posted 11-23-2006 06:48 AM               

A couple of emails I've had today remind me that it is Thanksgiving for you in the US at the moment and while I was going to save this until I had the item safely back in my hands, I think Thanksgiving is the better time to post this.

Below is a picture of what has come to be known as "The Matte". It is the centre of my collection and my favourite piece.

Those who are represented on the matte are Flown, Backup, or Support Crews and Astronaut Capcoms from the Apollo-Skylab-ASTP programmes

What I love about this piece isn't the amazing set of signatures on it, but the story of how it came to have them because it encapsulates what, for me, is one of the best parts of this hobby.

I first purchased "the matte" from Lunar Legacies in (from memory) 1998 when I was working in the community sector and not on a great salary. Donnis had already been fantastic about helping me set up my initial collection by putting stuff on lay away and time payment, and when this came up with 21 signatures on it he was willing to hold it aside for me for two months while I paid it off — with the NZ$ at 40 cents US it was nearly two months salary worth and I could never have purchased it without his generous patience.

The first additional signatures can via the kindness of Steve Hankow who held onto the matte through 2002 taking it to the UACC shows each year and having guests add signatures to it for me. I had no idea what a big favour this was to me until I finally got to the show last year and saw how run off his feet Steve is every waking moment those events are on — taking the time to have the astronauts sign for me was, I am sure, an effort and I really appreciated Steve's willingness to do this.

The matte was briefly back in New Zealand at the end of 2002 but only for three months when it went over for the first of the signatures added at Novaspace signings. Kim has been incredibly helpful and generous as the matte has bounced form address to address in the US and he never once complained about changes to where it was to be sent. I still remember the first flash of excitement I had when someone emailed ot let me know they had seen Jim Lovell signing th matte on Kim's report of the signing — that is a good memory.

Rocketman - Dan Weston has been the holder of the matte since the 2004 UACC show and the receiver and sender of it as it has gone from signing to signing until last year. His generosity in holding this for me for such a long time to avoid the risk of international shipping, and the multiple trips to the post office to send it off for signings cements him as one of the hobby's really good guys, and a good friend.

Albatron arranged for Al Worden to sign for me, and Michael Orenstein arranged for Buzz Aldrin before he was readily accessible at the UACC shows.

And the last bearer of the matte has been Robert P who has taken it to signings for me, had it carefully stored ready for astronaut visits to Rocket Town, and most recently, stand around event areas to add Mattingly and Haise last year. Robert also kept me in mind during Hurricane Rita as he evacuated the matte along with his own collection when he tried to leave Houston. I finally was reunited with the matte after meeting up with Robert in Houston prior to the UACC this year and his suggestions and advice on aspects of managing the matte have been hugely helpful. Since purchasing it in 1998, it has only actually been in my personal possession for 5 months. It will be nice to have it home.

So what I love about this - other than it being such a neat piece, is that it has connections to so many people from the collecting community who are not just great people in the hobby, but also people who were willing to go out of their way to assist a new collector form the other side of the world. Of the 43 signatures on the piece now, I haven't been the person to ask for a single one of them, every signature is there because of the kindness of someone else who was willing to help, and I want to emphasise in there as well that while some of those I have mentioned are dealers, every one of them went out of their way beyond simply making a commercial transaction (I hope that reads sensibly). When I enjoy this on my wall I will enjoy not just a piece that captures something of the spirit of the Apollo era, but also captures something of the spirit of the community that I continue to enjoy participating in, even from a few miles away.

So here's to you all on Thanksgiving - I hope you have a safe and happy holiday, and Robert, Dan, Donnis, Steve, Michael, Kim, Al - I thank you!

Cheers

posted 11-23-2006 08:48 AM               

I counted 9 moonwalkers (no Conrad, Irwin, or Armstrong) -- that is an impressive feat in itself.

I am sure any collector would be proud to display such a piece, so thanks for sharing it with us!

posted 11-23-2006 06:17 PM               

Great piece and story. It reminds us that this hobby is not about the things but about the people. I for one an very thankful for the great folks I have met through collectSPACE. I wish all of you a wonderful holiday season.