This is the first of two USS Calvert-specific cachet stamped mailing envelopes I recently purchased on EBay.

This is the first instance of this style USS Calvert Passage to Freedom cachet stamp which is hand colored so I felt it was worth the purchase for the website and eventual contribution to the USS Calvert archive at the Calvert Marine Museum. Additional details on the Calvert’s participation in the Passage to Freedom during the late summer and early fall of 1954 is available here.

As reference, here is an example of the pure black/white cachet stamp for the Passage to Freedom (not purchased).

Maybe some day I’ll come across an actual rubber stamp used to create the cachet stamp image!

Updates to this question: “If anyone knows the story behind this type of ship-specific stamp, and the versions created for the USS Calvert or other ships of the Western Pacific Amphibious Force, please reach out to me.”

• More USS Calvert covers and cachet stamps, here
• Background on cachet stamps can be found here

Next post, coming in a few days, will be a USS Calvert-specific stamp for the 1955 Black Ship Festival held in Shimoda, Japan.