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Flown cover featuring the STS-8 insignia and a $9.35 Express Mail postage stamp, signed in black felt tip by the full crew: Richard Truly, Daniel Brandenstein, Guion Bluford, Dale Gardner, and William Thornton. Postmarked "Launched Aboard Challenger, Aug. 30, 1983," "Returned to Earth, Edwards AFB, CA, Sep. 5, 1983," and "Space Mail Orbited via STS-8." Serial numbered "9" on the reverse. In fine condition. Accompanied by an original color 10 x 8 red-numbered NASA photo showing the STS-8 crew posing with one of these special covers inside the Space Shuttle Challenger.
Although some 260,000 covers were flown on STS-8, only the first ten were signed by the full crew; they were reportedly presented to President Ronald Reagan, Vice President George Bush, Postmaster General William Bolger, a NASA administrator, and the astronauts themselves.
From the William E. Thornton Collection.
