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  Your bargain space autograph of the year? (Page 1)

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Author Topic:   Your bargain space autograph of the year?
machbusterman
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Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004

posted 10-11-2008 03:47 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for machbusterman   Click Here to Email machbusterman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What was your bargain space-related autograph acquired this year?

Mine is the one below of famed aviatrix Jacqueline Cochran pictured with the F-104.

On June 1, 1961, Jacqueline Cochran flying the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, claimed her third jet speed record in less than a month when she flew the difficult Edwards 100 Kilometer circular course at 1,303.241 mph, bettering the existing women's record of 1,266 mph held by the well-known French Aviatrix Jacqueline Auriol. Miss Cochran's first record flight in series was made on May 11 over a 15-kilometer straightaway course in which she attained a speed of 1,429.297 mph. This speed was over 155 mph faster than her own previous record and the fastest speed ever attained by a woman pilot. The third record she claimed was the 500-kilometer record with a speed of 1,127.394 mph.

Jackie Cochran's signature is pretty rare full-stop but on a signed photo is even harder to come by so to find one under $27 was just incredible.

spaced out
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Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 10-11-2008 07:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaced out   Click Here to Email spaced out     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I don't really go for many autographs these days but I did acquire a great set of covers the other day that I've added to the Miscellaneous Items section of my AstroGallery mini-site.

These were covers signed in early 1967 by Group 5 astronauts as they went in pairs to the Ellyson Field Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida for two weeks of helicopter training. This was intended to familiarize them with the behaviour of the LEM.

The covers are signed by:

  • Brand and Haise
  • Mitchell and Worden
  • Givens and Mattingly
  • Duke and Irwin
  • and the last one by Roosa (an Autopen)
The Ed Givens cover is postmarked just two months before his tragic accident.

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

posted 10-11-2008 11:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for mjanovec   Click Here to Email mjanovec     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Derek got a true rarity for an outstanding price! I'll take that over a Yeager signature any day of the week.

SpaceSteve
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Posts: 428
From: San Antonio TX, USA
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 10-11-2008 02:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceSteve   Click Here to Email SpaceSteve     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's my Jacqueline Cochran photo. I picked it up in 2003 for $130... still a good deal in my opinion.

Mike Dixon
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Posts: 1397
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003

posted 10-11-2008 04:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike Dixon   Click Here to Email Mike Dixon     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks to a cSer who took delivery on my behalf as the eBay seller wouldn't ship to Australia, a complete hand signed and undedicated STS-41C... a $12 "buy it now" steal.

Rick Mulheirn
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Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 10-13-2008 02:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rick Mulheirn   Click Here to Email Rick Mulheirn     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Bargain autographs of the year would have to be the two super signed items from Fred Haise during his visit to Pontefract last week.

Not only because they were free but because of the spirit in which they were given...

Top man Fred!

albatron
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Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 10-14-2008 03:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In keeping with the theme of the post, and XP-86 discussion, here is my bargain autograph. It's the first one in this album.

Ken Chilstrom's kneeboard from his XP-86 test flights. Free for nothing, he gave it to me (along with some other stuff) just before he moved.

davidcwagner
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Posts: 798
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 10-17-2008 12:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for davidcwagner   Click Here to Email davidcwagner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Three eBay items:
  • $0.99 Space Pioneers Patch signed by Alan Bean 170270258780

  • $10.50 Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper autographed Space Pioneers Patch
    170270263196

  • Wernher Von Braun autographed Book dated March 3rd 1967 History of Rocketry and Space Travel 1967 - Very Rare! This was overpriced at $203.52

Rob Sumowski
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Posts: 466
From: Macon, Georgia
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 10-17-2008 08:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rob Sumowski   Click Here to Email Rob Sumowski     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Collins signed 1st Edition of Carrying the Fire. $3 at the local Friends of the Library used book sale.

machbusterman
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Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004

posted 10-18-2008 02:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for machbusterman   Click Here to Email machbusterman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That one takes some beating Rob!!

Aztecdoug
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Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 10-18-2008 11:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Aztecdoug   Click Here to Email Aztecdoug     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My last great find was a Mike Collins signed copy of Mission to Mars for a similar $3 from a small bookstore. That was over a year ago though and may not qualify here... but I still cherish the deal!

generallou
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Posts: 114
From: T H, Indiana
Registered: Jun 2005

posted 05-16-2009 06:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for generallou   Click Here to Email generallou     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My newest bargain was the book I got this morning a signed first edition of Jerry Linenger "Off The Planet". I couldn't believe it for just $0.60! It pays to go to those library book sales!

AstroAutos
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Posts: 803
From: Co. Monaghan, Republic of Ireland
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 05-16-2009 06:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for AstroAutos   Click Here to Email AstroAutos     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Probably the best bargain I ever got were the following 7 covers for a total of $250 which I think was a bargain!
  • Apollo 16 cover signed by Duke
  • Apollo 14 cover signed by Shepard
    and Mitchell
  • Apollo 9 cover signed by McDivitt and Schweickart
  • Gemini 11 crew signed cover signed by Conrad and Gordon
  • Skylab cover signed by Bean
  • Apollo 15 cover signed by Worden
  • Apollo 11 cover signed by 3 Capcoms (Duke, Worden and Ron Evans)
This is a great thread -- more people should contribute -- I'm interested in hearing your bargains!

davidcwagner
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Posts: 798
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 05-16-2009 08:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for davidcwagner   Click Here to Email davidcwagner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
  • A signed Alexey Leonov with very bold inscription: "To Igor Alexanderovich Smelgin with deep respect and many thanks! Leonov. March 24, 1972" - $23.99

  • For $2.99 including shipping, a James Lovell signed photo congratulating shipyard workers on the launch off the USS American Astronaut. I can find no record of this ship on Google. Any advice or info is welcome.

  • For FREE, at a 2001 Space conference, Buzz Aldrin signed three items including one which was signed by Armstrong. Buzz added Apollo 11 LMP. Gemini 12 EVA.

stsmithva
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Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 05-16-2009 08:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for stsmithva   Click Here to Email stsmithva     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
David, what is the exact wording on the Lovell photo? Maybe he was making a play on words- that they were somehow making a contribution to the space program, and had therefore helped launch American astronauts into space.

davidcwagner
Member

Posts: 798
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 05-17-2009 12:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for davidcwagner   Click Here to Email davidcwagner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I will have to look for the photo for the exact words but the photo showed the ship with the name "American Astronaut" on it. It looked like a NASA tracking ship but I could not find any record of a ship with the name "American Astronaut". It is a puzzle.

the_tartanterror
unregistered
posted 06-29-2009 07:38 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My bargain cost me a bottle of whisky! Its a one of a kind multi-signed Mig cover, signed by the top Mig test pilots of the day, most of whom are now deceased.

contra
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Posts: 318
From: Kiel, Germany
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 11-25-2009 04:38 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for contra   Click Here to Email contra     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My bargain autograph was the Conrad signed photo shown below. It is my second copy of this photo and for the first one a paid around $400. Last time I saw it on an auction it went for around $1000 if I remember correctly. I got it for $215 this time. Top bargain I think.

Paul23
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Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008

posted 11-25-2009 06:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Paul23   Click Here to Email Paul23     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks to a thread on this site I got an Isle of Man postal cover celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 signed by Al Bean for £20. The stamps on the cover were all his artwork so was quite a nice piece for the money, especially as it came from a Government type source.

That said in bargain terms compared to some of the prices people have paid for things it doesn't seem as cheap now!

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

posted 11-25-2009 09:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for garymilgrom   Click Here to Email garymilgrom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Not autographed but my favorite inexpensive mementos are the launch placards you get from KSC. These are mounted in my garage so I see them when pulling up after work. They're a good way to remember how lucky I am after a hard day at work.

Tykeanaut
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Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008

posted 11-25-2009 10:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tykeanaut   Click Here to Email Tykeanaut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Not recently, but only a few years ago - Charlie Duke (two for £10 each, in person) and Buzz Aldrin (two for £10 each in person at a book signing in the UK)

ilbasso
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Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 11-25-2009 11:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ilbasso   Click Here to Email ilbasso     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm the current holder of the much-traded "Buzz Aldrin signing warm-up" scrap of paper, that his daughter is reported to have pulled from a trashcan before Buzz began a signing in 1969.

If you used Buzz's current charge for his autograph, these 7 signatures would cost you $2450. I bought the piece for significantly less than that!!

kosmo
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Posts: 388
From:
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 11-26-2009 09:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for kosmo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm pretty happy with a just recently acquired vintage signed litho of John Glenn, plus a Friendship 7 booklet and letter, all for $60. To me the signed photo of John Glenn alone is worth that!

davidcwagner
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Posts: 798
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 11-26-2009 01:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for davidcwagner   Click Here to Email davidcwagner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The bargain autograph was Mr John Glenn, who still signs through the mail. He graciously signed a portrait by David K. Stone.

Artwork Year: 1980
Image Size: 21.75 by 18 inches
Overall Size: 25.625 by 22.625 inches
Medium: Oil on Masonite

Mr. Glenn wrote: "John Glenn Friendship 7, STS-95" along the bottom margin of the painting. An inspiring painting of a true American hero and patriot.

The total cost was $70 there and back via insured Priority mail for the very large package via the US Post Office. The turn around time was less than three weeks.

Daugherty
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Posts: 11
From: Romance, AR, USA
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 12-10-2009 08:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Daugherty   Click Here to Email Daugherty     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Although not especially rare I sent Fred Haise of Apollo 13 2-8x10s of his ALT 1 crew and the return of Apollo 13 (with the three open chutes in the gray sky). He returned both signed with very gracious inscriptions PLUS included a vintage WSS photo of himself - all for free!

AJ
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Posts: 511
From: Plattsburgh, NY, United States
Registered: Feb 2009

posted 12-11-2009 11:05 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for AJ   Click Here to Email AJ     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Earlier this year, I purchased a really neat item from farthestreaches.com: Walt Cunningham's 1960's Rollei 35 camera. Aside from being a neat collectible, it's also a great working camera. I showed it to Walt at the ASF show and he was delighted to see it again, so much so that he teased that he might slip it into his pocket and take it home! Awesomely, walt offered to and did indeed sign the back of the leather camera case, in silver sharpie, for free. It looks great and the fun I had chatting with Walt and Dot was the best part.

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

posted 12-12-2009 07:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mjanovec   Click Here to Email mjanovec     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Daugherty:
He returned both signed with very gracious inscriptions PLUS included a vintage WSS photo of himself - all for free!
Congratulations on your success. However, you may wish to keep these types of successes off of public forums, because the end result is that the astronaut's mailbox suddenly gets swamped with new requests...something that they probably didn't want to happen when they signed for you.

I realize you may not have known that, since you're new here. Just keep that in mind in the future...for the sake of the astronaut.

Again, congratulations on your success!

Daugherty
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Posts: 11
From: Romance, AR, USA
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 12-14-2009 07:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Daugherty   Click Here to Email Daugherty     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
Congratulations on your success. However, you may wish to keep these types of successes off of public forums, because the end result is that the astronaut's mailbox suddenly gets swamped with new requests...
You are right and I apologize.

PerryM
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Posts: 71
From: Temple, TX USA
Registered: Nov 2009

posted 01-02-2010 02:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for PerryM   Click Here to Email PerryM     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My best autograph came with two Alan Bean prints. I had been looking for several months for one of the prints and found a gallery selling it. The gallery informed me the sell could not find it but he would call Alan and see what he could do. Calling me back shortly he said that he could get the print directly from Alan. There was an other print I liked as well. They were both artist proofs one was 1/60 and the information cards had been signed by Alan with the date 12/25/2009. On top of that they were sent directly to me from Alan's home in Houston. Alan had even filled out the shipping slip. You can't get much better than that.

Philip
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Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 01-04-2010 10:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well, although we know Buzz Aldrin's fees for autographing and completing items, one can find signed copies of his books for children "Look to the Stars" and "Reaching for the Moon" for about US $50.

FFrench
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Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 02-12-2010 04:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The much-revered Wahrenbrocks second-hand bookstore has finally closed in San Diego, and they are clearing out their three floors of books. Every hardback is a dollar, and people are purchasing boxes and boxes. I went down at lunchtime, and for $1 picked up a lengthily inscribed hardback copy of Jim Irwin's "To Rule The Night."

JasonB
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Posts: 1091
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 12-19-2011 12:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonB   Click Here to Email JasonB     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I enjoyed reading this thread which I just found on here. Anyone else have great bargains they found this year?

I got a Shepard on the Moon litho also signed by Mitchell and unpersonalized for $171. I also picked up an unpersonalized Shepard WSS litho for $85. Those are probably my two for the year.

Hart Sastrowardoyo
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Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 12-19-2011 01:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hart Sastrowardoyo   Click Here to Email Hart Sastrowardoyo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Charles Brady on a 11x14 shuttle landing (not of STS-78) photo, signed on the 16x20 mat: $25.

crash
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Posts: 318
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 12-19-2011 04:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for crash   Click Here to Email crash     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I purchased a second-hand copy of Schirra's Space for $5 and was mighty pleased when it turned up. First edition and nicely signed by Wally Schirra himself.

garyd2831
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Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009

posted 12-19-2011 05:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for garyd2831   Click Here to Email garyd2831     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My bargain is more of a gift. A good friend of mine sent me the other day a Christmas card and in that card was an index card size copy of the Space Treaty signed by the entire Apollo 8 crew (yes, even Anders who wrote Apollo 8 under his signature)...that was a bargain if there ever was one!

fredtrav
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Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010

posted 12-19-2011 05:12 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fredtrav   Click Here to Email fredtrav     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A 1st/1st beautiful copy of Return to the Moon signed by Harrison Schmitt for $10.

The Fastest Man Alive signed by Frank Everest for $7.50

A Neil Armstrong WSS inscribed for $452. signature verified by several on this forum.

astrobock
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Posts: 138
From: WV, USA
Registered: Sep 2006

posted 12-19-2011 07:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for astrobock   Click Here to Email astrobock     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
At a recent estate auction I purchased a paper bag of historical (my church) documentation for $20. I didn't know until I got home that in the bottom of that bag was also a signed copy of Al Worden's book Hello Earth! That was a really nice surprise.

413 is in
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Posts: 628
From: Alexandria, VA USA
Registered: May 2006

posted 12-19-2011 11:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 413 is in   Click Here to Email 413 is in     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I purchased a signed copy of Bill Pogue's celestial mechanics textbook that he used while in grad school in 1959. Upon receiving the item, I was pleasantly surprised to find a double-sided page of his original class notes tucked away in the back of the book. A nice freebie for sure!

MikeSpace
unregistered
posted 12-20-2011 01:07 AM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Long story short: I literally ran out of money at the ASF AAMS. I had some pieces I really wanted Alan Bean to sign, so I mailed him an intro letter with the story, and could he sign the items, at his fee, if I mailed them.

Two days later a voicemail from Alan Bean saying go ahead and mail the stuff in, and include the pen.

I mail the items, one a NASA Meatball beta already signed by eight Apollo era astronauts, with a personal check. I'd read horror stories of lost signed items in the mail [not Bean], but said what the heck...

Six days later, items returned signed in my mailbox. He didn't even wait for the check to clear.

Paid full price, but to get the items back, and that quick, and a voicemail from Alan Bean? A huge bargain for me.

liftoff1
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Posts: 235
From: Cumberland, Wisconsin
Registered: Aug 2001

posted 12-20-2011 07:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for liftoff1   Click Here to Email liftoff1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Found this for $15.25...


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