Francis Gary Powers Signed “Conquest of Space” First Day Cover

Attractive “Conquest of Space” cachet First Day Cover postmarked Houston, Texas, May 14, 1974, commemorating the launch of Skylab—the first United States space station. Bearing the 10¢ Skylab postage stamp, the cover is boldly signed in blue ink by Francis Gary Powers. Approximately 6.5” x 3.75”. Fine condition, with a clean, bold signature and minimal age toning.

Francis Gary Powers (August 17, 1929 – August 1, 1977) was an American pilot who served as a United States Air Force officer and a CIA employee. Powers is best known for his involvement in the 1960 U-2 incident, when he was shot down while flying a secret CIA spying mission over the Soviet Union. Powers survived, but was captured and sentenced to 10 years in a Soviet prison for espionage. He served 21 months of his sentence before being released in a prisoner swap in 1962. He died in 1977 when the helicopter he was flying crashed.

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