December 2004 Cover |
by Steve Shay |
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USS NAUTILUS |
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Merry Christmas! This 1935 cachet was the combined effort of four gentlemen: PJ Ickeringill drew the cachet, Alex Hesse and Robert Walton sponsored the cover and Navy Mail Clerk Spencer Stout, stationed aboard the USS Nautilus cancelled the covers. Walton may have sketched the concept for the cachet which PJ then sketched. PJ's name is printed in the design while the other 3 have their ANCS (American Naval Cancel Society) membership numbers printed on the "tag" attached to the wreath. Ickeringill, Walton and Hesse were also USCS members. The design features a silhouette of the Nautilus with "N2" on the sail. Nautilus was armed with two large deck guns, the reason for her original designation as Submarine Cruiser 2 (SC-2) when originally launched. (The Nautilus was launched as the USS V-6 at Mare Island, California in 1930. The name change to USS Nautilus occurred in 1931.) Narwhal (originally USS V-5) was SC-1 and also "N1" as the first of the "N" named boats. The scroll under the wreath shows a nautilus on each end, the animal the submarine was named after. The anchor adds one more nautical flair to the Christmas wreath and candle. This well designed cachet is thermographed (raised ink printing) and colored, complete down to the red holly berries in the wreath. This cover has a 15¢ written on the reverse, most likely the price paid at one time for this attractive cover. Anyone finding this cover for that amount today will really be getting a Christmas present! |
