50, $6.00
 

Number produced: 176

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $3.00
2010  $5.00 
2011  $3.00
 

Number produced: 176
 

Number produced: 154

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $6.00 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 152

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.50
2010  $ 
2011  $6.00
 

Number produced: 149
 

Number produced: 149
 

Number produced: 146

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $6.00 
2011  $3.00
 

Number produced: See above

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 175

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.50
2010  $ 
2011  $3.00
 

Number produced: No record
 

Number produced: No record
 

Number produced: 255

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $2.50, $4.57
2010  $3.50,$ 3.08 
2011  $
 

Number produced: No record

Covers never returned.

Winick's Beck Handbook lists #995 as USS Da Nang.  The ship was eventually commissioned as USS Peleliu LHA-5, May 3, 1980.

The cover was for the Keel Laying that took place nearly a year after the other covers in this series.  Nov. 12, 1976.  After a year waiting, the covers probably just got lost.  It is anyone's guess.

Number produced: No record

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $3.99
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 217

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $4.26
2010  $ 
2011  $3.50
 

Number produced: 5280 total for all 998  

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $37.00
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

This is an amazing cover.  Someone with real connections got this cover.  This is the only one we have seen or heard about.  Read the details in the following lines to see why this cover is so interesting.

Added 12/09
 

Number produced: 5280 total for all 998  

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $  51.00
2011  $
 

Added 07/10
 

Dr. Ross Smith, a frequent contributor to this Beck Cover web site has written an for the Nov/Dec Space Unit Astrophile

See article and scans of covers HERE

Number produced: 5280 total for all 998   

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Starting with Apollo 16, the US Navy postmarked the covers sent by collectors and dealers (including Beck) to Hawaii for postmarking.  The covers actually did not go to the USS New Orleans. 

The significance of the Beck cover shown here is that it had to have been on board USS New Orleans during the recovery to receive this specific postmark. 

Number produced: 5280 total for all 998  

eBay Prices Realized
2003  $76.00
2008  $24.10, $83.00, $50.00
2009  $82.00
2010  $150.00, $144.95
2011  $
 

Remember that the post office aboard the prime recovery ship was closed to the public on the day of recovery starting with Apollo 16.

The post office aboard the PRS may have been available to the crew only for some flights starting with Apollo 16, but not this flight.

No covers with July 24, 1975 covers are known with USS New Orleans cancellations. 

Even the Captains covers were postmarked on July 25.

The cover shown at right is addressed to Dr. R. Ramkissoon.  He spent time on the USS New Orleans during the 1973 Skylab II flight and made friends with many crew members.  In 1975, Dr. Ramkissoon sent Beck printed ASTP covers that he obtained from Mr. Beck to his contacts on the ship for postmarking.  His special connection with crew members made for a very collectible cover. Today, Dr. Ramkissoon is an active space collector and is President Emeritus of the Space Unit.

We believe that Beck printed cachets postmarked July 24th on the New Orleans do not exist so the 25th date is very important.

We believe that only 6-8 total examples exist but this cover is VERY Scarce.

Above: This cover is hand addressed to Morris W. Beck. When compared to his letters, it appears to be his own handwriting.  This means he sent the cover directly to someone on the ship he had contact with because covers just sent to the usual Navy address were all postmarked July 24 with the SFO machine cancel.


Above: This second cover was auctioned on eBay in January 2003.  The final selling price was $76.00.


Above: This third cover was auctioned on eBay in August 2008.  The final selling price was a very low $24.10 in a lot with two other Beck B998 and B998 common ASTP covers. What a bargain this collector got. We suspect that not many collectors noticed this cover because it was in a lot of ASTP covers and offered in the prime summer vacation time.


Above: A fourth cover sold on eBay Sep. 14, 2008 for $83.00 in a lot with B998 and B999 common covers.

Above: A fifth cover was reported by Dr Ross Smith. He purchased the cover for $82.00

Above: This one, Perhaps a resell of the above, sold for about $150. April 2010.

ABOVE: This one sold for $144.95 on eBay in December 2010

The value of this BECK cover, postmarked on the day after splashdown is estimated to be $150.

July 13-25

Several have been sold on ebay.

This cover has the Pacific rubber stamp cachet the Morris Beck provided the Navy for this space recovery.

These covers were serviced by Sean Marsar, a very well-known and highly respected space cover dealer.

Estimated value is $40 each.  The July 25th cover (first date available for postmarking after splash down) $75+

These are Rubber Stamp Cachets applied by the US Navy using the design proved by Mr. Beck as a free service to collectors.

July 13, 1975 USS New Orleans


July 14, 1975 USS New Orleans


July 17, 1975 USS New Orleans


July 18, 1975 USS New Orleans


July 19, 1975 USS New Orleans


July 20, 1975 USS New Orleans


July 21, 1975 USS New Orleans

July 22, 1975 USS New Orleans

Scan courtesy of RJIPhilatelics
July 25, 1975 USS New Orleans

These all have the rubber stamp cachet.

Sean reported that several covers were postmarked on board for each day of the mission, except the actual splashdown on July 24.  (That is why the July 25th postmark is so important).

Above: Cover carried aboard the Apollo Soyuz (ASTP) Prime Recovery Ship, USS New Orleans and cancelled on its return to San Francisco on July 24, 1975. Cover has rubber stamp BECK cachet. The cover is signed by Stuart A Bergman, Dr G Wycliffe Hoffler, Arnauld E Nicogossian, Joesph Baker and John Donaldson. These individuals were aboard the ship to conduct the Inflight Lower Limb Volume Measurement (ASTP007) experiment on the astronauts. Possibly a unique item.  Text and scan courtesy of Pete Thorsell of Petestamps on eBay.  Sold for $76 on eBay March 2009.

4/2010 Sold for $100 on ebay.  Seller PETESTAMPS

Postcard.  The front of this postcard shows USS New Orleans with text regarding ASAP.   Note July 25 postmark date.  This was sold on eBay and the dealer stated that perhaps only 4 of such cards exist with this date.  Added March 2010.
 

The next two covers are similar but not the exact same cover.

These covers shown below are from the 1975 Apollo/Soyuz space mission.  The cachet is the M W Beck designed rubber stamp and postmarked in SFO on July 24th.  All that is not remarkable.

What is unique with the covers are that they were actually carried by the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT)during the recovery mission.

Cover was offered on eBay. 

6/2011 sold on eBay by PETESTAMPS.  Price $22.50

On the lower cover, Dr Ramkissoon's name in pencil is at the bottom of the envelope but is almost completely erased.
 

Number produced: 5280 total for all 998  

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $3.00
2010  $ 
2011  $4.95
 

Artcraft First Day Cover of new stamp Scott 1570 with B998 cachet on back.  This collector has only seen a few examples of this cover.

Shown here are both the B998 and B999 covers

Number produced:5280 total for all 998   

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Cover was sent ahead of the flight to Houston for postmarking by Lester Winick.

Number produced:5280 total for all 998   

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $3.00
2009  $
2010  $5.00 
2011  $4.95
 

Number produced: 5280 total for all 998  

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Sold on eBay 3/07

Number produced: 5280 total for all 998  

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $31.00
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Number produced: No record kept

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Also see B998 above

Artcraft First Day Cover of new stamp Scott 1570 with B999 cachet on back.  This collector has only seen a few examples of this cover.

Number produced: No record kept

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Postmarked at Kennedy Space Center

Number produced:No record kept 

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $4.50
2009  $3.00, $3.75
2010  $4.50 
2011  $6.50
 

Number produced: No record kept

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $
2009  $
2010  $ 
2011  $
 

Number produced: 271

eBay Prices Realized
2008  $3.99
2009  $
2010  $3.50
2011  $$8.00, $6.00
 

Trivia:
On June 1, 1981, Congressman Carl Vinson died at the age of 97. He served 26 consecutive terms in the U.S. House. He served for 50 years and one month, a record for the U.S. House that stood until 1994.

Home     Morris W. Beck Cover Basics      About this Web Site      Contact
Beck Space Cachet Designs     #6 USS Dace Overprint    #220 USS Lowry
   Cover Varieties Oddities  Beck's Messages  Beck's Personal Covers  Astronaut Autographs
1943-1970's Events     Nuclear Ships     Foreign    President Series     States Series    First Day Covers   

Numbered Series   About the Series  1-50   51-99 MA-8  S,100-150  151-200  201-250  251-299   300-350 MA-9
  351-402   403-455    456-514 GT-2    515-569 GT-3, GT-4, GT-5    570-621 GTA-6 GT-7    622-687 AS-201, GTA-8, GTA-9, GTA-10, AP-3, GTA-11  
688-769 AS-202, GTA-12, AS-204, AS-501, AS-502, AP-7     770-841 AP-8, AP-9, AP-10, AP-11, AP-12, AP-13, AP-14  
  842-899 AP-14, AP-15, AP-16, AP-17, SL-II, SL-III, SL-IV     900-951   952-1000 ASTP

Articles and Resources:
NEW Small Rubber Stamps on Space Covers  Apollo PRS Postmarked in Hawaii
ASTP USS New Orleans July 25, 1975 onboard Cover
How postage rates affected collecting  Beck Printing Log for Numbered Series 
GTA-8 USS Boxer  Why Different Quantities?  Beck 929 Hawkins
         Join the Space Unit  Join the USCS  Other Collector Links
  Updated Checklists Jan 2012   
 

Please note that the naval covers illustrated on this Web site are for reference only and not for sale.
This is a private Web site for the enjoyment of collectors of navy covers. 

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Please send comments, additions, corrections or questions to Owen R. Murray

Also see Owen's Photography Website for a monthly computer desktop calendar. 
Owen's original photography is used on a new calendar each month since 2000.

Copyright ©2003-2012 Owen R Murray.  All Rights Reserved        Revised: Wednesday February 01, 2012.