This Cacheted Naval Event Cover is a remarkable historical artifact from July
15, 1976, capturing the peak of the United States Bicentennial and Operation
Sail '76. Postmarked aboard the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), the cover
features a classic Type 9 naval cancellation, where the "killer bars"
used to void the postage stamp explicitly display the ship's name.
The cover is particularly
notable for its "Posted on Board" status, indicated by the red
rectangular cachet from the STS Sir Winston Churchill. This British sail
training schooner was a key participant in the International Sail Training Race
No. 4, a transatlantic journey from Boston to Plymouth, England. The presence
of multiple cachets—including the blue oval race details and the Boston
commemorative graphic—marks this as a dual-ship souvenir, documenting the
collaborative maritime spirit between the U.S. Navy and international merchant
sailing vessels.
For collectors, this piece is a "Grade A" specimen due to its crisp markings and the specific narrative it follows. Addressed to West Germany, the envelope traveled as part of the very history it commemorates, serving as a tangible link to the 1976 Fleet Review. It stands as a "maritime time capsule," preserving the moment when the world’s most famous wooden warship and a modern British trainer united to celebrate 200 years of American history and the enduring legacy of the high seas.
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