Text in cursive belongs to the information in website www.ionet.net appeared and its reproduction here has been previously allowed by its webmaster, Mr. Paul Roales.

Back in January 2002 in the website www.ionet.net was related the following information: featured U.S. "Snoopy 1" rocket mail cover is not listed in Ellington-Zwisler (EZ) catalogue and on eBay auction, from where scan is provided, and is described as First Day of US Scott stamp # 1306 Migratory Bird Treaty - Flown in Rocket "Snoopy 1" 3-16-66 Pittsburgh, PA.

As any kind of information is a treasure for any collector and it is the ground over which the building of knowledge of any exhibit, I kept this article in my files. Nobody knows if it could be useful in the future.

Time after, any other articles were coming to my files until, some months ago, an American dealer offered me some rocket mail covers he kept in stock. One of them was only described as date 3-16-66 and place Pittsburgh and rocket name Snoopy 1. As complementary information this note was added: I ignore if this cover was really flown as per not listed in EZ catalogue.

However, although the poor information the price was very attractive so I decided to buy it, which is here shown. This cover had in relation to one of January 2002 featured cover two main differences:
a) it has signed.
b) it enclosed a rocket photography (herewith shown also).

As my idea was to complete the information I contacted Mr. Paul Roales whom I requested more available information about my cover; especially if he can recognize its signature and if photography really corresponded to the same rocket.

His answer was little illustrative. Signature seemed to say "Charles J. or B. or F. Vubotch o Vulotief, experimenter" and about the photography he can tell me nothing, even he had never seen before.

In spite of this, and maybe by choice, I remembered how some years ago I dealt with American collector Charles J. Vukotich named, whom I bought several covers for my collection. Moreover, when I looked for his address, I found he lived in Pittsburgh, same city where my cover was postmarked. I tried to contact him through email, and here is his extracted answer.

I created the rocket mail a very long time ago. The picture that you have is a copy of one I took, and gave to someone, but I can't remember who now. There is one other copy of this picture and it is mine. This was a model rocket, using prepackaged engines. It was 3 feet tall, and had three solid fuel engines (the largest available at this time). It is modelled after the sidewinder missile. I flew 40 covers in this rocket in the upper section. It flew to about 1000 feet, and split in two, with a parachute for each section. I launched in an old quarry that was not far from my house in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. I can still remember that the rocket really rushed off the launch pad, and went straight up. I had intended to do an envelope to commemorate the Robert H. Goddard flight, US rocketry father. This just happened to be the same day that a stamp was issued. I went to the first day ceremony, got stamps and had my envelope cancelled. I then came home and flew the rocket in late afternoon. The rocket 'stamps' were also flown, but were added to the cover later, as was the cancel and my signature. I can't remember what I originally sold these for, but I know that I sold some later for $5. I thought that I might have had one or two left, but now only have my personal copy. This rocket was stored after the launch and could have been reused with new engines, but it was damaged in storage. I never built another rocket to launch mail.

So thanks to Mr. Paul Roales (who reprinted this email the past October 2003) and obviously to Mr. Charles J. Vukotich, we now have the complete story of Snoopy 1 rocket, which will be enclosed in upcoming worldwide rocket mail catalogue, nowadays ongoing".