First day cover for the U.S.S. VEGA

first day of issue envelope

First day cover for the U.S.S. VEGA (AK-17, built 1919), cargo ship; front of envelope has no cachet; stamp on left features portrait of Nathan Hale, printed on stamp "UNITED STATES POSTAGE/ NATHAN HALE/ 1/2 CENT 1/2"; stamp postmarked three times "U.S.S. VEGA/ FEB/ 20/ 1939/ PARCEL POST", "U.S.S. VEGA/ FEB/ 20/ 1939/ REGISTERED", "U.S.S. VEGA/ FEB/ 22/ 1939/ A.M."and "NORFOLK/ NYD" and "NORFOLK N.Y./ FEB 22 A.M."; stamped on back and crossed out with pencil "SUNK". The U.S.S. VEGA was laden with ammunition during the attack on Pearl Harbor but remained undamaged (see correspondence file).