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Author Topic:   Ideas for interesting astronaut inscriptions
schnappsicle
Member

Posts: 396
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Jan 2012

posted 05-03-2012 10:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for schnappsicle   Click Here to Email schnappsicle     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm going to Spacefest in another month. I'll be getting updated autographs from most of the astronauts. I'd like to get some good inscriptions in addition to their signatures.

Is there something cool or interesting or different that I can get Ed Mitchell, Dave Scott, and Alan Bean to add to the photo? I don't recall any noteworthy quotes during their missions, but that's the kind of thing I'm looking for.

I'd also like to see any other cool or interesting inscription you may have in your collection.

Thanks for your input.

jtheoret
Member

Posts: 344
From: Albuquerque, NM USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 05-03-2012 02:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jtheoret   Click Here to Email jtheoret     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Al Bean is great for any inscription - I usually prefer to have him write whatever he wants related to the photo or item, I prefer his words to my own.

Mitchell will inscribe what you ask, but I think its better to give him something to write than leave it up to him - on Mitchell's famous pose with the map I like something like "searching for Cone Crater" and his quote to Fred Haise "Our positions are all in doubt:.

I've never asked Scott to inscribe anything, so I don't know - but check out the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal for transcripts from the mission for good quotes/inscriptions.

schnappsicle
Member

Posts: 396
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Jan 2012

posted 05-03-2012 08:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for schnappsicle   Click Here to Email schnappsicle     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for those suggestions. I have the same Mitchell photo you have. Mine is inscribed "The first lunar caddy" which I really like. I would almost settle for some metaphysical statement from his book, which I haven't read yet. And yes, Bean is very good about taking a suggestion and running with it.

As for Scott, I've been scouring the ALSJ site for years. Unfortunately, I can't find anything during the EVAs that really jumps out at me as being noteworthy or memorable. Scott and Irwin were all business on their mission. I can always settle for his "Man must explore" quote that commemorated his first step. Either that or get him to sign the pan of him working with his arch-nemesis, the drill. I'm sure he'd have a lot to say about that experience, especially since it robbed him of the chance to explore the North Complex.

Last year, I asked Duke to add his comment about Young when John was shooting the Plum Crater pan. It's one of the funniest moments in the history of manned space exploration. Duke seemed embarrassed by the suggestion, so I let him off the hook. He ended up giving me a general "thrill of exploration" inscription, which, although I appreciate it, it really doesn't excite me. This time I'm going to shoot for the Bible verse quoted in the beginning of his book. I also want to get another photo of him with something else though. Maybe like the time he was asking for an extension when they first arrived at Station 10. That was pretty funny too.

Fezman92
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Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted 05-03-2012 09:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fezman92   Click Here to Email Fezman92     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by schnappsicle:
I asked Duke to add his comment about Young when John was shooting the Plum Crater pan. It's one of the funniest moments in the history of manned space exploration.
Where can I find that comment?

schnappsicle
Member

Posts: 396
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Jan 2012

posted 05-04-2012 07:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for schnappsicle   Click Here to Email schnappsicle     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It's even funnier listening to it on the DVD, but here's the transcript from the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal (Station 1 at Plum Crater):

124:03:01 Duke: John, you are just beautiful. That is the most beautiful sight.

124:03:07 Young: What's that?

124:03:08 Duke: You standing there on the rim of that crater.

124:03:09 England: Doggone. I've never heard John described as beautiful.

124:03:11 Young: (Lost under Tony)

124:03:12 Duke: (To John) No. (To Tony) Well, he's not really...Well, actually, he is on this thing; I'll tell you.

garymilgrom
Member

Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 05-04-2012 08:04 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for garymilgrom   Click Here to Email garymilgrom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
With all due respect I don't like these requests.

Is an autograph not enough? Is a personalized autograph "to Gary" not enough? Is a famous spoken line "Houston we have a problem" not enough?

I think I'm beginning to see why some astronauts are fed up with autograph shows and charge high prices to discourage such antics.

I see my autographs as a direct link to the person who participated in the program. I don't think any extra value or emotion is added by these requests.

schnappsicle
Member

Posts: 396
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Jan 2012

posted 05-04-2012 12:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for schnappsicle   Click Here to Email schnappsicle     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You can get an autographed photo anywhere online (name only, with or without mission, date, etc). I've even bought one on EBay inscribed with my name (first and last) on it. That's not the point. What makes an autograph unique is the inscription. I do not like personalized inscriptions becuase I probably won't live foreever. Someday my daughter may want to sell my entire collection. They're worth much more unpersonalized. Yes, I'm also looking at the investment aspect of it.

The reason I'm asking for inscriptions is because I feel that's what makes the autograph unique, different, one of a kind, etc. Sure, every signature is different, but a Buzz Aldrin plain signature is not nearly as interesting or valuable as the one I saw recently where he said something like "Being first isn't always the best." Besides, he must have signed a million "Magnificent Desolation" autographs. While a "famous quote" is ok, it just isn't the same as a non-famous or funny off the wall quote. The reason I asked Duke to write what he said at Plum Crater was because those were the words being spoken while those pictures were being taken. I think that's totally rellevant.

If you like plain autographs, that's your perrogative. I prefer something a little more interesting than that. And no, I don't mind paying for it. The way I look at it, they were severly underpaid when they were flying. They only have a few short years remaining to provide for themselves and their family. I honestly do not mind helping out if I can get a one of a kind autograph in return. That's the least I can do for them after what they did for me and my country.

The fact that I pay more for something I want means you get to pay less for your plain autograph, which makes both of us happy.

garymilgrom
Member

Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 05-04-2012 01:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for garymilgrom   Click Here to Email garymilgrom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
schnappsicle: You make some good points. Good luck with your inscribed autograph collection!

jtheoret
Member

Posts: 344
From: Albuquerque, NM USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 05-04-2012 06:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jtheoret   Click Here to Email jtheoret     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I've always found the astronauts who were willing to sign were happy to talk about and write about their experience or the image or item signed - especially a guy like Bean. I pretty much only collect signed photos and books, so for me inscriptions on a number of different photos tells a story of the mission and men involved.

schnappsicle
Member

Posts: 396
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Jan 2012

posted 05-04-2012 09:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for schnappsicle   Click Here to Email schnappsicle     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I couldn't agree more. The reason I have 60 pictures hanging on my wall is to tell story of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo as well as possible with the photos I have. In addition to inscriptions (when available), I'm also very picky about which photo I get. The few inscriptions I have add detail not found in the photo. Best of all, they add some insight to the personality of the man in the photo, which as you know, was not available to us when they flew their missions.

Only 10 of the 60 pictures hanging on my wall are inscribed. If I buy online, which I often do, I have no choice but to take what they offer. I only ask for an inscription when I get the autograph in person. I'm sorry if I my question or anything else I said offended you, Gary.

Brian Bayley
Member

Posts: 32
From: Merseyside UK
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 05-11-2012 06:43 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Brian Bayley     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I recently got Ed Mitchell to write: "ESP ecially yours, Ed Mitchell"

Simple but different I think.

garymilgrom
Member

Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 05-11-2012 07:54 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for garymilgrom   Click Here to Email garymilgrom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
schnappsicle: No offense at all, I enjoy our difference of opinions. I would love to see your wall of photos - sounds beautiful!

Brian: That's a great inscription from Ed given his background!

mjanovec
Member

Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 05-11-2012 10:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for mjanovec   Click Here to Email mjanovec     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The original poster should be aware that Dave Scott has, in recent years, declined to add any of his quotations to his signatures. So a request for something like "Man must explore..." will most likely be turned down.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to ask...as his policy may have changed again.

All times are CT (US)

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