Crosby cover envelope for the shakedown cruise of the USS Wilson. USS Wilson was commissioned in 1939 and patrolled the West Coast until June 1941 when transferred to the Atlantic. She served in the Atlantic & Pacific throughout the war and earned 11 battle stars. Her time ended with Operation Crossbow and atomic testing. She was scuttled in 1948. *The term “Crosby Cover” is probably one that all naval cover collectors learn early into their collecting days. Crosby is well known to the Air Mail collectors, First Day Cover and Patriotic Cover collectors. In 1931 he opened a Stamp, Coin & Curio Shoppe in San Pedro. He joined the North Bay Stamp Club in January 1931, giving 104 Fifth Street, San Pedro CA as his mailing address. His signature style of cover was started in May 1935. He used a specialized heat printing process known as “thermography’ which was done by sprinkling resin or wax powder on the wet ink and then heating the cover melting the material, resulting in a raised effect in the printing. Often a small paste on photo was added within the cachet design. The USCS recognized Crosby as one of the most influential person to the hobby. He was one of the most imaginative and prolific cachet makers for nearly two decades and was inducted into the USCS Hall of Fame in 1996. Nice map to accompany the ships photo on the cover. Clean front. Adhesive seepage on the flaps. Neat cover.