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Author
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Topic: Authenticity of Armstrong Apollo 11 launch?
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garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 04-05-2019 03:28 PM
   
What does everyone think about this Armstrong signed launch photo? The seller offers a money back guarantee. The seller said he attained it from from a friend name Ken H... not sure if that is the same as our fellow collectSPACE member. I'm planning on sending it to Steve Zarelli for his professional opinion.  |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 04-05-2019 04:09 PM
According to the seller, the paper is of a textured nature. Will be able to post better photos once it arrives next week. |
J.L
Member Posts: 674
From: Bloomington, Illinois, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted 04-05-2019 05:55 PM
This was from an Apollo litho set sold in the KSC gift shop back in the day. I think there were 8 or 10 lithos in the set. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2914
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 04-05-2019 06:28 PM
Just for the record, I do not recall this particular commercial-produced launch photo
by Neil Armstrong from any of my own collections. I just can't recall, especially with the added "Apollo 11," having been owned by me. What's the name of the seller, when did he acquire it, and else may be known about it? |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 04-05-2019 07:01 PM
Ken, The seller didn't say your name specifically other than his space collector contact'a name was Ken H, a major east coast collector. I made a possible assumption but didn't get the verification. The seller's name is Dave in Reading, PA. I purchased it after a lengthy discussion and agreement of money back guarantee if it doesn't pass mustard (i.e. Steve Z or others).J.L. when you say these were sold in a set at the KSC, are you talking about an unsigned photo (Apollo Launch from Tower) or one that had an appearance of a signature by Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11? If these were massed produced copies with a facsimile of Neil Armstrong's signature, can someone provide a photo of another one? |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 04-05-2019 07:12 PM
I think I found the textured photo set you mention J.L on Worthpoint.It included the tower view of the launch, but its unsigned. |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 04-05-2019 07:17 PM
The textured photo set can also be found here. Again, no facsimile signatures.
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Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2914
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 04-05-2019 08:25 PM
The commercial photo sets referred to were produced by Scarboro Publications in Satellite Beach, FL. The company produced the full color 8x10" photos for all the manned Apollo missions, except the first manned Apollo 7, all the Skylab flights, and Apollo-Soyuz from 1969-75. Each set contained 8 different NASA-selected images and were priced at $2.50 per set back in their day. The space firm also made available to the public Apollo color 35mm slide sets of 20 and later 36 images starting with Apollo 9. They slide sets retailed at $4.95 for the early Apollos and $8.95 for the lunar landing flights. But one of the company's most popular offerings was their well-published "Twenty Years of Space" 208-page book with either a regular edition or a deluxe hard cover edition. I've got a few of the book editions here along with several of the photo set packets, which at the time, were popular Apollo-era Florida Space Coast souvenirs, and mostly available by mail order. Whatever became of Scarboro Publications is a mystery to me. During that same time period, though, Tom Foley of Cape Kennedy Medals had already moved in to the somewhat new space souvenir industry and retail commercial-produced memorabilia in Brevard County, FL. Oh, by the way, Scarboro's Apollo 11 crew portrait did contain printed facsimile signatures of the crewmen at the bottom of the photo's white-area margin. |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 04-05-2019 08:41 PM
Thanks Ken for the information. If you take a look at the two links I was able to find, they appear to show the complete Apollo 11 include the crew photo with the facsimile crew signatures at the bottom. But focusing back on my recent purchase that is enroute to me has what appears to be a legit Neil Armstrong signed launch photo. While this isn't the best photo, I will post better picture and scans once it arrives. |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 04-08-2019 05:31 PM
Okay everyone, the Apollo 11 launch photo with what appears to be a legit Neil Armstrong signature has arrived. Yes, I will be sending this to Steve Zarelli for his professional opinion.Facts about the photo: - The photo does have a textured surface on the picture side and a smooth side on the backside.
- The photo is of a semi heavy card stock, slightly heavier in weight from NASA published lithos.
- The signature in question appears to be of a flat/no gloss as compared to the photo finish.
- There appears to be ink crossings as the pen would pass over another part of the signature, but this is very difficult to see as the ink is not dark in black, but more darker grayer finish.
What does everyone think based on the photos provided here and my basic description of the signature and mission number. Does this look good?Please look at all the photos provide. The photos were taken by my iPhone using its flash assisted by an extra flashlight.  
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garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 04-08-2019 05:32 PM
 
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kosmo
Member Posts: 388
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 04-08-2019 08:54 PM
It doesn't appear to be live ink to me. |
davidcwagner
Member Posts: 799
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 04-09-2019 12:02 AM
Looks good to me. Does not appear to be printed or autopen.The "APOLLO 11" is similar to one in my collection with the same letter formation and the right "1" in "11" longer than the left. |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 04-16-2019 06:45 PM
The results are in and Steve Z gives it a thumbs up!!! Very happy with my recent acquisition. |
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