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Author
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Topic: A Cover's Value...
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sproctor11
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posted 08-20-2003 11:50 PM
   
My dad worked at KSC during the 60's & 70's and acquired a bunch of covers during those days... One of them he sent to himself during Apollo 11 was this one. I haven't seen one like it anywhere else and was wondering if someone could tell me it's value and any other information they may know about it. http://www.lkdllink.net/~stevep/images/cover.jpg Thanks in advance, Steve P.
[This message has been edited by sproctor11 (edited August 20, 2003).] |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 08-21-2003 07:07 AM
Hi Steve-Well, I haven't seen one of those covers either. Interesting. The certificate says that 10,000 were issued, so this would not be a terribly rare cover. KSC postmarked launch date covers for Apollo 11 typically run about ten dollars and I would say that is about what yours would run. Just my $.02. Best,
Dennis |
sproctor11
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posted 08-22-2003 02:12 PM
Hi Dennis,Thanks for your prompt reply.... I know Tom Foley is still in business there as Cape Kennedy Mint so I might have to give him a call & see if he still maintains that registry and see if there is anything else he can tell me about it... If nothing else, I think this cover would be make a real good candidate for Buzz's signature... Thanks again, I sincerely appreciate it. Steve P. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1744
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-22-2003 04:50 PM
Yes, kinda surprising that there were 10,000 of this type of Apollo 11 covers created and that they are so unfamiliar. I don't ever remember seeing one either. But as far as having Buzz Aldrin sign one - it wouldn't be a good financial idea, as he charges an astronomical amount to sign covers - something like $500 each and you'd be lucky to sell it for much over $100 with his signature on it. Bob Mc. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42985
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-22-2003 04:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Bob M:
But as far as having Buzz Aldrin sign one - it wouldn't be a good financial idea, as he charges an astronomical amount to sign covers - something like $500 each and you'd be lucky to sell it for much over $100 with his signature on it.
If you check the rates for the upcoming Novaspace signing with Aldrin, he will not sign covers (for any price):
http://www.novaspace.com/AUTO/SIGNINGS/Buzz2003.html |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 08-22-2003 05:56 PM
Steve-Yes, unfortunately, Buzz is a washout on signing covers. The Apollo 11 crew vowed not to sign any covers after the flight. Sometimes one of them will break that vow, but not often. One suggestion - if your dad is still around and worked on Apollo 11, have him sign it! This will make a neat family history momento for you and your kids. One of my favorite autographed covers is an Apollo 9 cover signed by the NASA vehicle manager for LM #3 (the Apollo 9 LM), whom I had the opportunity to work with 10 years ago. He was almost embarrassed when I asked him to sign it. He passed away about a year later. Now it is a great momento of a lost friend and one of the unsung heroes of Apollo. [This message has been edited by micropooz (edited August 22, 2003).] [This message has been edited by micropooz (edited August 22, 2003).] |
DChudwin
Member Posts: 1096
From: Lincolnshire IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-22-2003 08:29 PM
Re Buzz Aldrin and this cover:There was one Novaspace signing where Buzz did autograph covers, but he wanted $500. The other ones he has not signed philatelic items. I was lucky enough to get individual covers signed by all 3 Apollo 11 crew in the l970's. There are also a lot of autopen covers from that time as well. David |
sproctor11
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posted 08-23-2003 04:43 PM
Thank you to everyone that responded here... My dad passed away about 3 years ago so the cover means a little more to me now that he is gone. I probably would never consider parting with it because of this. I just thought that having Buzz's signature would be a way of sprucing it up a bit and I am aware that it is nearly impossible to get the other crew members to sign anything at all. So the amount Buzz would charge wouldn't be important from the resale point of view, just my wallet. Over the years I have concentrated more on other types of memorabilia like patches & photos more than I have covers. In some ways I regret doing so as I have passed up many opportunities to pick up some great ones... and even had them signed by some of the best... It is quite costly to make up for lost time... When he passed, I acquired my Dad's collection and have yet to go through it all. Some of the things I've found so far are covers, most of them unsigned. It would be nice to have some of them signed in honor of dad's small contributions... well anyway, Thanks again to everyone that responded. Steve P. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1744
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-23-2003 10:01 PM
Steve,There are a lot of people involved in Apollo 11 that would be appropriate to sign your Apollo 11 cover, or any Apollo 11 cover, besides Buzz. You should consider Gene Kranz, Chris Kraft, Steve Bales, Charlie Duke (landing Capcom), etc. Their addresses can be found in Jurgen Esders' astronaut address list. Bob Mc. |
sproctor11
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posted 08-23-2003 10:20 PM
Thanks Bob,I hadn't thought of it that way. Most of my photos are signed by the Astros but you are so right that it doesn't have to be that way... There are so many others that contributed much to each flight. Thanks again, Steve P. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2913
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 08-27-2003 07:59 AM
Just wanted to add some background to the original cover posted at the beginning of this topic. Yes, I am very much familiar with it. One of my long-time associates here on Cocoa Beach, FL, produced the orange
lunar-landscape cachet cover for the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Overall, 10,000 (but actually a few more with overruns) of the envelopes were printed as a "Certified-Serialized Cover," but that is another story for another time. Most of the 10,000 covers were postmarked for launch on July 16, 1969, but at different Space Coast area post offices; such as KSC, the Cape and even Merritt Island (the home of KSC and Launch Complex 39). Not known to alot of Apollo 11 cover collectors, however, is that many--and probably hundreds--of the same cachet cover that also features a lunar module about to land on the moon's surface were NEVER numbered in the special area at bottom left that was to indicate a certified or serialized numbered edition. Even some of the covers were numbered OVER 10,000 as many are part of my Apollo 11 philately collection. During the 25th anniversary of man's first lunar landing, I joined up with Tom/CKM in 1994 and redid the lunar landscape artwork for production of a similar cachet cover
in commemorating Apollo 11's 25th anniversary since two new Apollo 11-related postage stamps were first being issued. The original lunar module illustration was replaced with NASA's official Apollo 11 "The Eagle Has Landed; 1969-1994" 25th anniversary logo. Each cover was numbered like before (more than 10,000), but I wanted to change the color from an orange to a light gray; and the artwork of the lunar surface and craters was changed in order to make a more realistic impression. My company still has many of the covers (both types) in stock if anyone is interested. |
sproctor11
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posted 08-27-2003 08:44 AM
Thanks Ken,Over the years we lived in the area, my dad picked up a lot of stuff from Tom... especially patches. Great guy... In fact I still do business with him from time to time. It is a shame about the closing of his retail store. I am interested in the "Certified-Serialized Cover" story as a follow-up to this one... I'm sure it will be a good story knowing Tom... I also interested in one of the NASA 25th anniversary covers... Thanks again for your post, Steve P. |
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