posted 02-13-2015 12:05 AM               

Here is an original April 1959 NASA "Project Mercury" newsletter, signed at the top by all seven of America's first astronauts alongside their business suit portraits.

They signed in dark blue ballpoint pen with their rare, early formal signatures: "M.S. Carpenter," "Leroy G. Cooper, Jr.," "John H. Glenn, Jr.," "Virgil I. Grissom," "Walter M. Schirra," "Alan B. Shepard, Jr.," and "D. K. Slayton."

(This photo is showing up as rather thin, making the signatures hard to see. If you are interested, I could e-mail you a high-resolution scan so you can get a better idea of what it actually looks like.)

The newsletter came out just days after the Mercury 7 astronauts were introduced to the public on April 9, 1959. It is four pages long, 8" x 10.5", and includes articles and photos on the capsule's structure and how it would go through re-entry and landing.

Some mild toning along the bottom edge of the front page. Contrast between the signatures and the portraits is light to moderate.

The price is $1750, plus $20 for insured Priority Mail shipping. Photos signed by all seven, even with a personalized inscription, sell for double that amount, or even well over double that amount. Another one of these signed newsletters, from Gordon Cooper's collection, sold for $5,185 at auction several years ago. I purchased this one two years ago from RR Auction, so it has passed an examination by Steve Zarelli.

If you absolutely can't make a single full payment but could pay in two monthly installments, please let me know. After a few days, if no one has offered to buy it outright, I'll accept that offer.

A fantastic, vintage signed item from the dawn of manned space flight.