posted 11-13-2008 12:22 PM            

Highlights from this auction include a flown page from the Control System Malfunction Procedures from Gemini 5 (lot #75). This page 1 of 5 was signed by command pilot Gordon Cooper, and by pilot Charles Conrad with hand notations by Conrad. A 2008 PSA/DNA certificate of authenticity accompanies this lot.

A 1972 flown LM Lunar Surface checklist is being offered from the Apollo 17 program (lot #230). This double-sided, single page 8-7 & 8-8 was in the possession of Apollo 17 Commander Eugene Cernan, and is accompanied with a 2006 certificate of authenticity from Spaceflori Corporation, headed by Florian Noller. This is a rare opportunity to acquire an actual item flown to the Moon's surface on the last manned lunar mission 36 years ago.

Another featured item is a flown Gemini Brass Flashlight from GT-12 (lot #88). It is a compact, 5"x1" flashlight that was used during the GT-12 mission complete with bulb and lens, as well as a white Velcro patch on one side. Designed for use in the dark and vacuum of space, this flashlight was an important piece of equipment from this flight. Formerly sold as part of the Buzz Aldrin collection in Superior's May 1998 auction.

Additionally, a complete flown Soyuz Control Panel (lot #525) is available for sale. This c. 1980's museum-quality panel is complete with control switches, buttons, digital mission clock, astronavigator, and onboard computer. Overall dimensions are 48"x21"x10". The consignor had a custom Lucite case built which is included.

Other notable items include a flown Meatball patch from GT-12 (lot #89), a flown U.S. flag from Apollo 17 (lot #89), Berkut Spacesuit (lot #529), a Penguin Suit (lot #539), a major group of Shenzou flown covers (lot #615), an Echo I original stamp art (lot #494), Neil Armstrong signed items (lots #136-139), Apollo 11 Crew signed litho (lot #140), and a First Day Cover (lot #142), Award Winning Russian Space Medal Collection (lots #566-583) and much more.

The auction will have a live bidding floor and simulcast bidding on eBay Live Auctions (www.ebayliveauctions.com). Viewing of the lots is available beginning Wednesday, December 17th at Regency-Superior's gallery at 9478 W. Olympic Blvd, 2nd Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Those who would like detailed lot information may contact the gallery at (310) 553-5475.

The entire auction will be available on Regency-Superior's website beginning Tuesday, November 25th for viewing and bidding at www.RegencySuperior.com. A full color catalog is available to all bidders by calling toll-free 1-800-782-0066.

posted 11-15-2008 10:45 AM               

Perhaps Gordon and Alastair can sort out the economy before the 19th December!

posted 11-17-2008 06:26 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Peter Kemp:
Perhaps Gordon and Alastair can sort out the economy before the 19th December!

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posted 11-26-2008 07:50 PM               

1975 Viking Mars Lander Thruster Nozzle (lot 35) Incomplete thrust chamber, definitely not a flight spare since the MR-50's were delivered by Rocket Research as integrated assemblies. Have a complete example of a MR-50 Viking Reaction Control Thruster which is in an "as delivered" to JPL configuration (scroll down to the second artifact discussed on the page)

1960's Gemini Era Microthruster (lot 69) is listed within the Gemini Program Equipment section but has no relation to any of the early manned programs. Looks to be a cold gas thruster (possibly Skylab TACS) but requires additional work to positively ID.

1990s Flown Shuttle Valve (lot 311) I would be stunned if this regulator was installed let alone flown as part of any man rated system; the fasteners (and it appears the valve itself) are non-aerospace grade - looks GSE to me.

posted 12-01-2008 11:46 AM               

Thank you for your comments.

We have pulled Lots # 35, 101, 311 & 144 from the sale & have revised the description of lot # 69. The descriptions of these parts were supplied by the consignor. We mistakenly assumed he was accurate in his descriptions. Our error.

Lot #144 was left in the sale despite mis-givings, since it was from the estate of a protocol officer from NASA. We thought the provenance was enough. Obviously we were wrong & the item has been withdrawn from the sale.

We actually do appreciate your comments and will follow through wherever we can.

Perfection is a goal not often realized.

posted 12-18-2008 12:09 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by LCDR Scott Schneeweis:
Doesnt look like any of the lot descriptions have been updated with corrections...

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posted 12-19-2008 05:09 PM               

I was also shocked and disappointed in the low winnning bid on lot 173 (Apollo 12 crew-signed photo). I won one of these in the October R-S auction for twice the price; and the one today appears to be a better example Someone got an absolute steal on this one!

posted 12-19-2008 07:53 PM               

It was a neat auction indeed.

posted 12-20-2008 07:54 AM               

• 111: Anders crew photo - $150
  
• 230: Apollo 17 lunar surface checklist - $2000
  
• 241: Apollo 17 cover - $100
  
• 287: ASTP training checklist - $160
  
• 489: 27 items: Swigert, Ron Evans, Jim Irwin, Gene Cernan, etc. - $110
  
• 714: Gagarin (long inscription) and Titov - $190

posted 12-20-2008 09:24 AM               

I was especially pleased with Lot 485 - flown and signed SpaceShipOne photo for $230 plus premium - less than half the price of similarly flown covers.

posted 12-20-2008 11:25 AM               

I had missed on a test-article Mercury earth-path orbit indicator back in 2003, but Robert had said to me "Don't worry too much, stuff comes around eventually". So I'm expecting to put a pair of US and Soviet "globes" side by side some day...

I love these because they so obviously come from a spacecraft's instrument panel, and they tie in with the century-old tradition of collecting terrestrial globes.

The item was actually misdescribed in the catalog, identified as a "1980s SOYUZ SPACECRAFT ASTRONAVIGATOR". As I though about calling Regency-Superior to have them correct the mistake, it came to me that this might enhance the desirability of the item, and thus I had a moral issue on my hands...

I sought advice to a member of this panel, who wrote to me:

"The "right" thing in this regard is not black and white. On the one hand, you have identified an error in the catalog and could choose to have it corrected. On the other hand, you are not being paid to correct Regency's errors. Were this an item you weren't interested in buying but saw there was a mistake, would you have tried to have the catalog corrected before the sale for others' benefit?"

My answer to that last question is: Yes, I might very well have done it for other's sake. But after inner wranglings with the question, I decided that as I had educated myself about this market for years, I had the moral right to remain the eventual beneficiary of this knowledge when I needed it. Plus, had I actually increased the value of the item, it is me who in fact would have paid R-S to correct their mistake! So I withheld my piece of information.

Given the fact that these come around so scarcely, and since item 531 came to me at my absolute bidding limit, I have no regrets on this decision.

posted 12-20-2008 04:12 PM               

This plaque was previously sold for $3250.00 in the Aurora Auction in April 2004.

posted 12-21-2008 08:23 PM               

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Kind Regards

Douglas Henry

posted 12-22-2008 03:54 AM               

On checking the sales results via eBayLive after the 19th December it appeared I had been outbid by floor bidders on all four although on three of the items my bids were higher than the hammer price realised.

I had thought about taking this up with Regecny to see what I had done wrong as looking at their terms and conditions I believed I should have won.

This morning however I was surprised to also receive an email from Regency confirming that I was in fact the successful high bidder for three out of the four, missing out on just Lot 403 the signed John Glenn, so I'm pleased.

I think my mistake was trying to use the eBayLive site to check the results.I think this just identifies the winner if they have used that service.

posted 12-22-2008 06:51 AM               

(In 1962, Charles Bassett, Donn Eisele, and David Scott also graduated from that school.)

I also got lot 785, a nice collection of beta cloth patches.

posted 12-22-2008 09:06 AM               

Very pleased as I mainly try to focus on flown items.

I lost a few other flown items because they went higher than my budget.

posted 12-22-2008 02:23 PM            

To his credit, Mr. Lipkin responded very reasonably to the concerns raised, pulling/modifiying the items as needed. Somehow in the press of time, #35 wasn't pulled as planned, and as I had only seen the original descriptions, I bid for soemthing I dearly wanted - and won.

Joy turned to sorrow when I found it wasn't quite as I had understood.

I contacted Regency today and Mr. Lipkin called me back promptly. He apologised for the item not having been pulled as intended, and removed the item from my Invoice. No fuss, no problems

I wish it had been otherwise, but I wanted everyone on this Board to know how much I appreciate their input and help. I also wanted you all to know that Mr. Lipkin and Regency have responded in a completely Professional and reasonable fashion.

Best Wishes to all for a Happy Holiday Season!

posted 12-22-2008 02:26 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by LCDR Scott Schneeweis:
Unless I am missing something item #230 was only a single sheet.

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posted 12-22-2008 03:37 PM               

So from that point of view - it was a steal! (And still these are some of the best documented flown artifacts I have ever seen.)

Merry Christmas
Florian

posted 12-24-2008 08:57 AM               

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Originally posted by spaceflori:
Yep, first prices were below $1000 when I originally offered though the last sold at over $4000 now - particularly after Cernan signed the reminder (he's still doing if presented to him with proper documentation).

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posted 12-24-2008 09:10 AM               

Thanks and please let me know!!