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

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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

There could have been some lack of information about the actual planned date for the commissioning of the Nashville because Beck’s log shows “not sent” which means that he probably didn’t have time to produce the covers and send them.  Note that #842 was postmarked in May of 1970.

Also, in Beck’s Cover Log, #843 is crossed out and “Nimitz CVAN 68” is written in.  The final 843 cover was for the Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower CVAN-69 Keel laying on August 15, 1970.  At the time (early 1970) the actual name of CVAN-69 wasn’t even known.  The events and results make sense with the timing.

Beck’s log book does not show a quantity for cover 843, but given the covers near that series, the approximate quantity is about 350 covers.

Link to Beck’s Cover Log

We are researching the details of a possible change of contract or name that made the 851 cover obsolete. It was never serviced or returned.

Winick's Beck Handbook lists #851 as USS Peleliu.

Also see Beck cover 995.

CREW

Another mystery was solved when this cover was identified.  There are many Beck CREW covers that haven't been found yet.  We know From Mr. Beck that he sent the printed envelopes without the cachet number (CREW) to the ships for space events.  What happened to some of them is a mystery.  Another mystery recently solved was for 880 Ticonderoga.

ADDED June 2008

This scan was sent to us by Dr. Ross Smith.  Prior to seeing this scan, it wasn't verified that a CREW cover existed for this ship for Apollo 14.  As Dr. Smith said, it might not be a pretty cover but I am VERY happy to have found it.

SEE Listing for B841 for similar covers.

Any color variations in the scans are from scans.  The cachets are same and colors are the same.
Scan courtesy of RJIPhilatelics.
 

Dr. Ross Smith reports seeing several covers postmarked with the February 3 date on RSC covers only.  No February 3 dates have been seen on Beck printed covers B862.

Watch for B862 with Feb 3 1971 date

CREW

CREW

Previously unlisted.
Added 2/2010

The correct cancel for this event is a machine cancel. 

The hand cancel shown here is a fake.

There is a VERY informative article in the August edition of  the USCS Log by long-time USCS Member Rich Hoffner. 

Rich compiled and presented information on Fake and Fraudulent Naval Covers.  The cover shown at bottom-right is a sample of a Fake cancel on a genuine Beck cachet.

Somehow a dealer/collector obtained unserviced envelopes from Mr. Beck and applied the fake cancel. That person was expelled from the USCS for his actions.

Scan courtesy of Rich Hoffner

This is the only Beck cover that we have observed a FAKE cancel.  There are likely others.

If you have any further information, please contact us.

Again, thanks goes to USCS Member Rich Hoffner for researching and reporting this information.

Another example of B873.  This cover is autographed by Commander Coakley, the Helo Recovery Pilot.  Cover sold on eBay for $27 in April, 2009.  Sold by FlagShipGallery.

See below-Watch for B873 cover with space achievement stamp.

The Beck cover at right was offered on eBay for $26.00 in 10/05

The Beck cover at right was sold on eBay in April 2007 for nearly $50.  Courtesy RJI Philatelics.  This very interesting cover is an unofficial first day cover for the Space Achievement Stamps. See Ray Cartier's book for more information.  These stamps were flown to the Okinawa and were used on the Captain's covers and now we know the stamps were used on at least one or more Beck covers.

Scan courtesy of Steve Durst

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This very unique cover might be one-of-a-kind, no one knows, but we do know it is a very important piece of Beck cover history.  See note at left.

Scan courtesy of Tom Steiner.


Above: Cachet printing error.  Black missing.  Only green and Red printed.  See HERE
Scan courtesy of Dr. Ross J Smith

Scan added Aug 2008.

Perhaps this is one of just a couple of these that exist.

Morris W Beck cover B874, for Apollo 15, Prime Recovery Ship, USS Okinawa.  This is the first one we have seen.  We heard that this cover existed, but have never seen it.  Scan courtesy of Dr. Ross J. Smith.

This is the only one we have observed.

CREW

For years, we have kept our eyes out for an example or scan of this cover.  It is one of the few covers that we couldn't find but believed it had to exist.  Don Hensley a non-collector found our Web site while researching his covers.  He wrote us saying that his uncle was a postal clerk on the Ticonderoga during the Apollo 16 flight and was on board during the recovery.  His uncle, now deceased, apparently got a hold of some or most of the CREW (printed cachets without the usual Beck number) covers that Beck sent for this event.  Don sent us scans of over a dozen different 880 CREW covers from the Ticonderoga with the HAND CANCEL. 

CREW cover.  Beck 880 cachet with out printed number is a crew cover.

Added June 2008

Previously unlisted

Previously unlisted

Beck's printing log does not indicate a quantity for Apollo 16. He wrote a note in the log saying "Missed Counts on these"

He must have printed an excess number of covers for a special request or dealer because of the numerous covers postmarked in various cities.

Another example of the 880 below:

Scan courtesy of Dr. Ross Smith
Also see similar cover for Beck 881.
 

Any difference in the color of the cachets is due to the scans.

A B881 from Apollo 16 with the corner card of the previously unlisted Beck cover for USS Alacrity.  We've seen this corner card on Navy RS cachets, but this is the first on a B881.  Take a look at the other Beck covers from Apollo 16 mission and it is clear that Beck supplied the cached envelopes to one or more dealers or collectors.

Added 12/2009

Thanks goes to Steve Durst for sending us this cover to put on the site.

Beck's printing log does not indicate a quantity for Apollo 16. He wrote a note in the log saying "Missed Counts on these"

He must have printed an excess number of covers for a special request or dealer because of the numerous covers postmarked in various cities.

This is the only one every observed by us.  Added Feb. 06.  It is likely that VERY few of these exist.

CREW

Thanks goes to Steve Durst for sending us this cover to put on the site.

Any color variations in the scans for B888 and 889 covers are from scans.  The cachets are same and colors are the same.
B888 and B889 are Green, Black and Red.
 

B890 and B891 are Blue, Orange and Brown

CREW

We have designated this cover as B888 because it is the first number in the series where this Pacific cachet was used.

CREW
Added Oct.2008
Previously Unlisted

See the story on B880 CREW covers.  The source of this cover is the same.

Any color variations in the scans for B890 and B891 covers are from scans.  The cachets are same and colors are the same.

B888 and B889 are Green, Black and Red.
B890 and B891 are Blue, Black and Red

Scan courtesy of Norm Ferguson

Cover is postmarked at Kennedy Space Center on the launch date of the mission.

WAVY LINES

Any color variations in the scans for B896 and B897 covers are from scans.  The cachets are same and colors are the same.

B896 with missing green color.
Scan courtesy of Tom Steiner

SOLID LINES

We do know that most cancels for this flight were applied in Hawaii.  Most cancels applied were the wavy line cancel. 

VERY few covers have the USS New Orleans cancel with the solid lines.  It is not known if the solid line cancels were applied in Hawaii or actually on board the ship. 

It is likely that the solid line cancel WAS on board the ship.  In any case, the SOLID line cancel at right is the cancel seldom seen.

Only two covers with this cancellation on a numbered Beck cachet 896 observed by this collector.

Scan courtesy of Dr. Ross Smith

This is NOT a CREW cover because it does have the Beck printed cachet number.

CREW

WAVY LINES

The two covers shown at the right have the same colors.  The scans were different.  The colors shown on the bottom cover are closer to the actual colors of both covers.

Below is another example.

CREW

SOLID LINES

We do know that most cancels for this flight were applied in Hawaii.  Most cancels applied were the wavy line cancel. 

VERY few covers have the USS New Orleans cancel with the solid lines.  It is not known if the solid line cancels were applied in Hawaii or actually on board the ship. 

It is likely that the solid line cancel WAS on board the ship.  In any case, the SOLID line cancel at right is the cancel seldom seen.

This example is the only one observed by this collector.

Scan courtesy of RJI Philatelics

This CREW cover is listed under B896 because 896 is the first usage for this cachet and the USS New Orleans.

CREW

Added 2/10

Previously unlisted

WAVY LINES

SOLID LINES

We do know that most cancels for this flight were applied in Hawaii.  Most cancels applied were the wavy line cancel. 

VERY few Beck covers with the cachet number  have the USS New Orleans cancel with the solid lines.  It is not known if the solid line cancels were applied in Hawaii or actually on board the ship. 

It is likely that the solid line cancel WAS on board the ship.  In any case, the SOLID line cancel at right is the cancel seldom seen.

This example is the only one of this cancellation on a numbered Beck cachet 897 observed by this collector.

Scan courtesy of Dr. Ross Smith

This is NOT a CREW cover because it does have the Beck printed cachet number.

CREW

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.