Naval History and Heritage Command
USS Enterprise (CV-6) Commissioning Cover
Title: Philatelic Cover, Commissioning, USS Enterprise (CV-6)
Accession #: NHHC 1996-12-A
Circa: 1938
Size: 6.5 x 3.6”
Medium: Paper
Location: Headquarters Artifact Collection, Naval History and Heritage Command
One philatelic cover from the commissioning of USS Enterprise (CV-6). On the left half is a red rope border that contains a blue ink drawing of the Enterprise. Above and below the drawing it reads // U.S.S. Enterprize / Commissioned Today / Naval Operating Base / Norfolk Virginia / A.N.C.S. ‘6 and ‘598 // In the top right corner is a purple three cent stamp that says Puerto Rico at the bottom. The post mark reads // U.S.S. Enterprise / May 12 P.M. 1938 // The envelope is addressed to // C. Arthur Jolly, Sea. 1c / U.S.S. Relief, San Pedro, California. //
The design on the left side of the cover is called a cachet. This cachet is specific to the USS Enterprise. As the cancellation mark shows, this cover was cancelled on 12 May 1938, the day of the Enterprise’s commissioning. On this day, no one could have guessed that she would become the most decorated ship in the United States fleet or that she would be one of only three aircraft carriers commissioned before WWII to survive the war.
