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Author
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Topic: Value of Yuri Gagarin's autograph?
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MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 03-04-2009 12:51 AM
   
I was wondering what would be the value of an authentic Yuri Gagarin autograph? How much would be a good price to pay for a stone cold legit item, such as a Kniga cover? Are there any other Gagarin items that can be deemed authentic, and if so, what is a good price range and availability?Thanks and please post away! |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-04-2009 05:58 AM
"Stone cold legit item" - now there's a challenge! Some would argue that a KNIGA cover is the only guaranteed legit Gagarin item and these seem to go for anywhere between $300 and $600. There is no doubt that there are a large number of Gagarin forgeries out there (though I doubt the scale is anywhere near as large as the Armstrong forgery industry at its peak). Personally, if I'm in any doubt I look for items that have some handwriting on them as well as a signature as I have a couple of signed, inscribed books with good provenance. In fact signed copies of his book "Road to the Stars" are quite readily available (~$300 ) and it appears these were a regularly signed item. However, I HAVE seen forged versions of these - particularly in combination with multiple forged Vostok cosmonaut signatures. If you can find an inscribed Gagarin-only copy of the book signed in ballpoint there is a good chance that it is genuine. At the end of the day a Gagarin-study along the lines of the Armstrong-study would be a useful tool to have. I have no doubt that people underestimate the volume of items that Gagarin actually signed, but a combination of rampant forgeries, difficulty with the cyrillic alphabet and "Russia=bad syndrome" means that it can be very difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff. Paul |
MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 03-04-2009 03:32 PM
Thank you. What I don't understand is how can Neil Armstrong pieces fetch prices in the $1000s when he signed for longer and signed more items than Yuri Gagarin. The Kniga cover being an authentic example (and I am not sure how many there are out there) don't ever command that price...and he was the first man in space!!Anyhow, here are the two Kniga covers I recently obtained for about $400 total. One is Gagarin's and the other is Voskhod 2: Vostok 1:  Voskhod 2:  Was it a good deal?? -R |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 03-04-2009 11:22 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MrSpace86:
Was it a good deal??
If you're happy with your purchase, then it was a good deal. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-05-2009 03:43 AM
quote:
Originally posted by MrSpace86:
What I don't understand is how can Neil Armstrong pieces fetch prices in the $1000s when he signed for longer and signed more items than Yuri Gagarin.
I think there's a simple reason - he was Russian! Each of Russia and the US played up their own achievements without giving much credit to the other side. This rubbed off on the media (including education) and therefore influenced the public - particularly up until the end of the Cold War. By this time space exploration had become relatively "mundane" in the public's eyes, with little perception of the real innovation still taking place. Consequently, even though the balance of achievement was subsequently restored, the generation that had grown up with Mercury-Apollo never really got "into" the early Russian program. I suspect many in the West still think Shepard was the first man in space.Armstrong prices have been living a life of their own for some time now and have been well-discussed elsewhere. $1.5k for an inscribed WSS is IMO ridiculous - especially, as you say, given the volume that he has signed. Interestingly there are far fewer Armstrongs appearing on Ebay than there were 4 or 5 years ago - partly I suspect due to hoarding. I don't think one is intrinsically worth more than the other, but the relativities of the prices are way out of kilter. Paul |
Apollo-Soyuz
Member Posts: 1205
From: Shady Side, Md
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 03-05-2009 06:41 AM
Check out Bob McLeods website. He has a very informative 2 links about Yuri Gagarin and the Kniga covers. It can be found on Collectspace by clicking on 'websites' go to 'Bob McLeod' then click on the 'Yuri Gagarin' links.------------------
John Macco
Space Unit
Shady Side, Md. |
jimsz
Member Posts: 616
From:
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 03-05-2009 07:01 AM
quote:
Originally posted by MrSpace86:
What I don't understand is how can Neil Armstrong pieces fetch prices in the $1000s when he signed for longer and signed more items than Yuri Gagarin. The Kniga cover being an authentic example (and I am not sure how many there are out there) don't ever command that price...and he was the first man in space!!
While I would think Gagarin's autograph should be worth a great deal more to a collector than it is there would be a few reasons in my belief why it is not.Going into space first was and should be a big deal. However, since then nearly 500 people have done so, some of them multiple times. Only 12 have walked on the moon and that has not been repeated in 36 years and won't be for another 10 - 20 years. Putting a man in orbit was not the main goal but a starting point due to Kennedy proclaiming putting a man on the moon and the USSR joining in to make it a race. Armstrong is viewed as the victor. Gagarin while first, was simply one of many hundreds who went into orbit. While impressive 45+ years ago is routine now. |
MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 03-05-2009 09:38 AM
quote:
Originally posted by jimsz:
Armstrong is viewed as the victor. Gagarin while first, was simply one of many hundreds who went into orbit. While impressive 45+ years ago is routine now.
Yes, I guess that makes sense and it goes along with what Paul says too. I still think Orville and Wilbur Wright are historical figures even if millions of people have flown in airplanes since then (and even taken these winged aircraft into space!). I was talking to one of my friends about it yesterday and she said the same thing too regarding the "Gagarin vs Armstrong" popularity/value. I have been on the hunt for an authentic Gagarin for almost a decade now. I ran into Kniga covers before but at insane prices. I always would have liked to purchase the whole set instead of just Gagarin, but this seemed like a good deal (Voskhod 2 had the first spacewalk!). John: Yes, I did check out Bob's website. It is an amazing site. Thank you all for replying. I think I received a good deal... just let me know if you think I was ripped off or something. -R |
medaris
Member Posts: 181
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 03-06-2009 09:07 AM
I'm not persuaded by the argument that, because others have gone in to space, the first flight becomes unimportant. For me, that would suggest that by the time you get to twelve moonwalkers, the first becomes less important. I don't agree with that, but if anyone does, I'd be pleased to buy their Armstrong autographs for the going price of a Gene Cernan autograph!For me, both firsts are important. I suspect that, in a century or so, the first spaceflight might seem a bigger step than the first moonlanding, but I think most people will remain proud to own items connected with the men who made either of these flights. As for the cover - it looks a good buy to me! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-06-2009 09:25 AM
quote:
Originally posted by gliderpilotuk:
I think there's a simple reason - he was Russian!
Have you ever watched a movie where it was hard to care about the individual characters because the film never spent time establishing their personalities?I think the same disservice was done by the Soviet Union by operating their space program under a veil of secrecy. Beginning with the Mercury astronauts, U.S. space explorers were heroes long before they ever flew in space. People tend to desire the autographs of heroes. Yuri Gagarin was a hero, but not until after he returned from space. There was never a chance for the public -- especially those outside the USSR -- to relate to Gagarin as anything more than an abstract character. To use a personal example, even today, I tend to think of the early cosmonauts differently then I do the early astronauts. The relationship I share with them -- and I don't mean through personal encounters but rather my instilled mindset -- is different. Part of that may be chalked up to semi-subconscious patriotism by way of the greater space race narrative, but I think the way in which Gagarin vs. Armstrong (or even Shepard) were marketed to the world has played an important role in the desire for their autographs. |
jimsz
Member Posts: 616
From:
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 03-06-2009 10:51 AM
quote:
Originally posted by medaris:
I'd be pleased to buy their Armstrong autographs
Using that reasoning how about you sell me a Gagarin's autograph for the same cost as the latest mission specialist going into space for the first time! What's that cost, $10? |
MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 03-06-2009 02:21 PM
quote:
Originally posted by jimsz:
Using that reasoning how about you sell me a Gagarin's autograph for the same cost as the latest mission specialist going into space for the first time! What's that cost, $10?
I think what he meant to say is that, the more people go into space, the more the "firsts" should be worth. It was similar to my comparison to the Wright brothers... 1000s of people have flown on an airplane, but the Wright brothers were the first and they have very sought after autographs.I really appreciate it all the feedback though from all of you. Robert summed it all up really well too. If anyone else has anymore information on the Kniga cover sets or on Gagarin, please post away! |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-07-2009 05:53 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Yuri Gagarin was a hero, but not until after he returned from space. There was never a chance for the public -- especially those outside the USSR -- to relate to Gagarin as anything more than an abstract character.
Yes and no. I think the premise about the M7 being "heroes" even before they flew is true and that Gagarin was effectively kept secret until after his flight. However, even if he had been accorded the sort of publicity and pre-flight adulation that the M7 received, my point was that OUR Cold War leaders would have prevented this from reaching the Western public. It just wasn't in their interests to sing the praises of their rival. These factors, combined with the fact that the space autograph collecting market always has been dominated by US participants, have been the major influences on the price differentials IMO. As for Gagarin post-flight, I doubt whether he was seen by Russians as an abstract, remote figure. He received enormous publicity and toured the world much more than any of his Mercury contemporaries - albeit mostly as political propaganda. But, having met four of the first six cosmonauts I'd agree that one relates differently to them (beyond the pure cultural difference). Paul |
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