CONSTITUTION (None)

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Sail Frigate Keel Laid November 17 1794 - Launched October 21 1797 USS CONSTITUTION (Frigate) Commissioned July 2 1798 - Decommissioned 1800 Recommissioned 1803 - Decommissioned November 1807 Recommissioned August 1809 - Decommissioned 1815 Recommissioned May 1821 - Decommissioned 1830 Recommissioned 1835 - Decommissioned 1851 Recommissioned 1852 - Decommissioned 1855 Recommissioned 1860 - Decommissioned 1871 Recommissioned July 1877 - Decommissioned 1884 Renamed OLD CONSTITUTION December 1 1917, While in reserve Name restored July 24 1925 Recommissioned July 1 1931 - Decommissioned June 8 1934 Recommissioned August 24 1940 USS CONSTITUTION IX-21 Redesignated Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX) January 8 1941 Decommissioned September 1 1945 Recommissioned October 1971 USS CONSTITUTION (Museum Ship) Designation (IX) dropped September 30 1975 Currently a Museum Ship in Commission at Boston, MA.

 

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. USF Constitution Covers Page 1    (Jul 1-Nov 14, 1931)
2. USF Constitution Covers Page 2    (Nov 21-Dec 31, 1931)
3. USF Constitution Covers Page 3    (Jan 1-Apr 9,1932)
4. USF Constitution Covers Page 3A    (Apr 18-Aug 14,1932)
5. USF Constitution Covers Page 3B    (Aug 19-Dec 31,1932)
6. USF Constitution Covers Page 4A    (Jan-Mar 1933)
7. USF Constitution Covers Page 4B    (Apr-May 1933)
8. USF Constitution Covers Page 4C    (Jun-Jul 14 1933)
9. USF Constitution Covers Page 4D    (Jul 14-Aug 15, 1933)
10. USF Constitution Covers Page 4E    (Aug 16-Oct 12, 1933)
11. USF Constitution Covers Page 4F    (Oct 15-Dec 31, 1933)
12. USF Constitution Covers Page 5A    (Jan 1-Apr 7 1934)
13. USF Constitution Covers Page 5B    (Apr 10-Jun 8 1934)
14. USF Constitution Covers Page 6     (Future Use)
15. USF Constitution Covers Page 7    (1946-47)
16. USF Constitution Covers Page 8    (1947 FDC's)
17. USF Constitution Covers Page 9    (1965 & 1985 FDC's)
18. USF Constitution Covers Page 10    (1975-1998)
19. USF Constitution Covers Page 11    (2000-2020)
20. USF Constitution Covers Page 12    (Post Cards)
21. USF Constitution Covers Page 13    (2012 FDC's)
22. USF Constitution Covers Page 14    (Foreign)
23. USF Constitution Covers Page 15    (Misc. Covers)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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First Day of Postal Service September 10 1931 - Last Day of Postal Service June 8 1934

 

Locy Type FDPS 5hks (U.S. FRIGATE) "NEW YORK / N.Y."

1931-09-10

First Day of Postal Service, signed by Harry Moore, Naval Mail Clerk.

 

Locy Type 3 (BTT) (U.S. FRIGATE) "CRISTOBAL / CANAL ZONE"

1932-12-25

Port Visit

 

Locy Type 5hks (U.S. FRIGATE) "PHILA / PA."

1931-09-25

Note:

 

Locy Type 9v

c 1931

Note: This is a PROOF STRIKE on piece. This postmark was issued to the ship on 10 September 1931. It was used once at Wilmington Delaware (17 September 1931) and on four other covers from Wilmington North Carolina (21-27 November 1931). Five (5) legitimate uses are all that Navy Mail Clerk (NMC) Harry Moore did before the postmark was turned in because the NMC was not bonded.

 

Locy Type LDC 3 (BTT) (U.S. FRIGATE) "BOSTON / MASS"

1934-06-08

Last Day of Commission. USF Constitution label cachet

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10th Commissioning August 24 1940 to September 1 1945

 

Locy Type F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. C-65

1946-10-27

Note: Missing the period after the second "S" in U.S.S.

 

Locy Type F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. C-65a

1947-06-14

Notes:

 

Locy Type F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. C-65b

1948-02-12

From the Jimmy Jordan collection.

 

Locy Type 7dit(1) "BOSTON, MASS."

1947-10-21

Notes: Contributed by Mark Kalisch.

 

Leon Fields Catalog Type C-65d "BOSTON, MASS."

1947-10-21

FD Card by Sanders

 

Leon Fields Catalog Type C-65c "BOSTON, MASS."

1947-10-21

Note:

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11th Commissioning October 1971 to Present

 

Locy Type 2(n+) (USS)

1975-10-21

Cachet by Frederick L. Karcher

 

Locy Type 2p USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. C-65f

1976-06-26

Tall Ships '76

 

Locy Type F

1996-07-22

Salute to the Nation Cruise, cachet by Detlef H. Clausen

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USPS Pictorial Postmarks

 

USPS Slogan Machine Cancel "U.S.S. Constitution / 175th Anniversary / 1797 - 1972" Boston Mass

1972-06-14

175th Anniversary of Commissioning, cachet by US Postal Service.

 

USPS Pictorial Postmark "USS Constitution Sta." Charlestown MA

1980-07-04

"Firing of / National 21 Gun / Salute"

 

USPS PB Meter "Support USS Constitution Museum" Boston Mass

1981-07-01

50th Anniversary of Recommissioning, cachet by Detlef H. Clausen. Sponsored by Old Ironsides Chapter No. 1, USCS

 

USPS Pictorial "SOPEX Station" Lawrence, MA

1997-03-08

200th Anniversary

 

USPS Pictorial "SOPEX Station" Medford, OR

1997-04-13

200th Anniversary

 

USPS Pictorial "Lighttower Station" Marblehead, MA

1997-07-21

200th Anniversary SAIL, cachet by Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

 

USPS Pictorial "Charlestown Navy Yard Station" Boston, MA

1997-07-21

200th Anniversary of Commissioning, cachet by USPS

 

USPS Pictorial "Old Ironsides Station" Boston MA

1997-10-21

200th Anniversary of Launching, cachet by Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

 

USPS Pictorial "USS Constitution Anniversary Station" Boston MA

1998-07-23

200th Anniversary of Commissioning, cachet by USPS

 

USPS Pictorial "Old Glory Station" Boston MA

2006-08-19

Celebrating her Victory in 1812, cachet by Greg Ciesielski

 

USPS Pictorial "USS Constitution / IX-21 Sta." Staten Island NY

2013-05-26

Fleet Week postmark (CANCELLED), cachet by Rich Hoffner

 

Other Information

By far the oldest Commissioned ship in the world

NAMESAKE - The written instrument embodying the fundamental organic law and principles of government of the United States of America

 

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If you have images or information to add to this page, then either contact the Curator or edit this page yourself and add it. See Editing Ship Pages for detailed information on editing this page.

 

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