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Author
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Topic: STS-41C/Challenger: STS-13 "Black Cat" patch
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firebud1
New Member Posts: 3
From: Port Royal, Pa USA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted July 26, 2003 08:35 PM
  
Can anyone tell how many STS-13 black cat patches were produced? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted July 26, 2003 08:38 PM
From spacepatches.info - Apparently, the patch was extremely exclusive, George Nelson has stated that he understood that less than twenty of these patches have been manufactured. Text: Jacques van Oene and Bert Vis, Spaceflight Magazine, March 1999 |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 536
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted August 04, 2003 05:22 PM
We bought ours for $313,13 from Randy Wagner of Eagle One Aerospace in... I believe 1999. Just recently (could be a year ago already) Donnis Willis sold one for $75. Still cannot believe I missed that one! Someone was really lucky. The souvenir version was done by Randy Hunt and has a grey instead of a green background. Also, the portruding part of the Shuttle's path is missing. I feel really sorry for the guy who bought one of these for $80 on eBay, a month ago or so... |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 249
From: High Wycombe, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted July 23, 2011 12:45 PM
Another one of these 20 original STS-13 (STS-41C) shuttle patches will be listed on eBay this coming week.  
I know of only two sales of this patch in the last five years, one on eBay, lot No. 220295325666 sold for $610 with 13 bids from 5 bidders on 19th October 2008. The other was a direct sale from Don Willis on his Lunar Legacies website a year later in October 2009 when it sold for $795. If anyone knows of anymore post it here. Up-date: 3rd November 2011.
The patch shown in the image above has not yet been listed by the seller who sent me this image. I fear it has been sold privately.  |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 536
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted July 23, 2011 01:00 PM
I no longer believe only 20 were produced. I have seen 3 to 5 in the posession of people, and some 5 or so for sale the past 15 years. Then we have the patches for the crew, the one that was on board, patches handed out as a gift to other astronauts and management... |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 249
From: High Wycombe, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted July 23, 2011 01:14 PM
Probably it was a minimum batch of 50 patches made at the time Erik?How ever many it's still a very rare patch. |
benguttery
Member Posts: 497
From: Fort Worth, TX, USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted July 23, 2011 01:35 PM
I guess 50 were made. They are out there. The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation auctioned one a few years ago. I think it was a 1984 Maggots class patch and the STS-13 patch which I think sold for all of $200. See if you think this one is different. The only thing uglier than this patch is its reproduction. UPDATE: I posted a few more images of the STS-13 patch in flickr. |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 249
From: High Wycombe, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted November 03, 2011 12:10 AM
One of these STS-13 'Black Cat' patches has just been listed on eBay, it is part of a presentation piece with a 8"x10" signed photo of Terry J. Hart, an AB Emblem 4" STS-41C mission patch, a 8"x10" launch photo, and a NASA 'Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center' business card. On closer inspection this is one of the original 50 patches, but it has a shorter prominent shuttle vapor trail just above the black cat's head. Now whether this is a variant or part of this promince is missing, (cut off), or folded back, I'm not sure at this stage. According to the description it originated from an estate sale. |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 249
From: High Wycombe, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted November 10, 2011 03:50 AM
This presentation piece finally sold for $380 with 18 bids from 7 bidders.I would of thought is item would of fetched a lot more knowing how rare the STS-13 'Black Cat' patch is, and has sold for in the resent past? But then there was a small piece missing, and we are in a recession. |
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