Last December I acquired a full sheet of 20 Star Wars Androids commemorative 'Forever' postage stamps (stickers) from the USPS.
One of my numerous other hobbies happens to be stamp collecting.
I'm one of those collectors who prefers used stamps over new, unused mint copies, especially if they are still attached to a postmarked envelope. I've always been of the opinion that stamps that have actually served their purpose and carried letters through the mail-stream are more interesting than those that have not, even though the latter might be a bit more valuable.
Last week, just prior to the March 3rd launch at Dove Valley, I hit on a splendid idea on what to do with some of these Star Wars themed stamps.
I sat down at the computer and created some postcards. After printing them out, each card was then franked with an Android stamp and addressed to one of the other local rocketeers who was to attend the launch.
On rocket-flying day, the post cards were packed along in the range box and taken to the Dove Valley field.
When it came time to launch the maiden flight of the Quest Icarus model, the stack of cards was rolled up and inserted into the bird's payload tube to go along for the ride.
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| Mail Delivery Away !!! |
Later, on my way home from the launch session, I found a nearby postal letter drop box, extracted the postcards from the payload tube, straightened them out, and dropped them in.
Here is a scan of one of the cards which I had addressed to myself and received today in my mailbox. This will be added to my 'postal history' cover collection:
I had hoped that the cards would bear the same postmarked date as that of the launch itself, but they were apparently not picked up from that particular mail drop until the following day.
Nevertheless, I'm sure these cards will make fine little mementos of that particular launch session.
This is by no means a new idea. I've heard about some rocketeers doing similar activities in the past.
I even have this vintage 1970s AVI Astroport sticker still attached to my old range box:
Cheers!
I'm also a stamp collector. I still have the Scott Minuteman album that I got in middle school. I treated myself to a new, three volume album a few years back. That one is full of mint stamps as far back as I could afford. When we were in 6th grade we were in a split 6th & 7th class. When the 7th graders had a club meeting or something, they'd have us tear stamps off of old envelopes. Several of us started pocketing the cool commemoratives and we eventually bought HE Harris albums from Woolworth. They stored the stamps in bales of old envelopes in the hallway that led to the priest house. I asked a question in class one time that I knew would get me in trouble and got more than I bargained for. Instead of being sent to the principal, I got sent to the priest. I walked over into the hallway, spent 45 minutes helping myself to cool stamps, then went back to class looking sad.
ReplyDeleteEd,
DeleteI got my postcard today! Thanks! I never get regular mail, just bills or letters from someone wanting to sell me something. 😀
Bill, Cool story - especially the part about looking 'sad' after getting a stamp windfall!
ReplyDeleteLee, Glad your postcard arrived safely. I was a little worried that they wouldn't make it through the cancellation equipment after being curved inside apayload tube. Looks like they survived.
This is an absolutely outstanding idea/thing to do, Ed!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ed, Mine came in the mail on the 7th, probably because we share the same post office...
ReplyDelete