Posts: 19
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posted 11-13-2014 08:37 PM               

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I'm planning to buy a John Young autograph, and I have two options:

1. the Apollo X portrait with a very nice and clean signature and Apollo X CMP in blue sharpie
   
2. The Apollo XVI salute with a less steady signature and Apollo 16 CDR

I like the salute photo more than the portrait but his autograph is a bit shaky, would this bother you? Please help me decide! Thanks.

Forgot to say — price is similar 700-800 USD!

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posted 11-14-2014 10:19 AM            

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I've never really been that interested in adding a John Young to my collection (shoot me!), but I'd be surprised if that first pic (WSS, as CMP of 10) belongs in the same price range as the second (one of the most iconic astronaut images on the surface, also signed as CDR). I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than myself could add more to that.

However, if those images are indeed the same price, I'd take the second one all day long. That's just from the analytic point of view; in terms of which I would rather have in my collection, the jump salute with the nice white signature would definitely be my choice.

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From: Upstate New York, USA
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posted 11-14-2014 12:45 PM               

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While the Apollo jump and salute pose may be more desirable to some, you should also consider signature quality. A prime example versus an old age signature of degraded quality (presuming it is authentic).

Recently I have seen a few examples on eBay that appeared to be shaky "infirm" signatures that are a shadow of his former elegant and flowing signature. I suspect they may have been signed recently and **may** be authentic, but I would want more background before accepting as authentic.

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posted 11-14-2014 12:51 PM               

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Personally (and I too need a John Young), I'd look a little harder for a deal before putting down $700-$800 on one...

I've seen authentics listed from reputable dealers in the $500-$600 range, some even cheaper than that.

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Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
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posted 11-14-2014 06:32 PM               

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As Steve suggested, signature quality is an important consideration to make. Should you ever need to re-sell the photo later on, a nicer quality signature will generally be an easier sell.

I would also consider what your own collecting goals are. Are you just looking for any decent signed photo of John Young... or are you looking to build a set of signed photos that have some consistency? For example, some people will try to collect a set of signed portraits of the astronauts in the white space suits (WSS). Others will try to collect a set of moonwalkers, with images of the astronauts on the lunar surface. Also, do you like being able to see the astronaut's face in the signed image? Or are you fine with the face covered by a visor? It wouldn't hurt to consider those sorts of things before investing in a photo of this value... so you can plan on how you want your collection to develop.

Personally, I'm always more impressed by collections that stick to a theme... instead of collections that are just a random selection of signed images.

A final note is that this particular WSS image is significantly less common than the jumping salute photo. For every one of these particular WSS images I've seen signed (from Apollo 10), there are probably 30-40 signed jumping salute photos. While some will always find the jumping salute photo to be a more desirable image, I often gravitate towards less common images... something that not everyone has in their collection.

Posts: 19
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2014

posted 11-15-2014 10:21 AM               

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Thanks a lot for your opinions. I usually tend to prefer the moon shots — as opposed to portraits. However, it is the somewhat less firm autograph on the salute photo that bothers me. Especially in case I need to re-sell.

This is indeed a recent signature and I have no reason to believe it is not authentic, because I know the seller. However, how do you really prove its authenticity to others in case I want to sell?

I am more and more inclined to get the portrait, just wish I could get a better deal. Is 800 USD overpriced for the portrait photo? Thanks!

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posted 11-24-2014 11:59 AM               

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I have to disagree. I'd put Young at $600 to $700 max. And even $700 is pushing it.

Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $550 to $575 for something signed solely by Young. If you look hard enough, you can find completed crew photos in the $800 range.

Young's signature really isn't that rare. He signed through the mail for a while (granted that was mostly the one photo, but I did hear about exceptions) and did multiple paid signings through Novaspace as recently as 2011.

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posted 11-25-2014 11:43 AM               

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Are they both original NASA lithos, this is something else you may wish to consider?

There is a classic WSS portrait for sale at Gerry Montagues' astronautarchives.com but you will have to enquire for the price or if still available?

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