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Author
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Topic: RR Auction September 2009 auction
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MichaelRR
New Member Posts: 4
From: Amherst, NH, USA
Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 08-11-2009 09:15 AM
   
In our September 2009 auction, which ends on September 16, we are offering fabulous letter jointly signed by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, dated June 23, 1969, sent to a woman in Hawaii, who had apparently sent a suggestion about the astronaut’s message from the lunar surface. The letter responds to her saying, “We do not know at this time what our inclination will be should we be successful in our landing attempt. I certainly hope you will be pleased with whatever message we do have and the impressions that people on earth receive from our efforts.” For anyone wanting a preview of the letter, see our website. I was wondering if anyone had seen any other correspondence from the Apollo 11 astronauts regarding what they were thinking of saying when they landed on the moon. Looking forward to your feedback! ------------------
Michael Nelson
Sr. Catalog Writer
rrauction.com |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 08-11-2009 09:10 PM
Off the initial topic, but as catalog writer, I see your auction page said it was "proven" that Armstrong said "One small step for a man."Not so. Better audio technology applied to better-quality recordings of his words have shown the original analysis to be doubtful at best. I can provide sources if you wish. So I wouldn't be stating "proven" in a catalog, given the choice, especially as it's all somewhat tangential to the item in question. Hope this is helpful. There's probably a thread about all this somewhere on collectSPACE too... |
Jay
Member Posts: 82
From: Bloomington, Illinois, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted 08-11-2009 10:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MichaelRR:
In our September 2009 auction, which ends on September 16, we are offering fabulous letter jointly signed by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, dated June 23, 1969, sent to a woman in Hawaii, who had apparently sent a suggestion about the astronaut’s message from the lunar surface.
Out of curiosity, is this the same letter that was on eBay a couple of weeks ago? If so, I seem to recall it selling for around $3,000. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1746
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-12-2009 07:55 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Jay:
Out of curiosity, is this the same letter that was on eBay a couple of weeks ago? If so, I seem to recall it selling for around $3,000.
Yes, same letter. It sold for $3,810 to a bidder with the eBay User ID of "Andrusier" who appears to have promptly sent it to R&R for resale. I know of at least two serious collectors who bid on it only wanting it for their collections. |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-12-2009 10:42 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Bob M:
I know of at least two serious collectors who bid on it only wanting it for their collections.
Three - I was the top bidder for the last hour or so of the auction (at about $1300). It was going to be the best letter in my autograph collection, astronaut or otherwise. Then in the last five seconds... whoa. Oh well - I'll say that this is the quickest turn-around I've seen, but I can't condemn the practice of finding hidden gems on eBay and other sources, then consigning them to more reputable, better-publicized auctions where they will get much higher bids. It would be personally hypocritical of me, but in a larger sense I just don't think there's anything unfair about it. It takes work to find such items, and the original high bidder is risking his or her money to make the investment. I've lost money on at least one such attempt to build up my "collecting budget" and be able to buy "keepers" (like this letter). But if in anyone's opinion I'm missing something, please let me know. |
MichaelRR
New Member Posts: 4
From: Amherst, NH, USA
Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 08-14-2009 07:28 AM
quote:
Originally posted by FFrench:
Hope this is helpful.
Helpful indeed. Thanks for the assistance with the story on the Armstrong quote. Always nice to get a helping hand from the space community. I have made a modification to the description. Have you seen any other correspondence from Aldrin and/or Armstrong regarding their lunar message? |
NJSPACEFAN
Member Posts: 128
From: Ocala, FL USA
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 08-14-2009 08:22 AM
Yes, an ALS of Armstrong immediately postflight on Apollo 11 correspondence card stating "You ask what my first words on the Moon were, but I think you must have heard or read them in the papers", and a few more lines of appreciation on the correspondence and interest in space. My neighbor secured it by writing him after the flight, and I secured one with different generic content. He eventually sold his and a prominent dealer sold it for $9500. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 08-14-2009 08:25 AM
quote:
Originally posted by MichaelRR:
Helpful indeed. Thanks for the assistance with the story on the Armstrong quote. Always nice to get a helping hand from the space community. I have made a modification to the description.
I'm glad that was helpful to you. |
rickdiii
Member Posts: 105
From: west melbourne, fl
Registered: Aug 2009
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posted 08-23-2009 09:56 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Bob M:
I know of at least two serious collectors who bid on it only wanting it for their collections.
Yes, I saw this, and bid on it, but someone bid over $4,000, and got it for $3,800 and change. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 08-24-2009 11:51 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Bob M:
Yes, same letter. It sold for $3,810 to a bidder with the eBay User ID of "Andrusier" who appears to have promptly sent it to R&R for resale. I know of at least two serious collectors who bid on it only wanting it for their collections.
Of course, it happens the other way too. There are items on A-A right now that were a broken-up lot purchased in the July R & R Auction. I bid on the R & R lot in July, but it went into "10 minute rule" time -- the 10-minute rule was still in effect the next morning when I had to go to work, so I did not place the last bid. Of course, I could have placed a really high max bid if I'd really wanted to ... Dealers buy stuff that they can make a profit on -- it's the American way!  ------------------
John Capobianco
Camden DE |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 08-24-2009 05:42 PM
quote:
Originally posted by capoetc:
Dealers buy stuff that they can make a profit on -- it's the American way!
While I don't disagree that dealers buy and resell stuff they can make a profit on (and it's sometimes frustrating for the average collector), there are often circumstances where legitimate collectors buy lots containing multiple photos... often with the desire to obtain just one or two of the specific photos contained within. While I don't know the specifics of the lot you mentioned on AA, I recently bought a multiple photo/litho lot from an R&R auction because it contained a signed litho I needed to complete one aspect of my collection. As a result I was left with a few remaining signed lithos that I didn't need for my collection...some of which were duplicates, others of which just didn't fit in with my collecting theme. As such, I will likely list those for auction on AA someday in the near future to recover some of my expenses. The way I see it, I will be giving some collectors a second opportunity to pick up some of the lithos they may have wanted from that larger lot... and perhaps even at a cheaper price (per litho) than what I paid for them. I suspect other collectors out there have had to do similar things to get items to fill out their collections. |
A.Pelago
Member Posts: 34
From: Canada
Registered: May 2005
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posted 08-25-2009 08:38 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Bob M:
Yes, same letter. It sold for $3,810 to a bidder with the eBay User ID of "Andrusier" who appears to have promptly sent it to R&R for resale.
Andrusier is a major autograph dealer in London. I have frequently noticed items from his stock being offered through R&R, although generally they're items that I have seen listed on his website first. |
cjh5801
Member Posts: 185
From: Lacey
Registered: Jun 2009
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posted 08-30-2009 10:05 PM
I've noticed that the lots for the current RR Auction are up for view.
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Mercurypgm
Member Posts: 292
From: Houston, Tx
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 09-01-2009 06:37 PM
I have a letter signed by the entire crew dated April of 1969 (I forget the exact date and it's content). I will have to dig it out and refresh this "old forgetful mind". I got it from Walter Burks Autographs and paid about $4,000 some 5+ years ago. It is pristine. My favorite Armstrong signature is in a 1947 yearbook (from a classmate) that has been signed by everyone in the class as well as all the teachers. His name is printed and as far as I know it is one of the earliest Armstrong signatures that has shown up. Has anyone seen an earlier one? Yes? No? He looks so cute. At $5000 it was a steal... in my humble opinion. |
DSeuss5490
Member Posts: 299
From: Columbus, Ohio USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 09-02-2009 03:04 PM
I remember that Apollo 11 letter in Walter Burks catalog, but I think it was more like 10+ years ago o/w I would have bought it. How time flies when you're having fun! |
Michael
Member Posts: 309
From: Brooklyn New York
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 09-17-2009 09:07 AM
$25,682 plus the commission comes out to over $30,000 for this letter! I knew it would go high... but not this high. Anyway, this surpassed the check a few months ago. Is this a record for a letter? |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 09-18-2009 06:56 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Michael:
Is this a record for a letter?
I don't know if it's a record for a signed letter within the space collecting field, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was. Certainly, it points out that content of these letters plays a huge role towards determining the value among the eyes of collectors. And it also points out that the venue in which you sell such an item does make a big difference as well. I can't help but also think this will only encourage more people to scour eBay for "bargains" that can be re-sold for more at reputable auction houses. The consignor of this piece earned over $17k by doing little more than bidding, buying, and consigning this item within a short span of time. |
SpaceSteve
Member Posts: 428
From: San Antonio TX, USA
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 09-19-2009 12:36 AM
It beat by about $1,300, a 1959 letter from Alan Shepard to his parents, that R&R sold for $24,350 (+ buyer's premium) in Nov '06. |
Outerspace
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
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posted 09-19-2009 05:23 AM
Interesting to compare this letter with the Shepard letter -- where Shepard wrote to his parents about the upcoming selection of the first man in space. Both letters discussing an upcoming monumental event in space history. Would be interesting to see what the Shepard letter would sell for now! |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 09-19-2009 11:26 AM
While the Armstrong letter has great content, I would say the Shepard letter is more historic and is ultimately a more interesting document... as it communicates the selection of (what would be) the first American in space into the space program. Indeed, it would be interesting to see if this letter would "perform" better today or not. Or does the appeal of Apollo 11 still rule over everything else? |
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