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  Neil Armstrong index card direct from NASA

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Author Topic:   Neil Armstrong index card direct from NASA
rgarner
Member

Posts: 1193
From: Shepperton, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 07-02-2013 06:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for rgarner   Click Here to Email rgarner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have been approached by someone who claims to have received an autograph from Neil Armstrong that was done directly through NASA - and by that I mean the autograph was written on a plain white index card and sent to this person in a NASA envelope. Was there ever a time when this would have happened in the early days of Apollo 11 (before the days of autopens)?

The autograph looks spot on from what I can tell - but the story is somewhat odd. Has anyone any experience with this type of autograph request?

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-02-2013 06:59 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
For Armstrong, who joined the astronaut corps in 1962, there were no days before autopens — the autopen went into use at the space agency before he arrived.

But that said, not every autograph request sent to NASA was replied to with an autopen. There were authentic responses, too.

I own such an index card and the letter that accompanied it that was signed by Armstrong while he was still with NASA. The card was sent because the original request had been for him to sign a cover, which the letter (written by his secretary) explains he no longer did. The signed card was offered as a replacement. (I purchased the card from a trusted cS member years ago, and have no doubts on its authenticity.)

rgarner
Member

Posts: 1193
From: Shepperton, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 07-02-2013 08:05 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for rgarner   Click Here to Email rgarner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Interesting - I had heard of this happening but never actually seen one before. The chap who got in touch still has it in the original NASA envelope. Out of curiosity Robert, how much did you pay for yours (if you don't mind me asking)?

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-02-2013 08:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by rgarner:
Robert, how much did you pay for yours
To be honest, I really do not recall. It was more than a decade ago.

jimsz
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Posts: 616
From:
Registered: Aug 2006

posted 07-02-2013 08:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for jimsz   Click Here to Email jimsz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
But that said, not every autograph request sent to NASA was replied to with an autopen. There were authentic responses, too.
That's true. The majority of the autographs (they have been examined and verified) I have were received when I was boy directly from NASA. Armstrong included. Also received a nice little collection of 8x10 lithos too!

Brian Bayley
Member

Posts: 32
From: Merseyside UK
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 07-10-2013 04:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Brian Bayley     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sometime in the late 80s my friend sent birthday cards to a hundred celebrities and asked them to sign them for his girlfriend. On her birthday he delivered them all to her as a surprise. I told him to write to Neil Armstrong at "Neil Armstrong's Farm, Ohio." The birthday card which was blank inside, was returned with just his signature in it. It was a big bold signature in black sharpie and not, in my opinion an autopen or print.

I don't know where it is now but someone somewhere has a gem of an item and it is proof that he did at times sign things which look like white cards. I hope this might help.

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