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Forum:	Auctions - Reviews & Results
Topic:	[RR Auction] Space Exploration (Nov 2017)

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Your Reply: HTML is ON UBB Code is ON Smilies Legend	[QUOTE]Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: [B]collectSPACE <blockquote><font size="+0"><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-111017a-gold-lunar-module-auction.html">Apollo 11 moonwalker's gold lunar module lands at auction</a></font> [i]A solid gold model of NASA's Apollo lunar module is now up for auction, as one of the only two others in existence remains missing after a museum heist. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin's gold scale model of the spacecraft that he and Neil Armstrong piloted to the first moon landing in July 1969, promptly exceeded its opening bid of $10,000 at RR Auction's space memorabilia sale on Thursday (Nov. 9). The Boston-based firm expects that the Cartier-crafted model will command $150,000 or more by the close of the auction on Nov. 16.[/i]</blockquote> <center><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-111017a-gold-lunar-module-auction.html" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/images/news-111017a-lg.jpg" width="400" height="265" border="0"></a></center>[/B][/QUOTE]
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<table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="600"><TR><td bgcolor="#000000"><TABLE BORDER=0 cellpadding=4 border=0 cellspacing=1 WIDTH="100%"><TR bgcolor="#660000"><TD COLSPAN=2><CENTER><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#ffffff" FACE="sans-serif">T O P I C     R E V I E W</font></CENTER></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#494949"><TD valign=top><FONT SIZE="2" FACE="sans-serif">Robert Pearlman</FONT></TD><TD><FONT SIZE="2" FACE="sans-serif">RR Auction release <blockquote><font size="+0"><B>Space Exploration Auction Featuring the Bill Lende Collection</B></font><P><div align="justify">When Bill Lende invented the aftermarket air conditioner for the Volkswagen Beetle in 1969, he probably didn't expect one of his first takers would be an astronaut.<P>But that's exactly what happened when Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, drove his personal vehicle to San Antonio, Texas, in 1970 to have Lende's newly invented HEATRANSFER air conditioner unit added to his Beetle. As a thank-you, Aldrin gifted him with a large image of himself on the moon.<P>Thus began a love affair with all things space for Lende. Already a collector of letters written by inventors and scientists – Lende himself being a respected inventor, engineer and eventual philanthropist and land steward – he would go on to amass an impressive collection of aerospace memorabilia. <P>This historical collection will now be proudly shared with you by RR Auction, Nov. 9-16.<P>A longtime client and friend of RR Auction, the Lende family has entrusted RR Auction to present to the public his beloved space exploration collection of personal correspondences, autographed photos, official memos and more. The extensive collection documents – in an intimate, first-person manner – the United States' journey from terra firma to the heavens. Proceeds from this auction will benefit Lende's nonprofit Cibolo Preserve in Boerne, Texas.<P>Three key documents featured in the auction include a 1963 letter written by Neil Armstrong on "the space effort impact on the world of the future"; a shocking letter from Wernher von Braun, written in 1969 two weeks after the lunar landing, where he reveals his past: "I was a member of Hitler's elite SS Corps"; and a 1964 letter from Gene Cernan, where he poetically muses "It is more than just a dream of adventure; it is an opportunity to know what is unknown – what is not today even conceived in our finite minds."<P><center><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/review/rrauction_nov2017auction01-lg.jpg" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/rrauction_nov2017auction01.jpg" width="400" height="524" border="0"></a></center><P>In addition to the Lende collection, we're including several rare and remarkable standouts. The first is Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 Cartier solid gold lunar module replica – one of only three made by the jewelry giant, honoring the first men on the moon. The exquisite workmanship on this 18-karat gold LM Eagle model makes it not only an incredible space exploration collectible, but a work of art to display.<P><center><iframe width="400" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3PzmS6T4aZU?rel=0&showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

Also included is an extraordinary flown American flag carried on the Apollo 11 mission, signed by the entire crew. Of the few fully signed Apollo 11 flown flag presentations we have encountered, this is the only example to boast the additional inscription by Buzz Aldrin on the flag itself.

We are also featuring the rarest Apollo-flown Robbins medallion, the historic sterling silver Apollo 17 Robbins medal in mint condition. One of the most sought-after and difficult-to-obtain of all the Apollo flown medals, as only 80 were flown on man's final voyage to the moon – the fewest carried on any Apollo mission.

The auction is available for preview now. Bidding is Nov. 9-16, 2017.

Steve Zarelli

The Lende collecton is something else; it was a real pleasure to review. Mr. Lende was a discriminating collector with great taste. The letters in particular are outstanding.

Ken Havekotte

Indeed, Steve, as there are some great astronaut-content letters from the Lende collection. There are some remarkable letters by von Braun, Collins, Aldrin, Cernan, Scott, Duke, White, Roosa, and the solid gold LM given to Aldrin is priceless!
I was even surprised to see some of my own earlier artifacts in the collection that had been sold or traded away.

rgarner

The solid gold LM may draw a lot of attention, especially given the theft of one recently. I wouldn't be surprised if a news outlet or two wrote a story on it.

Robert Pearlman

collectSPACE

Apollo 11 moonwalker's gold lunar module lands at auction
A solid gold model of NASA's Apollo lunar module is now up for auction, as one of the only two others in existence remains missing after a museum heist.
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin's gold scale model of the spacecraft that he and Neil Armstrong piloted to the first moon landing in July 1969, promptly exceeded its opening bid of $10,000 at RR Auction's space memorabilia sale on Thursday (Nov. 9). The Boston-based firm expects that the Cartier-crafted model will command $150,000 or more by the close of the auction on Nov. 16.

dfox

The "S-Band" antenna is missing. I'll pass on this one.

Robert Pearlman

The S-Band antenna can be restored, as noted in the lot description:

Cartier has expressed a willingness to restore this piece in their Paris facility at the buyer’s expense.

damnyankee36

I always thought the models were similar to the current stainless steel kits you can buy. The parts are made of thin sheets that are bent into the shape of the particular model being built.

That said, these are really solid? Almost seems too heavy for the legs to support the that kind of weight.

Robert Pearlman

The model has nearly 2 pounds (846 grams) of 18 karat gold, much more massive than the Metal Earth model.

spaced out

I imagine it's plated with gold rather than solid. It would weigh a lot more than 846 grams if the descent and ascent main bodies were solid gold.

SpaceSteve

Here's my take:

Basically, it's 18-karat gold, meaning it's 75% pure gold. It's hollow.

All the metal in it is the gold alloy, as opposed to gold plated whatever-other-metal; except for the possible inclusion of non-gold support elements in the struts, and maybe some other things where I seem to see silver - and maybe clear windows?

Also, 846 grams equals 27.2 troy ounces.

spaced out

Steve, indeed, you're probably right.

BLivingston

We have added a video depicting each page of Dave Scott's ring-bound flown CSM Systems Data manual. On the inside, front cover is a NSFW image that represented a payback from the backup crew due to the similar practical joke by Dave Scott played on the crew of Apollo 12.

thisismills

quote:
Originally posted by BLivingston:
On the inside, front cover is a NSFW image...

That would be a photo of Barbara Hillary, Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month, April 1970.

Robert Pearlman

The Boston-based firm expects that the Cartier-crafted model will command $150,000 or more by the close of the auction on Nov. 16.

The pre-auction estimate ended up being just $139 short: the Cartier lunar module sold for $149,861 (with buyer's premium).

Also impressive, the Apollo 11 crew-signed flown flag sold for $120,693 (with premium).

capoetc

An Alan Bean "In the Beginning" Artist's Proof litho sold for $5,203, which seems unusually strong.

denali414

The flown Apollo 17 Robbins medallion selling for $36,668 (with premium) is also pretty good and it seems the Robbins market is stabilizing.

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