Astronauts and Cosmonauts
LIVE AND INTERNET SALE - PART I
BEGINS AT 1 PM EASTERN, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2002

406. APOLLO 11 SIGNED "INSURANCE" COVER Exceedingly rare commemorative postal cover signed by the three Apollo 11 astronauts, NEIL ARMSTRONG, MICHAEL COLLINS and EDWIN "BUZZ" ALDRIN. The 6 1/2" x 3 3/4" cover bears a color illustration of astronauts with scientific experiments in the foreground, the LEM in the background, with the flight emblem at top. The legend at top reads: "NASA MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER STAMP CLUB OFFICIAL COMMEMORATIVE COVER FIRST MANNED LUNAR EXPLORATION", with an Apollo 8 stamp at upper-right and postal cancellation at Houston on July 20, 1969, the day the astronauts landed upon the moon. Prior to Apollo 11's launch, these covers were given to the flight crew to sign together while in pre-flight quarantine, to be given to their families should the crew fail to return alive. In such an event, their value would provide "insurance" for their families, hence the term "insurance cover". After signing, the covers were sent to Cape Kennedy and Houston for cancellation. These covers played an important part in the flight, giving the crew confidence that their families would be provided for, and thereby permitting them to focus completely on their mission. A very fine example, from the "Buzz Aldrin Family Space Collection". $2,500-3,500

407. ASTRONAUT SIGNED SPACE TRAVEL BOOK A fantastic signed book Space Travel, World Book, Chicago, 1990, with the signatures of 22 astronauts most of whom have added their various missions to their signature, all signing on the front flyleaf. Included are JOHN GLENN, NEIL ARMSTORNG, BUZZ ALDRIN, MIKE COLLINS, ALAN SHEPARD, GENE CERNAN, JAMES LOVELL, CHARLIE DUKE, KEN MATTINGLY, WALLY SCHIRRA, FRED HAISE, EDGAR MITCHELL, FRANK BORMAN, CHARLES CONRAD, ALAN BEAN, RUSTY SCHWEICKART, TOM STAFFORD, HARRISON H. SCHMITT, SCOTT CARPENTER, RICHARD GORDON, and AL WORDEN. Minor bump to bottom of spine, otherwise very good. $2,000-3,000

Grisson buys aviation insurance

408. VIRGIL I. GRISSOM (1926 - 1967) American astronaut, a member of the original Mercury astronauts, killed in a flash fire in the Apollo 1 capsule. Extraordinary A.D.S., a partly-printed check "Virgil I. Grissom" in which Grissom makes a payment for his "Aviation coverage"! The check is drawn on the account of "Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom", San Antonio, Aug. 30, 1965, while Grissom was undergoing training for the Apollo program. He pays the Robert P. DeOrsey Co. the sum of $400.00 for what he notes is "aviation coverage". Punch holes clear of signature, fine condition. $1,500-2,000

409. APOLLO ASTRONAUTS Exceptional NASA-issued S.P. 10" x 8" color, an image of a well-illuminated full moon signed by twelve Apollo program astronauts, each of whom has added his Apollo mission. Includes: CHARLIE DUKE, TOM STAFFORD, FRED HAISE, CHARLES CONRAD, JR., EDGAR MITCHELL, ALAN BEAN, RICHARD GORDON, AL WORDEN, ALAN SHEPARD, JIM LOVELL, FRANK BORMAN and HARRISON SCHMITT. Fine condition, ideal for framing. $800-1,200

410. MERCURY 7 A fine Mercury 7 piece, a public relations pamphlet, 4pp. 4to., [n.p., n.d.] entitled "Project Mercury" with the heading "Research Providing Valuable Data for Manned Space Flight" below which appear photographs of the seven astronauts, each signing vertically to the right of their respective images including SCOTT CARPENTER, GORDON S. COOPER, JOHN GLENN, VIRGIL "GUS" GRISSOM, WALTER SHIRRA, ALAN SHEPARD, and DONALD "DEKE" SLAYTON. The brochure details research on land and water landings, as well wind tunnel tests and the testing of the escape module. Light toning toward edges, light creases, otherwise very good condition. A great Mercury project piece! $800-1,200

411. EDWARD H. WHITE (1930 - 1967) American astronaut and the first American to walk in space, tragically killed in the Apollo I flash-fire. Superb S.P. 8" x 10" color, a NASA photograph showing four scenes of White's historic space walk during the Gemini IV mission, boldly signed in blue ink at the center of the image. Fine condition. $600-800

412. CHRISTA MCAULIFFE (1948 - 1986) American astronaut, a civilian teacher from Concord, New Hampshire, killed in the fiery explosion of the Challenger space shuttle. Rare, bold black ink signature "S. Christa McAuliffe" written in the white gutter of a block of eight postage stamps honoring the space shuttle program. Fine condition. $500-700

413. RICHARD NIXON AND APOLLO 8 CREW A terrific Apollo 8 signed photo, 10" x 8" overall, b/w, shows President RICHARD NIXON seated in the White House and joined by Apo9llo 8 astronauts BILL ANDERS, JAMES LOVELL and FRANK BORMAN, boldly signed by all four upon each signer's respective image. A collector has apparently trimmed the top of the original photo, affixing it to a white background with an Apollo 8 stamp and cancel in the blank top white margin, not intruding on image. Beautifully matted in cloth with gold fillets, with three brass descriptive plaques, set into a black enameled frame. Fine. Unexamined out of frame. $500-700

414. SERGEI KOROLEV AND KLIMENT YVOROSHILOV A rare combination of signatures on an I.S.P., 8 1/2" x 5 3/4" b/w showing Cosmonaut SERGEI KOROLEV and Defense Minister KLIMENT VOROSHILOV in discussion. Inscribed and signed at top by Korolev with Voroshilov signing underneath. A few creases, their names in type pasted to the bottom margin, mounted and a slightly irregular cut, otherwise very good.$1,000-1,500

414A. GAGARIN, KORLOLEV & KHRUSCHEV S.P. 6" x 9 1/2" b/w showing Cosmonauts YURI GAGARIN, SERGEI KOROLEV and Premier NIKITA KRUSCHEV at an outdoor public reception signed by each in the side margins. Small strip of paper bearing a caption in Russian has been pasted to the bottom margin of the photo, otherwise very good condition. $800-1,200

415. PIONEERING RUSSIAN COSMONAUTS A fine, large S.P. 15" x 11 3/4" b/w showing a group of cosmonauts in military uniform on a snowy day in front of Lenin's Tomb. Signed toward the top right by YURI GAGARIN, GHERMAN TITOV, PAVEL POPOVICH, ALEKSEI LEONOV, VALENTINA TERESHKOVA, BORIS YEGOROV, KONSTANTIN FEOKTISTOV, ANDRIAN NIKOLAYEV, PAVEL BELYAEV and VALERI BYKOVSKY. Creasing toward margins, a few tiny tears and nicks to margins, otherwise very good. Perfect for display!$800-1,200

Salyut 6 flown control panel

416. SALYUT 6 WATER REGENERATION CONTROL PANEL A fine flown Soviet space relic, the control panel for the Priboy water regeneration system used on Salyut 6 which orbited the earth from 1977 to 1982. The system was an early attempt to develop a sustainable means for creating water aboard the station as part of their ongoing experiments in a closed-cycle life support system which would dramatically reduce the amount of supplies that needed to be delivered to the station. The panel measures 9" x 10 1/2" across and is 8" deep, and operated a system which condensed water from the station's atmosphere. Success was limited as the cosmonauts aboard still required supplies of fresh water delivered from Earth. Apparently the system was unable to produce more than 500 liters of water during its operation. Some scuffs and scratches otherwise very good condition. An important artifact.$1,000-1,500

NEXT SECTION LIVE AND INTERNET AUCTION PART I (6/25/02): Business Leaders - Lots 417-424

View Astronauts and Cosmonauts section from LIVE AND INTERNET AUCTION PART II - Lots 1235-1273W