Flown 'Phases of the Moon' postal cover carried into lunar orbit during the Apollo 15 mission, 5.5 x 3.5, bearing an affixed color cachet which shows all 15 phases of the moon, an August 7, 1971, USS Okinawa postal cancellation, and signed in black felt tip by Dave Scott, Al Worden, and Jim Irwin. Cover is numbered under the flap, "324," and initialed by NASA's general counsel S. Neil Hosenball. In fine condition.
Accompanied by a one-page typed notarized certificate, signed "Alfred M. Worden," "David R. Scott," and "James B. Irwin." The provenance reads, in part: "Postal covers were carried aboard the Apollo 15 Mission, which postal covers were stamped and postmarked at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on the date of the launch, July 26, 1971, and carried aboard the Apollo 15 Spacecraft during the entire term of the Mission, to include orbit of the moon, and were returned to the Earth at the termination of the Mission on August 7, 1971…The postal covers were in the possession of one or more of the undersigned until 1972, at which time they were deposited with the United States Government…The undersigned have this date inspected that Postal Cover bearing NASA Serial No. 324, and aver, affirm and certify that said Postal Cover is a cover which was carried aboard the United States Lunar Mission-Apollo 15."
These unique covers, created by American stamp dealer F. Herrick Herrick, are quite controversial regarding how many were actually produced, believed by many experts to be more than originally indicated. Though a number of similar, purportedly flown covers have come up for sale over the years, the rare notarized certification present with this example is a must for providing rock solid proof of its authenticity.
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