Stamps

Elwood Etter's Cook Covers - Part 1

In 1976 the late Elwood Etter (died June 1984) started a cover project of mailing covers on the 200th anniversary date from places visited, and where special events happened, during Cook's Third Voyage of 1776 to 1780.

He used his printing press to apply colorful cachets naming the places and events. Most cachets depicted Cook, some had maps, some were printed on Birch bark which was attached to the envelope, and some were printed on silk which was attached to the envelope.

Several CCSU members assisted with this project, helping to supply information on dates and places applicable to events, appropriate stamps, birch bark, and by mailing covers from their areas.

Elwood certainly spent a lot of time researching and producing the covers. The covers were not produced in large numbers; for example, about 24 FDC's with the June 10, 1978 issue of Hungary, about 40 of March -April events at Nootka. A collection of these covers gives a fine account of the Third Voyage.

The following list gives a brief description of 117 covers that I know of. If anyone knows of any others I would be pleased to hear of them so they could be added to the list.
 

  Postmark Date Cachet Color
1 Globe 23 May 76 Birth of Hugh Cook Blue and red
2 Plymouth, Devon 12 Jul 76 Cook sailed from Plymouth Blue and red
3 Plymouth, Devon 2 Aug 76 Discovery departure from Plymouth on 1 Aug. Blue and red
4 Tenerife 1 Aug 76 Resolution stopped Green
5 Capetown 17 Oct 76 Resolution arrived Red and blue
6 Capetown 10 Nov 76 Discovery arrived Red and purple
7 Capetown 1 Dec 76 Sailed from Capetown Red
8 Kerguelon 1 Apr 77 Arrived Kerguelon 24 Dec 76 Red and green
9 Kerguelon 1 Apr 77 Sailed from Kerguelon Islands 30 Dec 76 Red and black
10 Hobart, Tasmania 26 Jan 77 Arrived Adventure Bay Green and red
11 Picton, NZ 12 Feb 77 Anchored Queen Charlotte Green and red Sound
12 Picton, NZ 25 Feb 78 Sailed from Ship Cove Overprinted "201 Anniversary" Green and red
13 Rarotonga 29 Mar 77 Visited Cook Islands March 1777 Blue and red
14 Nukualofa, Tonga 17 Jul 77 Visited Tonga July 1777 Yellow and green
15 Nukualofa, Tonga   Sailed from the Friendly Islands, Tonga Red and black
16 Tarawa, Gilbert Is 12 Sep 77 FDC Gilbert Is 1777-1977 Black
17 Papeete, Tahiti 7 Dec 77 Sailed from Tahiti, The Society Islands Blue and red
18 Christmas Island 24 Dec 77 Discovered Christmas Is Red and blue
19 Christmas Island 25 Dec 77 Christmas Island landing Red and blue
20 Christmas Island 2 Jan 78 Sailed from Christmas Is Black and green
21 Waimea, Hawaii 18 Jan 78 Discovered and named Sandwich Is. Blue and red
22 Captain Cook, HI 18 Jan 78 Discovered and named Sandwich Is. Blue and orange
23 Norfolk Island 18 Jan 78 Norfolk Is. discovered by Cook Red
24 Niue 18 Jan 78 Hawaii discovery 200th anniversary Red
25 Honolulu, Hawaii 20 Jan 78 FDC US Commemorating Cook Blue and red
26 Honolulu, Hawaii 20 Jan 78 FDC US Commemorating Cook Blue and green
27 Anchorage, Alaska 20 Jan 78 FDC US Commemorating Cook Blue and red
28 Cook Is at Hapex 20 Jan 78 200th Anniv Discovery Brown
29 Papeete, Tahiti 20 Jan 78 Hawaii discovered by Cook Red
30 Rarotonga Cook Is 20 Jan 78 Hawaii discovery 200th anniversary Black
31 Captain Cook, HI 2 Feb 78 Sailing from Sandwich Is Brown
32 Penrhyn 9 Mar 78 Hawaii discovery 200th anniversary Blue
33 Newport, OR 7 Mar 77 (Incorrect date stamp)  
  Salem, OR 7 Mar 78 Arrival New Albion Red and blue
34 Waldport, OR 7 Mar 78 Arrival New Albion Cape Perpetua Red and blue on birch bark
35 Tahsis, BC 29 Mar 78 Arrival Nootka Sound map ovpt on Cook Red and blue
36 Tahsis, BC 29 Mar 78 Arrival Nootka Sound(no map) Red and blue
37 Tahsis, BC 31 Mar 78 Anchored Ship Cove Mar. 31, 1778 Black and orange
38 Tahsis, BC 1 Apr 78 Set up instruments Clerke Peninsula map Black and green
39 Tahsis, BC 1 Apr 78 Set up instruments Clerke Peninsula map Blue and green
40 Gold River, BC 20 Apr 78 Captain's Watch stolen Blue and red
41 Edmonton, AB 26 Apr 78 FDC Cook Nootka Sound Blue and red
42 Ottawa, ON 26 Apr 78 FDC Cook Nootka Sound Blue and red
43 Tahsis, BC 26 Apr 78 FDC Sailing north from Nootka Red and blue on birch bark
44 Ottawa, ON 26 Apr 78 FDC Cook Nootka Sound on birch bark
45 Port Alberni, BC 26 Apr 78 FDC Sailing north from Nootka Red and blue
46 Port Alice, BC 29 Apr 78 Sailing near Cape Cook Red and blue
47 Valdez, Alaska 16 May 78 Prince William Sound May 16 Red on birch bark
48 Seldovia, AK 22 May 78 Cape Elizabeth Red and blue on birch bark
49 Anchor Point, AK 27 May 78 Lost anchor off Anchor Point Green and red on birch bark
50 Capt Cook Stn 1 Jun 78 At head of Cook Inlet Blue and red on birch bark
51 Capt Cook Stn 1 Jun 78 Anchored June 2 1778 Blue and red on birch bark
52 Budapest, Hungary 10 Jun 78 FDC James Cook 1778 1978 Green and blue
53 Kodiak, AK 14 Jun 78 Shelikof Strait near Kodiak Blue and brown on birch bark
54 Sand Point , AK 19 Jun 78 Letter written in Russian Blue and brown on birch bark
55 False Pass, AK 20 Jun 78 1778 Bicentennial 1978 Brown
56 Unalaska, AK 26 Jun 78 Anchored Sedanka near Unalaska Green and brown on birch bark
57 Unalaska, AK 28 Jun 78 Arrived Unalaska Blue and brown on birch bark
58 Unalaska, AK 2 Jul 78 Sailed from Unalaska Brown and green
59 Northern Cook Is 3 Jul 78 Hawaii  
60 Naknek, AK 9 Jul 78 Bristol Bay Blue and red on birch bark
61 Clarks Point, AK 13 Jul 78 Nushagak Peninsula July 12 - 18 Green and red on birch bark
62 Point Hope, AK 1 Aug 78 Stopped by Polar Ice Pack named Icy Cape Purple and red
63 Savoonga, AK 3 Aug 78 Island named in Anderson's Memory Red and purple on birch bark
64 Nome, AK 5 Aug 78 Sledge Island Aug. 5, 1778 Red and purple on birch bark
65 Teller, AK 7 Aug 78 Named Island for Mr. King Red and purple on birch bark
66 Wales, AK 9 Aug 78 Cape Prince of Wales Red and purple on birch bark
67 Wainwright, AK 19 Aug 78 Stopped by Polar Ice Pack Red and purple on birch bark
68 Barrow, AK 19 Aug 78 Stopped by Polar Ice Pack Red and purple on birch bark
69 Apia, W. Samoa 19 Aug 78 FD honoring Cook Red and blue on birch bark
70 Elim, AK 9 Sep 78 Explored Norton Sound Sept 8 - 17 Red and blue on birch bark
71 Shaktoolik, AK 17 Sep 78 Explored Norton Sound Sept 8 - 17 Red and blue on birch bark
72 Unalakleet, AK 9 Sep 78 Explored Norton Sound Red and blue
73 Stebbins, AK 18 Sep 78 Cape Stephens Sep 18 1778 Red and blue on birch bark
74 Gambell, AK 21 Sep 78 Saint Lawrence Island Red and blue on birch bark
75 Savoonga, AK 25 Sep 78 Saint Lawrence Island Red and blue on birch bark
76 Unalaska, AK 2 Oct 78 Egoochshac Harbor Oct 2 1778 Red and blue on birch bark
77 Unalaska, AK 3 Oct 78 Samgannoodha Harbor Oct 2 1778 Red and blue on birch bark
78 Kodiak, AK 20 Oct 78 Kodiak Island named Red and blue on birch bark
79 Unalaska, AK 21 Oct 78 Sent letter to Admiralty Red and blue on birch bark
80 Unalaska, AK 26 Oct 78 Sailing for Hawaii Red and blue on birch bark
81 Br Forces Post 27 Oct 78 Capt Cook Oct 27 1728 Red on birch bark
82 Marton, NZ 27 Oct 78 Capt Cook Oct 27 1728 Red on birch bark
83 Marton, Cleveland 27 Oct 78 Capt Cook Oct 27 1728 Red on birch bark
84 Cooks Harbour, NF 27 Oct 78 Capt Cook Oct 27 1728 Red on birch bark
85 Cooktown, Aus 27 Oct 78 Capt Cook Oct 27 1728 Red on birch bark
86 Cleveland, Qld 27 Oct 78 Capt Cook Oct 27 1728 Red and blue on birch bark
87 Cook, S. Aus 27 Oct 78 Capt Cook Oct 27 1728 Red and blue
88 Captain Cook, HI 27 Oct 78 Capt Cook Oct 27 1728 Red on birch bark
89 Norfolk Island 27 Oct 78 Capt Cook Oct 27 1728 Red and blue
90 Christmas Is 27 Oct 78 Cook discovered and named Christmas Is Red
91 Kahului, HI 26 Nov 78) Returning to Sandwich Islands Red and blue
  Honolulu, HI 27 Nov 78)    
92 Captain Cook, HI 27 Nov 78 Returning to Sandwich Red and blue
93 Petit Martinique 13 Dec 78 FDC Grenada Grenadines Red
94 Captain Cook, HI 16 Jan 79 Discovered Kealakekua Bay Red, blue and brown
95 Solomon Islands 16 Jan 79 FDC Honoring Voyages Blue and red
96 Captain Cook, HI 17 Jan 79 Landed Kealakekua Bay Red, blue, brown on birch bark
97 Gilbert Islands 22 Jan 79 FDC Honoring Voyages Red and blue
98 Captain Cook, HI 4 Feb 79 Departed Kealakekua Bay Red and brown
99 Captain Cook, HI 10 Feb 79 Returning to Kealakekua Bay Red, blue and brown
100 Captain Cook, HI 14 Feb 79 Captain Cook was killed Red, blue, brown on birch bark
101 South Georgia 14 Feb 79 Bicent. of Death Blue and brown
102 Cooks Harbour, NF 14 Feb 79 Capt Cook Feb 14 1779 Blue on birch bark
103 Norfolk Island 14 Feb 79 Bicent. of Death Red and brown on birch bark
104 St Helena 19 Feb 79 FDC Honoring Voyages Red and blue
105 Christmas Is 19 Feb 79 Bicent. of death  
106 Waimea, HI 15 Mar 79 Cook's ships sail from Sandwich Islands Red and blue on birch bark
107 Air Force APO 98736 23 Apr 79 Resolution and Discovery Bering Sea Red and black on birch bark
108 US Navy FPO 98791 23 Apr 79 Resolution and Discovery Bering Sea Red and black on birch bark
109 Gambell, AK 3 Jul 79 Near St. Lawrence Island July 8 Brown and blue on birch bark
110 Erimomisaki 29 Oct 79 Passing near Japan Brown, red and blue
111 Fuji, Japan 1 Nov 79 Mt. Fujiyama sighted Nov. 1 1779 Grey, red and brown on silk
112 London S.E. 10 5 Dec 79 200 Anniv. Cook's Third Voyage "Capt. Cook & Mr. Hodges April 1979-1980" National Maritime Museum Blue
113 Christmas Island 22 Feb 80 In Indian Ocean near Indian Ocean Christmas Island Blue, brown and red on silk
114 Simonstown, SA 14 Apr 80 Anchored in Simon Bay Apr 13 1780 Blue, brown and red on silk
115 Simonstown, SA 9 May 80 Sail for England May 9, 1780 Blue, brown and red on silk
116 Tarawa, Kiribati 19 Nov 80 FDC Capt. Cook Hotel Blue
117 Tarawa, Kiribati 6 May 81 FDC Christmas Island Red

 

Jack Lewis

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 720, volume 13, number 2 (1990).

Elwood Etter cover from Erimomisaki, Japan, dated 29 October 1979
Elwood Etter cover from Erimomisaki, Japan, dated 29 October 1979

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