Lot 01: Project Mercury Stamps and Autographed John Glenn Photo
This lot includes two full sheets of vintage Project Mercury $.04 mint-condition single stamps. These were one of the initial commemorative stamps issued by the United States Post Office in recognition of the first U.S. Astronaut, John Glenn, to orbit the Earth in his space capsule Friendship 7.
The stamps were designed, printed and distributed to 305 post offices across the U.S. in secret before the mission launched. The Project Mercury stamp was released for sale on February 20, 1962 after the successful return of Glenn. This was also the first time that a commemorative stamp was released on the same day the event occurred.
The stamps show the Friendship 7 capsule in orbit around the Earth with the words "U.S. Man in Space" written underneath. An autographed photo of Glenn's Mercury launch and a Certificate of Authenticity accompanies the lot.
ASF reserves the right to disqualify the high bidder, to reject the high bid, and to accept a bid from a lower bidder, for any reason within their discretion, which shall be exercised in good faith.
The auction concluded on September 12, 2009 at 5:00 pm EDT.
Bids: 33 Winning Bid: $410 Bidder: 224