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| Photo: "Earthrise" photo by William Anders, cancelled with the "Apollo 8" stamp first day of issue on May 5, 1969. |
The
Apollo 8 stamp was issued on 5 May 1969. The stamp designer, Leonard E. Buckley, based this design on the "
Earthrise" photograph taken by William Anders on 24 December 1968. The words "In the beginning God..." were the first words read by the astronauts, taken from the first 10 lines of the Book of Genesis.
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| "Apollo 8" stamp first day cover signed by the designer, Leonard E. Buckley. |
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| A plate block of four US "Apollo 8" stamps (released on May 5, 1969) signed by the Apollo 8 crew on the wide top selvage in blue ink: "James Lovell" and "Frank Borman" and in black felt tip across the stamps: "Bill Anders". This came from the collection of Robert T. Sakowitz. - Heritage Auctions |
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| COMMEMORATIVE RECALLS FLIGHT. A local U.S. Post Office employee, Debra Maas, secretary to Roy C. Cox, director of administrative services, moistens an Apollo 8 commemorative stamp prior to placing it on an envelope. First day cancellations were made Monday at the Apollo 8 Substation set up in the Rice Hotel. The model of an Apollo 8 spaceship in the background was part of the display to celebrate the eighth anniversary of America's first space flight. Photo by Curtis McGee, Chronicle Staff. May 6, 1969. |
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| Photo: Apollo 8 STAMPS AND COVERS. Post office workers prepare for the expected rush Monday, when stamps commemorating the Moon-circling Apollo 8 mission go on sale. But don't expect to buy the first ones, for, appropriately enough, the first covers will go to the children of the Apollo 8 crew, James Lovell, Frank Borman and William Anders. Photo by Medford Taylor, Chronicle Staff. May 4, 1969. |
