posted 04-01-2007 12:52 AM               

Here’s the email I got:

--------------------------------

“Let me introduce myself. I am xxxxxxxx, and own a pedicure shop in the town where Neil Armstrong lives. Every month, Neil comes in for a pedicure and foot massage. Over the years, we’ve built up a friendly relationship, perhaps in part due to a mutual admiration for our respective careers. Knowing his respect for privacy, I’ve held off asking him to sign anything – it was not until after I swore a vow of secrecy about his chronic athlete’s foot condition that he offered to sign an item for me.

Neil was in a particularly good mood that day, and was quite jovial as he signed the Apollo 11 crew piece that I brought him. He even wrote “MIKE - CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR – COLLINS”, and “BUZZ – SHOULD'VE CALLED SHOTGUN - ALDRIN” beside Buzz (the only weird part was when he frowned and muttered “This is for not taking a photo” as he drew devil’s horns on Buzz – I’m not sure what that was all about…). He completed the piece with a beautiful signature, and a “TO THE MOON!!!” flourish that I feel sums up the exuberance and excitement of the race to the moon.

But that is not all! Neil graciously gave me some of his toenail clippings, and I present them to you as the ULTIMATE MOONWALKER COLLECTIBLE!

Just think, the very toenails that raked the dust of the Sea Of Tranquility can be yours!!!

There are many “collectors” out there who wouldn’t think twice of cutting up these cuticles into tiny fragments and encasing them in lucite – destroying the completeness of these items just to make some extra profit. Frankly, these dealers make me more than a little angry. For me, an item like this should be kept intact, and be able to be touched, smelled and tasted by all (for the record, they smell a little like gunpowder, and taste like athlete’s foot cream).

You may have a question as to the authenticity of these toenails. Rest assured, I will supply a COA that clearly indicates in a bold, authoritative font, that they are indeed genuine. And I am also willing to supply the toenail clipper, which as you can see in the photo, clearly matches the clippings. I’m willing to bet you will not see equivalent provenance with any other Armstrong items on the market right now.

Please respond to this once-in-a-lifetime offer by the end of the day today – 4/1 – as I don’t want the public to get wind of this amazing artifact quite yet. Remember that the fine gentlemen of Apollo 11 are getting on in years, and may not be with us much longer.

Autograph ink may fade, Neil’s footprints on the moon may blow away with the wind, but these cuticles will be a source of awe and wonderment for generations to come.

---------------------

What do you guys think? To be honest, I’m not sure how to go about valuing something so unique. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

posted 04-01-2007 01:11 AM               

------------------
Scott Schneeweis

posted 04-01-2007 01:38 PM               

To think we were worried what Neil may have brought back from the Moon.

posted 04-02-2007 07:21 AM               

Those ARE some nasty toenails though, ewwww!

posted 04-02-2007 06:00 PM               

Well done!