LOT #71033 |
Current Bid: $1
Apollo AS-201: U.S.S. Boxer Recovery Cover with "U.S. Navy Recovery Force" Cachet. ....
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Description
"First APOLLO Unmanned Flight"
Apollo AS-201: U.S.S. Boxer Recovery Cover
with "U.S. Navy Recovery Force" Cachet. An ultra-rare
philatelic cover featuring this desirable stamped NASA/ Navy cachet
bearing a selection of vintage stamps: 4¢ "Echo I Communications
Satellite" (Scott #1173, 1960); 8¢ "Robert H. Goddard" (Scott
#1181, 1964); 3¢ "Fort Bliss Centennial" (Scott #943, 1948); and 4¢
"Project Mercury: U.S. Man in Space" (Scott #1193, 1962). It was
hand-canceled aboard the actual recovery ship on February 26, 1966.
Unaddressed. Excellent. Included, for purposes of display or
matting, is a glossy color print showing four scenes from that
launch and recovery.NASA's AS-201 mission, launched on February 26, 1966, was the first suborbital test flight of the Apollo Saturn IB launch vehicle. The primary objective was to validate the structural integrity and performance of the Saturn IB rocket and the Apollo Command and Service Module under flight conditions. The mission successfully demonstrated the vehicle's capability to deliver the spacecraft to the planned trajectory, paving the way for subsequent Apollo missions aimed at lunar exploration. The recovery ship for NASA's AS201 mission was the USS Boxer (CV-21), a Essex-class aircraft carrier. It played a crucial role in retrieving the Apollo Command Module after splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean, ensuring the safe recovery of the spacecraft and its test payload. The USS Boxer's experienced crew and well-coordinated operations were vital to the mission's overall success and set a precedent for recovery efforts in the Apollo program. From the Family Collection of Jacques Bracke.
Auction Info
2025 September 27 Space Exploration Showcase Auction #33169 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
September
27th
Saturday
9:50 am CT
Auction Dates
September
27th
Saturday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining
2 Days
2h 30m 11s
Internet/Mail Bids: 1
Lot Tracking Activity: 11
Page Views: 63
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.
This lot is in: 1 -
Space Session
(Lots 71001-71528) - 10:00 AM Central Time, Saturday, September 27, 2025.
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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