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Author
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Topic: Getting started space collecting from South Africa
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Sam
Member Posts: 68
From: South Africa
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 06-18-2014 02:04 AM
   
I live in Cape Town in South Africa and have always had a fascination with the Apollo space program. Last year I was fortunate enough to meet Charlie Duke and since then, I have had an even greater desire to collect memorabilia from the Apollo and Gemini missions.I'm trying to start a collection but everything is way over my budget from all the auction websites that I've looked at. I'm interested in autographs and flown items specifically but don't have a huge budget. All I have so far is a signed model of the Lunar Module by Dr. Edgar Mitchell and signed pictures from Gene Cernan and Charlie Duke. I'm also in the process of getting Fred Haise's signature from "Visit Infinity Science Centre" in Mississippi. I would ideally like to have a signature from every astronaut of the Apollo program. No one else in South Africa seems to have an interest in space memorabilia so any help would be greatly appreciated in getting myself started. Any other advice on this hobby in general would be greatly appreciated! |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 06-18-2014 07:14 AM
Flown items are obviously relatively expensive. An attractive less expensive alternative is to purchase medallions that contain flown material. You can find a variety of medallions on eBay. I count about 15 of these medallions in my collection and enjoy them. Warning though; once you own some of these you really want to take the next step and... It's only money. |
David C
Member Posts: 1015
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 06-18-2014 08:44 AM
You're certainly not the only Springbok interested in space, I remember meeting a group at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for the 40th anniversary of Apollo 16.Have to agree that flown items are big bucks. On a restricted budget your best bet are "flown metal" medallions and acrylics with tiny bits of mylar/ heat-shield etc. I'd suggest Novaspace for autographs, they don't have everyone, but what they have is good. Their "Astronaut Central" site also does periodic mail-in signings, next up is Jim Lovell around August time. Not the cheapest, but you get your item signed and inscribed exactly as you'd like. |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 06-18-2014 09:04 AM
Welcome to CollectSpace. You might want to keep an eye on the Buy, Sell and Trade thread of this site. I've purchased some really great items from CS'ers at very reasonable prices. Also, sometimes there's items offered for free. Happy collecting! |
Sam
Member Posts: 68
From: South Africa
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 06-18-2014 09:25 AM
Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it. Please keep me informed if any signatures from the Apollo or Gemini missions are up for sale.
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lspooz
Member Posts: 384
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Aug 2012
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posted 06-18-2014 12:06 PM
With your current interests, I'd recommend you: - send a copy of Last Man on the Moon with prepaid return shipping postage to Capt. Cernan for a free one-time autograph (see 'Resources' tab to the left, and look under Astronaut autographs); ditto for one item for John Glenn.
- study collectSPACE - yes, every posting
- more recent newbie advice
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moonnut
Member Posts: 248
From: Andover, MN
Registered: Apr 2013
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posted 06-18-2014 06:26 PM
Hello and welcome to this fun and exciting hobby!! I only have a few suggestions. If you are going to collect signatures, do some research and get to know what to look for. Too many newbies get burned when they start, I think we all may have an experience with that. Knowing what to look for will definitely help. Study what each astronauts autopen (machine-signed signature) looks like. As far as flown, yeah, the medallions are always good. And you will see a lot of small pieces of foil, etc. attached to cards, but make sure they are reputable dealers (Ken Havokatte, Florian Noller, etc.). It's a great hobby. You'll start with one collecting goal, then next thing you know you got 10 more goals. Have Fun!!!! |
Mike Dixon
Member Posts: 1397
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003
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posted 06-19-2014 02:32 AM
If you spread your interests across signed books and other items (covers, etc.) rather than a standard practice of collecting (say) only autographed individual portraits or crew lithos, you'll potentially save yourself a considerable amount of money.That seems to be the direction in which you're headed anyway, but I can only echo the comments made by other members... do your research, educate yourself, grab autopen guides and above all, ask questions. Good luck. |
SpaceyInMN
Member Posts: 355
From: Andover, MN
Registered: Dec 2013
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posted 06-19-2014 11:25 AM
Welcome! I've been collecting autographs for 30 years or so, in a variety of areas. None of them are as exhilarating as obtaining the autograph of an astronaut/cosmonaut. It's a fun field of collecting, and as previously mentioned, as long as you're open to collecting autographs on a variety of media (books, postal covers, index cards, etc.), it doesn't have to "break the bank." Thankfully, I haven't been bitten by the "flown item" bug... yet. |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 06-19-2014 12:52 PM
Spacey...yet is the operative word. I agree with all the posters above. Don't limit yourself to only signed pictures/lithos. To get started books, index cards, and covers are an inexpensive way to collect autographs. As you get more money (or divert it from other uses) you can add the signed lithos. |
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