(RCSD) Apollo~Soyuz. The "other" flight.

The flight for an FDC.

APOLLO - SOYUZ-U.S.A.-RUSSIA
Joint Space Flight

By "COSMOS"

"Australian Stamp Monthly" May 1976

Cover postmarked for the launch in two different countries on
the same day - July 15, 1975.

Many articles have been written in overseas magazines about
this extraordinary cover (pictured),

http://cjoint.com/data/ijn4uC2tdb.htm

which was postmarked on
the same day in Moscow and in Cape Canaveral in the U.S.A.

A Mr. Coelle, of Germany, created (his unique cover, by
arguing: "It must be possible, due to the time difference of 7.5
hours between Moscow and Florida."

A lot of work went into making his idea become reality.
(a) Everything had to be arranged with the Russian authorities,
the State Philatelic Agency, to have the covers ready with the
Apollo-Soyuz stamps attached to them. (The stamp on this
cover was designed by A. Leonov, the Russian leader of the
Soyuz team).

(b) These covers were flown with Flight SU-259 from Moscow
to Frankfurt. Depart Moscow time 9.00. Arrival Frankfurt MEZ
10.10.

(c) Coelle arranged receipt from Lufthansa Cargo, and due to
previous arrangement, shortened customs formalities.

(d) Took taxi from Cargo facilities lo Flight Lufthansa LH-404
Frankfurt-New York, which departed 13.30 MEZ, arrival. New
York, local time 16.55. Customs formalities were quickly over,
as stamps / covers are free of customs duties.

(e) Rendezvous with the couriers in New York. One flies to
Houston, the other one connected with this particular cover,
flies to Cape Canaveral with a direct flight.

Mr. Coelle's mission was ended, and after nearly 40 hours
without sleep, he was taking well-earned rest in New York.
Some of the articles tried to prove that this cover could not
possbily have been made, as the Lufthansa Flight LH-404
arrived in New York at 4.55p.m. EST (16.55). This would have
been too late to have the covers transported to Cape Canaveral
before the closing time of the P.O., which is 5.00 p.m.

However, the fact that this cover is genuine ,was proved
beyond doubt by a letter of R. H. Hickman, Director, Regional
Division. United States Postal Service, Headquarters, Southern
Region, Memphis, Tn., in which he states: "On July 13, in
response to numerous requests for cancellations in conjunction
with the July 15 Apollo launch of the Joint American-Russian
space mission, the Cape Canaveral Postmaster placed a sign in
the Post Office window that covers deposited as late as twelve
midnight on July 15 would receive a same-day postmark.

Approximately 50,000 covers were deposited for Cape
Canaveral cancellations between the normal closing hours of
5.00 p.m. and midnight on July 15. Considering the
documented evidence you provided me and the information I
received from the Cape Canaveral Post Office, I see no reason
to doubt the authenticity of Mr. Coelle's covers."

The fact that so many covers were deposited after closing time
indicates the interest displayed in the collection of space
covers.
These are the background facts of the making of this cover.
(This article was documented by articles and letters from and
by: Mr. Coelle, Inter-Phila Courier, Germany; Explorer,
U.S.A.; Mr. Koch, Australia. Special thanks to Mr. Marsar,
U.S.A., who directed inquiries into the existence of this cover.)

"Rod" wrote in message
...

The flight for an FDC.

APOLLO - SOYUZ-U.S.A.-RUSSIA
Joint Space Flight

By "COSMOS"

"Australian Stamp Monthly" May 1976

Cover postmarked for the launch in two different countries on
the same day - July 15, 1975.

Many articles have been written in overseas magazines about
this extraordinary cover (pictured),

http://cjoint.com/data/ijn4uC2tdb.htm

which was postmarked on
the same day in Moscow and in Cape Canaveral in the U.S.A.

A Mr. Coelle, of Germany, created (his unique cover, by
arguing: "It must be possible, due to the time difference of 7.5
hours between Moscow and Florida."

A lot of work went into making his idea become reality.
(a) Everything had to be arranged with the Russian authorities,
the State Philatelic Agency, to have the covers ready with the
Apollo-Soyuz stamps attached to them. (The stamp on this
cover was designed by A. Leonov, the Russian leader of the
Soyuz team).

(b) These covers were flown with Flight SU-259 from Moscow
to Frankfurt. Depart Moscow time 9.00. Arrival Frankfurt MEZ
10.10.

(c) Coelle arranged receipt from Lufthansa Cargo, and due to
previous arrangement, shortened customs formalities.

(d) Took taxi from Cargo facilities lo Flight Lufthansa LH-404
Frankfurt-New York, which departed 13.30 MEZ, arrival. New
York, local time 16.55. Customs formalities were quickly over,
as stamps / covers are free of customs duties.

(e) Rendezvous with the couriers in New York. One flies to
Houston, the other one connected with this particular cover,
flies to Cape Canaveral with a direct flight.

Mr. Coelle's mission was ended, and after nearly 40 hours
without sleep, he was taking well-earned rest in New York.
Some of the articles tried to prove that this cover could not
possbily have been made, as the Lufthansa Flight LH-404
arrived in New York at 4.55p.m. EST (16.55). This would have
been too late to have the covers transported to Cape Canaveral
before the closing time of the P.O., which is 5.00 p.m.

However, the fact that this cover is genuine ,was proved
beyond doubt by a letter of R. H. Hickman, Director, Regional
Division. United States Postal Service, Headquarters, Southern
Region, Memphis, Tn., in which he states: "On July 13, in
response to numerous requests for cancellations in conjunction
with the July 15 Apollo launch of the Joint American-Russian
space mission, the Cape Canaveral Postmaster placed a sign in
the Post Office window that covers deposited as late as twelve
midnight on July 15 would receive a same-day postmark.

Approximately 50,000 covers were deposited for Cape
Canaveral cancellations between the normal closing hours of
5.00 p.m. and midnight on July 15. Considering the
documented evidence you provided me and the information I
received from the Cape Canaveral Post Office, I see no reason
to doubt the authenticity of Mr. Coelle's covers."

The fact that so many covers were deposited after closing time
indicates the interest displayed in the collection of space
covers.
These are the background facts of the making of this cover.
(This article was documented by articles and letters from and
by: Mr. Coelle, Inter-Phila Courier, Germany; Explorer,
U.S.A.; Mr. Koch, Australia. Special thanks to Mr. Marsar,
U.S.A., who directed inquiries into the existence of this cover.)

A very interesting story but I have two questions:

- This cover has two stamps on it or some images that are just printed? I'm
asking because I couldn't find the Soviet stamp (?) image in the catalogue
(Michel 4371-4374). If it isn't a real postal stamp, then the cover is much
less interesting, IMHO.

- The cancellation period was between 5.00 p.m. and midnight, which means 7
hours. This means that the Cape Canaveral PO has canceled 119 covers in a
minute or about 2 covers each second. Have it used a kind of machine for
this big work (which makes the thing again less attractive)? Or have they
had at their disposal a lot (!) of humans, who worked overtime? In the later
case, I wonder what had to say the postal trade union (known for its strict
rules...).

--
Victor Manta

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"Sir F. A. Rien" wrote in message
...
"Victor Manta" found these unused words:

"Rod" wrote in message
...

The flight for an FDC.

APOLLO - SOYUZ-U.S.A.-RUSSIA
Joint Space Flight

Cover postmarked for the launch in two different countries on
the same day - July 15, 1975.

Many articles have been written in overseas magazines about
this extraordinary cover (pictured),

http://cjoint.com/data/ijn4uC2tdb.htm

- This cover has two stamps on it or some images that are just printed?
I'm
asking because I couldn't find the Soviet stamp (?) image in the catalogue
(Michel 4371-4374). If it isn't a real postal stamp, then the cover is
much
less interesting, IMHO.

US pair is Scott 1569-70, Russina pair is Scott 4339-40 Both genuine for
postage in their countries.

OK, I've looked into my Scott 1999 too, Russia # 4338-4341. No image matches
so far (images A2058-2060). Tell me please which image matches that on the
cover, please, because I have a moment of blindness.

- The cancellation period was between 5.00 p.m. and midnight, which means
7
hours. This means that the Cape Canaveral PO has canceled 119 covers in a
minute or about 2 covers each second.

You're being too litteral Victor ... "Accepting for cancellation" and
"cancelling" are separate actions.

The Op's statement was
"Cape Canaveral Postmaster placed a sign in
the Post Office window that covers deposited as late as twelve
midnight on July 15 would receive a same-day postmark."

Note the active verb is "would receive" not "did recieve".

USPS in all its profound 'glory' cancels FDCs well after the actual date.
They just use a date stamp -=OF=- the FDC date.

That's my supposition too, but then this heroic mission: "Mr. Coelle's
mission was ended, and after nearly 40 hours without sleep, he was taking
well-earned rest in New York" was just a cover-up.

Have it used a kind of machine for
this big work (which makes the thing again less attractive)? Or have they
had at their disposal a lot (!) of humans, who worked overtime? In the
later
case, I wonder what had to say the postal trade union (known for its
strict
rules...).

The union would love it as it's night shift, overtime and premium service
pay!

Not in Switzerland (where for example the shops close at 6:30 PM, excepting
for Thursday: 9 PM, Saturday: 4:00 or 5:00 PM. On Sundays quite all are
closed). AFAIK, the USPS trade union is among the most powerful, so that I
doubt that they would have accepted such a breach... And, as you explain it
above, it wasn't even necessary.

Victor

On Thu, 9 Aug 2007 07:58:26 -0400, Rod wrote
(in article ):


The flight for an FDC.

APOLLO - SOYUZ-U.S.A.-RUSSIA
Joint Space Flight

By "COSMOS"

"Australian Stamp Monthly" May 1976

Cover postmarked for the launch in two different countries on
the same day - July 15, 1975.

Many articles have been written in overseas magazines about
this extraordinary cover (pictured),

http://cjoint.com/data/ijn4uC2tdb.htm

The Soviet stamp on the cover was issued 1975 May 08. It is Yvert 4144,
Michel 4357, and Scott 4324.

"Jeffry L. Johnson" wrote in message
. ..
On Thu, 9 Aug 2007 07:58:26 -0400, Rod wrote
(in article ):


The flight for an FDC.

APOLLO - SOYUZ-U.S.A.-RUSSIA
Joint Space Flight

By "COSMOS"

"Australian Stamp Monthly" May 1976

Cover postmarked for the launch in two different countries on
the same day - July 15, 1975.

Many articles have been written in overseas magazines about
this extraordinary cover (pictured),

http://cjoint.com/data/ijn4uC2tdb.htm

The Soviet stamp on the cover was issued 1975 May 08. It is Yvert 4144,
Michel 4357, and Scott 4324.

This is the right reference and it explains some things. Thank you very
much!

Therefore there were two Soviet issues, the first appearing on May 8 and the
second on July 15, 1975.

By using the stamp of the first issue, this gentleman had all the time to
prepare the cards, to put stamps on them, and to postmark them in the USSR
till the 15th of July. Then he brought the 50.000 cover on the 15th of July
to the Cape Canaveral, where they were postmarked some time.

However, the fact that this cover is genuine ,was proved
beyond doubt by a letter of R. H. Hickman, Director, Regional
Division. United States Postal Service, Headquarters, Southern
Region, Memphis, Tn., in which he states: "On July 13, in
response to numerous requests for cancellations in conjunction
with the July 15 Apollo launch of the Joint American-Russian
space mission, the Cape Canaveral Postmaster placed a sign in
the Post Office window that covers deposited as late as twelve
midnight on July 15 would receive a same-day postmark.

The statement above tells us only that the covers were received on July 15,
and that they got some time the July 15, 1975 postmark.

IMHO, the whole wasn't actually done in a day, but over a much longer period
of time, and therefore it was just philatelic business as usual.

--
Victor Manta

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philatelic Webmasters Organization: http://pwmo.org/
Art on Stamps: http://artonstamps.org/
Romania by Stamps: http://marci-postale.com/
Communism on Stamps: http://reds-on.postalstamps.biz/
Spanish North Africa: http://www.sna-on.postalstamps.biz/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------