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
Beck 929 Hawkins    Cover Varieties Oddities  Beck's Messages  Astronaut Autographs
1943-1970's Events
     Nuclear Ships     Foreign    President Series     States Series    First Day Covers   

The 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: 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

  Updated Checklist Nov 2009   GTA-8 USS Boxer  Quantities
        Download Checklists  Join the Space Unit  Join the USCS  Email Mailing List  Other Collector Links

Copyright ©2003-2010 Owen R Murray.  All Rights Reserved.      Revised: Saturday July 31, 2010.

j

This page lists covers 515-569     GO TO:    Previous Listing #456-514      Next Listing #570-621

Number Ship/Location Hull Number Cachet/ Event Cancel Date Comments

Click on Photos

515 USS Intrepid CVS-11 Gemini 3 AM/MAR 23/1965

 

 

Please note that the YELLOW color of all the covers shown on this page is the same when seen on the actual cover. 
The differences in various shades of the YELLOW color from cover to cover is due to scanning differences.  The YELLOW shown to the right on the printing error cover illustrates the correct color.


Prime Recovery Ship


Printing Error. Missing silver color. Only the yellow and blue are printed. 
Scan courtesy of Dr. Ross J. Smith
 

515 Variety USS Intrepid CVS-11 Gemini 3 The very interesting cover shown here has the Beck cachet number B515 printed on the BACK of the cover.

The Project Gemini cachet was applied to the front of the cover
before it was sent to Mr. Beck.  Beck printed his cachet on the back of the envelope and then sent the envelope to the US Navy for postmarking. 

The US Navy applied the round cachet on the front.  There is one other example of a similar cover for GT-5 Beck 561.  Scroll down on this page to see it.

Scan courtesy of Dr. Ross J. Smith
515
CREW
USS Intrepid CVA-11 Gemini 3

Note the small maroon or blue rubber stamp that was applied to collector's envelopes after the flight was over.  Collectors wishing to have this rubber stamp applied to covers, sent their covers with SASE to Mr. Beck.  Mr. Beck applied the rubber stamp and returned the covers to the collectors using their SASE. Keep in mind that not very many covers have this stamp.

AM/MAR 23/1965

Beck's cover log shows that 482 covers were printed for cover #515. For each of the space issues, Mr. Beck sent about 25 printed envelopes to the Navy.  These did not have the "B" number on the cover as shown on the right.  The 25 covers were a gift from Mr. Beck to the ship's Captain and crew for handling the batch of collector's covers.  That is why it is called a CREW cover. Most of the CREW covers were given to senior crew members or VIPs on the ship.  These people were not cover collectors and to them, the cover was just a memento. 




Scan courtesy of VACOVERS on eBay.  Note that the first two covers are addressed to the same person.  It sold for $90 on eBay in 2009


These crew covers are very rare covers.  The autographed cover with Grissom's and Young's autograph is from the collection of Steve Durst. 


Another example-sold for only $32 in 2010

Most of these covers are forever lost and either destroyed or sitting in some box of old navy papers that will never be seen again by collectors. That is why these CREW covers are so RARE.

Est Value $100-125

515
CREW
USS Boston CAG-1 Gemini 3
Note the small maroon or blue rubber stamp that was applied to collector's envelopes after the flight was over.  Collectors wishing to have this rubber stamp applied to covers, sent their covers with SASE to Mr. Beck.  Mr. Beck applied the rubber stamp and returned the covers to the collectors using their SASE. Keep in mind that not very many covers have this stamp.
MAR/23/P.M./1965

It is believed that the Beck cover for USS Boston exists only as a CREW cover. No numbered covers have been observed for USS Boston. 
We have observed USS Boston covers for this event with the navy rubber stamp cachet.


This CREW cover is listed under 515 because it is the first number in the GT-3 Series.
CREW Cover.
Est Value $100-125
516 USS Douglas H Fox DD-779 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/  /
517 USS Sarsfield DD-837 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/A.M.
Most cancels poor
518 USS Sarsfield DD-837 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/A.M.
Most cancels poor
519 USS Douglas H Fox DD-779 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965
520 USS Intrepid CVS-11 Gemini 3 AM/MAR 23/1965

 

At right: two examples of the USS Intrepid PRS cover.


Prime Recovery Ship

520 USS Intrepid CVS-11 Gemini 3 MAR/23/A.M./1965

Hand Cancel


Hand Cancel. Scan not available. PRS. VERY RARE.  Shown in Cartier book
521 USS Robert A Owens DD-827 Gemini 3 /  /JUN/3/1965
Correct cover for this number
521 USS Wasp CVS-18 Gemini 4 JUN 7/ PM/1965
GT4 Prime Recovery Ship. 
On GT-3 cachet changed to GT-4


Scan courtesy of Luc Jallot.  This is interesting because it seems to indicate that the changes to the Beck printed cachet were made by the ship's personnel and not a collector.

Also see B522 Wasp Below

522 USS Robert A Owens DD-827 Gemini 3 cachet used on Gemini 4 /  /JUN/3/1965
Due to a mix-up at the USPS, this cover was held for GT4.
522 USS Wasp CVS-18 Gemini 4 JUN 7/ PM/1965

 

See the notes above for B521 Wasp regarding the cachet changes from GT-3 to GT-4


GT4 Prime Recovery Ship.   On GT-3 cachet changed to GT-4.


Scan courtesy of Spaceflori.  Another Example of the cachet

523 USS Mullinnx DD-944 Gemini 3 MAR/23/A.M./1965
Note the small maroon or blue rubber stamp that was applied to collector's envelopes after the flight was over.  Collectors wishing to have this rubber stamp applied to covers, sent their covers with SASE to Mr. Beck.  Mr. Beck applied the rubber stamp and returned the covers to the collectors using their SASE. Keep in mind that not very many covers have this stamp.
524 USS Mullinnx DD-944 Gemini 3 MAR/23/A.M./1965
 
525 USS Harold J Ellison DD-864 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/  /

BLUE

The USS Harold J Ellison covers for Gemini 3 is a very interesting series of covers.

Dr. Ross J Smith has studied this series and has provided additional information.

All Beck covers observed for USS Harold J Ellison for Gemini 3 event also have the ship's rubber stamp cachet on the reverse of each cover in RED.  The ship's cachet has not been observed in any color on a Beck cover other than red. 

However, on covers with the Navy rubber stamp cachet (on the front), the ship's cachet can appear on the reverse in colors other than red.


Blue Cancel.

Ship's cachet on reverse in RED

 

525 USS Harold J Ellison DD-864 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/  /

BLACK


Black Cancel.
Ship's cachet on reverse in RED
525 USS Harold J Ellison DD-864 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/  /

BROWN/GOLD

The Brown/Gold cancel has only been observed on one Beck Cover.  This might be a unique cover.

Note the pencil writing in the address area. #140.
There is no other address.  One speculation is that this refers to US Navy Task Force #140.  If that is correct, then this cover might have been processed for a crew member.


Brown/Gold Cancel.
Ship's cachet on reverse in RED

Also review this scan below.  Click on it to enlarge it.  Note the color of the cachet used on the Navy cachet.  It is the same color as the cancel used on the Beck cover.  The cover below with the Navy Brown/Gold cachet has the ship's cachet in Blue on the reverse.  The Beck cover has the ship's cachet in Red.

525 USS Harold J Ellison DD-864 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/  /

RED


Red Cancel.
 
Ship's cachet on reverse in RED
526 USS Harold J Ellison DD-864 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/  /

BLUE


Blue Cancel. Ship's cachet on reverse in RED
526 USS Harold J Ellison DD-864 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/  /

BLACK


Black Cancel. Ship's cachet on reverse in RED
526 USS Harold J Ellison DD-864 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/  /

BROWN/GOLD

No scan available.  Not observed, Assumed to exist because of B525
Brown/Gold Cancel.
526 USS Harold J Ellison DD-864 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/  /

RED

No scan available.  Not observed, Assumed to exist because of B525
Red Cancel.
527 USS John Paul Jones DD-932 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/A.M.
 
528 USS John Paul Jones DD-932 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/A.M.
 
529 USS Sarsfield DD-837 Gemini 3 MAR/23/1965/A.M.
Most cancels poor quality
530 USS James K Polk SSBN-645 Launching MAY 23/-PM/1965
May 22 is correct date
530 USS James K Polk SSBN-645 Launching MAY 22/ PM/1965
Variety HT
531 USS Josephus Daniels DLG-27 Commission 8/MAY/1965/P.M.
 
532 USS Ogden LPD-5 Commission JUN/19/1965/A.M.
 
533 USS Lansing DER-388 LDPS MAY/5/A.M./1965
Ship's cachet on reverse in red
534 USS Goldsborough DDG-20 Gemini 4 JUN/7/A.M./1965

Any color variations in the scans are from the  scans.  The cachets for GT-4 Pacific are same and colors are the same.
 


 
535 USS Ponchatoula AO-148 Gemini 4 JUN/7/  /1965
Most cancels are poor quality.
536 USS Higbee DD-806 Gemini 4 JUN/7/1965

 

 




Scan courtesy of RJIPhilatelics.
536
CREW
USS Higbee DD-806 Gemini 4 JUN/7/1965/  /
Beck cover without number  CREW
537 USS Rupertus DD-851 Gemini 4 JUN/8/1965/  /
Cancel variety. Name at top of cancel.  More common
537 USS Rupertus DD-851 Gemini 4 JUN/8/1965/  /
Cancel variety.  Name at bottom of cancel. Less common.
538 USS Leonard F Mason DD-852 Gemini 4 JUN/8/1965/A.M.
539 USS Orleck DD-886 Gemini 4 JUN/8/1965/  /
540 USS Wasp CVS-18 Gemini 4 JUN 7/PM/1965

Note the small maroon or blue rubber stamp that was applied to collector's envelopes after the flight was over.  Collectors wishing to have this rubber stamp applied to covers, sent their covers with SASE to Mr. Beck.  Mr. Beck applied the rubber stamp and returned the covers to the collectors using their SASE. Keep in mind that not very many covers have this stamp.

Prime Recovery Ship


Any color variations in the scans are from the  scans.  The cachets for GT-4 Atlantic are same and colors are the same.

540 USS Wasp CVS-18 Gemini 4 JUN/7/A.M./1965

Added 2009
Previously unlisted

This is the only Wasp cover with the GT-4 hand cancel known to exist. Very Rare!

HAND CANCEL
Scan courtesy of Eddie Bizub
540
CREW
USS Wasp CVS-18 Gemini 4 JUN 7/PM/1965

Beck's cover log shows that 473 covers were printed for B540. For each of the space issues, Mr. Beck sent about 25 printed envelopes to the Navy.  These did not have the "B" number on the cover as shown on the right.  The 25 covers were a gift from Mr. Beck to the ship's Captain and crew for handling the batch of collector's covers.  That is why it is called a CREW cover. Most of the CREW covers were given to senior crew members or VIPs on the ship.  These people were not cover collectors and to them, the cover was just a memento. 


Scan courtesy of Steve Durst

This very rare cover is in the collection of Steve Durst.

Most of these covers are forever lost and either destroyed or sitting in some box of old navy papers that will never be seen again by collectors. That is why these CREW covers are so RARE.

Est Value $100-125


Scan courtesy of Eddie Bizub from the collection of David Ball.

.
 

541 USS Robert A Owens DD-827 Gemini 4 /  /JUN/3/1965
 
542 USS Furse DD-882 Gemini 4 A.M./3/JUN/1965
Many cancels are poor quality.  

A second example
543 USS Hawkins DD-873 Gemini 4 JUN/3/1965/A.M.
Black Beck RS on reverse
543 USS Lake Champlain CVS-39 Gemini 4 AUG 29/AM/1965

Click on the very unique cover shown at right.  This cover collector sent Mr. Beck a brown colored envelope.  This is very unusual because most collectors preferred a high quality white or cotton bond envelope.  Seeing a brown one is very unusual and this may be one of a kind for the number 543.  This cover was sold on eBay by dealer Karl Hass.  Selling price was $22.05 in May 2006.


Prime Recovery Ship. GT-4 Cachet with GT-5 cancellation and date



Unusual Beck on brown envelope .

544 USS Barry DD-933 Gemini 4 JUN/7/1965/P.M.
 
544
CREW
USS Barry DD-933 Gemini 4 JUN/7/1965/P.M.
Beck cover without number  CREW
544 Newport RI N/A Gemini 4 JUN 9/ PM/1965
Scan of cover from the collection of Eddie Bizub via the estate of Richard Learn. Added 5/09
545 USS Blandy DD-943 Gemini 4 JUN/3/P.M./1965


Another interesting example courtesy of Luc Jallot
546 USS Rich DD-820 Gemini 4 JUN/3/A.M./1965
Most cancels are poor quality.
547 USS Charles S Sperry DD-697 Gemini 4 JUN/3/1965/A.M.
548 USS Chukawan AO-100 Gemini 4 JUN/3/A.M./1965
549 USS Brumby DE-1044 Commission NOV/23/1965/A.M.
Correct Comm date is Aug 5 1965. Correct name is Brumby. Cancel reads Brunby
549 USS Brumby DE-1044 Commission NOV/30/1965/A.M.
Correct Comm date is Aug 5 1965. Correct name is Brumby. Cancel reads Brunby
549 USS Brumby DE-1044 Commission DEC/1/1965/A.M.
Correct Comm date is Aug 5 1965. Correct name is Brumby. Cancel reads Brunby
550 USS Duluth LPD-6 Launching AUG 14/-PM/1965
551 USS Tripoli LPH-10 Launching JUL 31/1965/AM
552 USS George Washington Carver SSBN-656 Launching AUG 14/AM/1965
553 USS Henry L Stimson SSBN-655 Launching NOV 13/PM/1965
Slogan US Coast Guard
554 USS Sturgeon SSN-637 Launching FEB 26/PM/1965
555 USS Goldsborough DDG-20 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965

Shown are two examples of the same Beck 555 cover. Note that the (autopen) autograph was obtained by the collector and was not signed on the ship at time of recovery.

 

Any color variations in the scans are from scans.  The cachets are same and colors are the same.




Scan courtesy of RJIPhilatelics.
Autopen autograph of Astronaut Charles Pete Conrad.
555
CREW
USS Goldsborough DDG-20 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965
Beck cover without number  CREW
556 USS Leonard F Mason DD-852 Gemini 5 AUG/29/1965/P.M.
557 USS Taylor DD-468 Gemini 5 AUG/29/1965/A.M.
Correct cover for this number 
557
CREW
USS Taylor DD-468 Gemini 5 AUG/29/1965/A.M.
Beck cover without number  CREW
558 USS George K Mackenzie DD-836 Gemini 5 AUG/29/1965/A.M.
558
CREW
USS George K Mackenzie DD-836 Gemini 5 AUG/29/1965/A.M.
Beck cover without number  CREW
559 USS Leonard F Mason DD-852 Gemini 5 AUG/29/1965/P.M.


Another example with autograph

Correct cover for this number 
559 USS George K Mackenzie DD-836 Gemini 5 AUG/29/1965/A.M.
560 USS Chipola AO-63 Gemini 5 AUG/29/1965/A.M.
560
CREW
USS Chipola AO-63 Gemini 5 AUG/29/1965/A.M.
Beck cover without number  CREW
561 USS Lake Champlain CVS-39 Gemini 5 AUG29/AM/1965
PRS. Hand Cancel on cover might exist.



Another example with autograph
 
(561)
CREW
USS Lake Champlain CVS-39 Gemini 5 AUG29/AM/1965
PRS Beck cover without number.   CREW
561
Variety
USS Lake Champlain CVS-39 Gemini 5 AUG29/AM/1965
Front

Back
Variety. B561 is on BACK of envelope.  Front has Gemini RS.  Probably one of a kind.
562 USS Manley DD-940 Gemini 5 AUG/21/A.M./1965


This cover has a RS cachet added to the cover after the event.  Designer of cachet is unknown.
563 USS Du Pont DD-941 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965
564 USS John W Weeks DD-701 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965
Most cancels are poor quality.
565 USS Neosho AO-143 Gemini 5 A.M./AUG/29/1965
Correct cover for this number
565 USS Du Pont DD-941 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965
Very Scarce
565 USS James C Owens DD-776 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965
Very Scarce
565 USS John W Weeks DD-701 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965
Very Scarce
565 USS Manley DD-940 Gemini 5 AUG/21/A.M./1965
Very Scarce 
565 USS New DD-818 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965
Very Scarce
566 USS James C Owens DD-776 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965
Correct cover for this number
567 USS Neosho AO-143 Gemini 5 A.M./AUG/29/1965
Correct cover for this number. NY NY at top of cancel.
568 USS New DD-818 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965
Correct cover for this number
569 USS Du Pont DD-941 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965

Both covers shown at right are similar.  The bottom cover has the small round cachet that was applied by Morris Beck AFTER the covers were returned by the navy.  Collectors wishing the have the round cachet applied sent the serviced covers to Beck with a small service charge and a SASE to have the covers returned.  In total, few covers have these small and interesting cachets. 

 Note that Beck would apply the round cachets to any covers including those with the rubber stamp cachet applied by the Navy. See the example at right.


Correct cover for this number

The cover shown below is not a Beck cover.  For example only.

The Cover Above is NOT a BECK cover.  However, the small round cachet was applied by Beck.  This answers the question if Beck serviced only his own covers with the small round cachet.

569 USS James C Owens DD-776 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965
569 USS John W Weeks DD-701 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965
Only one observed
569 USS Manley DD-940 Gemini 5 AUG/21/A.M./1965
569 USS Neosho AO-143 Gemini 5 A.M./AUG/29/1965
569 USS New DD-818 Gemini 5 AUG/29/A.M./1965

 

This page lists covers 515-569     GO TO:  Previous Listing #456-514      Next Listing #570-621

Hit Counter 

Home     Morris W. Beck Cover Basics      About this Web Site      Contact
Beck Space Cachet Designs     #6 USS Dace Overprint  #220 USS Lowry
Beck 929 Hawkins    Cover Varieties Oddities  Beck's Messages  Astronaut Autographs
1943-1970's Events
     Nuclear Ships     Foreign    President Series     States Series    First Day Covers   

The 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: 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

  Updated Checklist June 2008   GTA-8 USS Boxer  Quantities
        Download Checklists   Join the Space Unit  Join the USCS  Email Mailing List    Other Collector Links
 

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. 

Back to Top

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 ©2003-2010 Owen R Murray.  All Rights Reserved        Revised: Saturday July 31, 2010.