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Author
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Topic: Tracing Robbins medal to astronaut it was issued
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Chuckster01
Member Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-06-2014 02:54 PM
   
I purchased an STS-42 Robbins medallion (no. 14F). Is there any way to trace it to the astronaut who it was issued to? Not much info online. |
tnperri
Member Posts: 452
From: Malvern, Ohio
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 11-06-2014 05:02 PM
You must be the one that outbid me on that one (drats). I bought the other one from STS-56. I knew it was also going to flown. Anyway, I asked the seller and she was selling these for a friend and will be getting back to me hopefully with info on them. The only crew member that was on both flights was Stephen Oswald, so I am guessing these came through him. |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-07-2014 04:55 AM
So glad I get to communicate with the person who got the other medallion. Mind if I ask what the number is on yours? |
tnperri
Member Posts: 452
From: Malvern, Ohio
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 11-07-2014 06:56 AM
4F |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-07-2014 04:37 PM
Okay, I have an issue and see if you agree with my logic: Once you get over the thrill of having a flown Robbins Medallion you have to look at the facts. - these flown medallions where purchased at a price that is low even for a NOT flown item, sold on an eBay auction without even admitting or advertising they where Robbins medallions.
- the low numbers would mean to me that they where most certainly given to crew members for that flight and since you pointed out that Stephen Oswald is the common link of both medallions I do not believe he would sell his flown medallions in this manner.
- even though they where low number and flown they where sold with no indication that they where flown or to whom they where originally awarded to.
- they were sold without the original case and the pristine condition would indicate they where stored in the original case until recently.
So I am trying to find who the original owner is, I am not sure these medallions where obtained in an entirely lawful manner and if they came to me under less then honorable circumstances I would like return these to the rightful owner.
If everything turns out above board I am thrilled to have this awesome piece of space history in my collection. Please give me your feeling on this. |
tnperri
Member Posts: 452
From: Malvern, Ohio
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 11-07-2014 06:24 PM
Well, I will not go down that road until I find out more information. The seller said she was selling for a friend, so she may not be familiar with Robbins medals. She appears to be a reputable dealer and friendly when I asked for more info. |
tnperri
Member Posts: 452
From: Malvern, Ohio
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 11-07-2014 06:32 PM
I suppose we can try contacting Stephen Oswald and see if these were his and whom he may have given them to. But I have no idea how to contact him. |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-07-2014 07:10 PM
I will be attending the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation show at Kennedy Space Center this weekend. I know Andy Allen and I will see if he can give me contact information.I know the dealer who listed the items is MORE than reputable, I just have never been the recipient of good fortune like this so I am skeptical. I will let you know what I find out. |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-09-2014 05:35 AM
I spoke with Andy Allen at the show. He contacted Stephen Oswald and apparently Oswald only has the flown gold medallions. They also told me that Robbins medallions are sold on a first come basis to any astronaut who wants to purchase one so there is no way to ever track who bought what number. It is the advice of Commander Allen: "Enjoy them."I feel much better about this now that I made the effort to do the right thing. Congrats on your piece of AWESOME space memorabilia. |
tnperri
Member Posts: 452
From: Malvern, Ohio
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 11-09-2014 07:57 AM
Thanks for the update. If/when I hear back from the seller I will let you know. Hope you had a good time at the event. |
Mike_The_First
Member Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 11-13-2014 07:32 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Chuckster01:
Please give me your feeling on this.
Estate sales, liquidation sales, presents being sold off, people selling off trunks they inherit as "you get what you get", etc.In those cases, a person who sells the item could sell it for far below the value because they don't know the value. The buyer (or recipient, in the case of a gift) can then turn around and sell it for below market and still make a decent profit. And in selling it below market, they guarantee that it'll likely sell before those priced at market, with the same margins those selling at market are getting. It's also possible that the seller acquired it for whatever reason but still doesn't understand the significance of value of the item they have. A long lost Faberge egg was discovered not too long ago because a guy bought it to sell for scrap. The person that sold it to him did so for roughly $14,000. It happens a lot in the art world — people inherit a collection, sell it off for quick cash, and one of the paintings or frames turns out to be worth five times what the entire collection sold for. People don't always know or care about the significance/value of what they have/what they're selling. That doesn't mean something nefarious is going on — it just means you got a good deal. Besides, in this day and age, you'd have to a moron to fence stolen goods on eBay. Garage sales are untraceable.. eBay is not. |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 11-13-2014 11:31 PM
Never underestimate the number of morons out there. |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 11-14-2014 05:47 AM
There is always the possibility that the person who bought it at the yard sale could have put it on eBay. Anyway I am always happy to make the extra effort to ensure the items in my collection belong there. |
tnperri
Member Posts: 452
From: Malvern, Ohio
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 12-07-2014 11:43 AM
Per seller - Friend purchased these from a nephew of an astronaut. Couldn't remember any names.(?) |
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