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.