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.

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Click on Photos

After all these years of searching for Beck covers we are VERY surprised to see a GTA-8 Beck cover from the USS L R Mason other than B630.  Dr. Ross Smith was the successful eBay bidder for the cover shown at left.  Beck 629 with the Mason cancel.  Note the address is hand written.  Our guess, (only a guess) is that a Navy Postal Clerk got a hold of the printed covers sent by Beck and addressed this to a family member. This is probably one of a kind! 

This is the only B629 observed that is other than the USS Cochrane.

Scan courtesy of Dr. Ross Smith

Prime Recovery Ship
The above cover is probably one-of-a-kind and very valuable

USS Boxer was suppose to be the prime recovery ship.

Added 12/2009

10/05 Offered on eBay Buy it Now for $175

Beck's Log shows 450 printed for 630.

This is a very elusive cover and has always commanded a premium price.

Prime Recovery Ship
Scarce Est value $100

One sold on eBay for about $50

USS Boxer was suppose to be the prime recovery ship.

Shown are two examples of the same Beck 631 cover. Note that the (autopen) autographs were obtained by the collector and was not signed on the ship at time of recovery. FYI-Gemini 8 Mission was flown by Armstrong and Scott.

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

Boxer was scheduled to be the prime recovery ship but due to technical problems, Mason picked up the astronauts.  See #630.

Beck Boxer cover sells for a premium.  Est. $12-15. 

CREW covers shown at right use the Beck design but were not printed by Beck.  These covers are very hard to find and were likely printed on the Boxer.  Est. Value $20-30 ea.
The Silver and Gold covers sold on eBay for $22.50 each in Feb. 06.

See more information about the GTA-8 Boxer covers.

Hand cancels with ship name at bottom of dial as shown below do exist.  The hand cancel has NOT been  reported on Beck printed cachets with or without numbers.

Above: Courtesy of Dr. Ross J Smith, Gold printed cachet.

Above: Red cachet reported by Karl Hass.  Sold on eBay

We knew this cover existed but never actually saw it.  Woody sent us a scan.  Added Nov. 08

Dr. Ross J. Smith sent us this  scan of a previously unlisted Beck cover for the GT-8 event.  USS Boxer machine cancel on B640. 

This is a good example of how Beck collectors need to really examine the lots of eBay for treasures.  Many collectors saw this lot, include us, and didn't notice the B640 number. 

Previously Unlisted. Added Oct. 2008

Dr. Smith was the lucky bidder that had a sharp eye and noticed that this Boxer cover was on Beck cachet 640.

Purchased along with the RS cachet of Mason for total of $61

Any differences in the colors of the Beck cachets for GT-8 Atlantic cachets is due to the variations in scans.  There isn't a color variety.

Watch for same cachet number with hand cancel.  HB exist but not reported on Beck cachets

B646 with FDOI cancel of the 2000 submarine stamp.
 

Added October 2008
Sold on eBay. $104.50

Shown are two examples of the same Beck 657 cover. Note that the (autopen) autograph was obtained by the collector and was not signed on the ship at time of recovery.

Note: any difference in the apparent color of  the covers in each series is due to scans and not printing issues.
 

Hand cancel.
Scan of cover from the collection of Eddie Bizub via the estate of Richard Learn. Added 5/09
 

This is the only example observed on B657.

In this variety, the year 1966 is upside down.  See the scan.

Hand cancel.

Correct version is very rare and is shown in Cartier's book.

Note: any difference in the apparent color of  the covers in each series is due to scans and not printing issues.

A similar cover addressed to Capt Herb Rommel. 
Scan courtesy of Graeme J. W. Smith

Check your collection and report to us the date of the overprinted Jacksonville cancel.  We heard that the date was the 25th but the example at right clearly shows the 26th.

Oct 2008

Similar #683 cover
sold for $28.00
eBay June 2005

For some reason the Wasp held this cover until Gemini 12 flight and postmarked it then.  It has cachet for Gemini 11 and postmark for Gemini 12.

684 Wasp sold for about $20 on eBay, 2006.

For some reason the Wasp held this cover until Gemini 12 flight and postmarked it then.  It has cachet for Gemini 11 and postmark for Gemini 12

For some reason the Wasp held this cover until Gemini 12 flight and postmarked it then.  It has cachet for Gemini 11 and postmark for Gemini 12

For some reason the Wasp held this cover until Gemini 12 flight and postmarked it then.  It has cachet for Gemini 11 and postmark for Gemini 12

For some reason the Wasp held this cover until Gemini 12 flight and postmarked it then.  It has cachet for Gemini 11 and postmark for Gemini 12

For some reason the Wasp held this cover until Gemini 12 flight and postmarked it then.  It has cachet for Gemini 11 and postmark for Gemini 12

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

For some reason the Wasp held this cover until Gemini 12 flight and postmarked it then.  It has cachet for Gemini 11 and postmark for Gemini 12

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. 

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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.