1962 Project Mercury First Orbital Flight Friendship 7 John Glenn 1193 Block Of 6 X 4 Us Postage Stamps

Brand	Unbranded
Manufacturer	Unbranded
Model Number	B007BER5N8

In 1962, the US Post Office Dept. released a stamp to celebrate the first orbital flight of a US astronaut, John Glenn. The stamp was released at the same time as Glenn's return to Earth and was the first time a commemorative stamp was issued simultaneously with the event it was honoring.

On February 20, 1962 the US Post Office Dept. issued this stamp celebrating the first orbital flight of a US astronaut, John Glenn. It was released with the hour of Glenn's triumphant return to Earth at 2:43 PM on February 20, 1962. "The U.S. Post Office Department signaled the first orbital flight of a United States astronaut today with the issuance of a commemorative stamp, placed on sale throughout the country on the exact hour Astronaut John Glenn's historic flight was officially completed," the department stated. "It is the first time in history that a previously unannounced commemorative stamp was issued simultaneously with the event it memorializes.