Posts: 78
From: Scotland
Registered: Oct 2017

posted 01-25-2022 06:01 PM               

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Been offered a Neil Armstrong signed print which has been framed by Novaspace and accompanied by their sticker on the frame plus their certificate of authenticity.

I was wondering whether Armstrong ever actually did a signing event at Novaspace or if these were endorsed by Novaspace or Kim directly through their own knowledge of an independent signing that Armstrong carried out?

Posts: 47758
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-25-2022 06:54 PM               

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The piece you describe sounds like something that Novaspace Galleries framed, authenticated and re-sold (if indeed it originated from Novaspace). Neil Armstrong never took part in a custom (private or public) signing at Novaspace, or at any other venue.

Armstrong did lend his autograph to some art prints, stamp blocks and books, which were then sold to the public (or distributed to members of a particular society), mostly (but not always) in support of museums or historical societies.

Posts: 78
From: Scotland
Registered: Oct 2017

Posts: 4428
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 01-26-2022 04:42 PM               

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Following the tsunami in 2004 I wrote to Armstrong asking if he would consider doing a private signing, perhaps at Novaspace. I pointed out that several reluctant former colleagues had found the closed door Novaspace signing environment convivial.

In so doing he would have raised a large amount of cash for a good cause and at the same time such a signing would have deflated the market value of his autograph at the time. He had gone on record as citing commercialisation of his autograph as perhaps the main reason why he stopped signing.

Alas, Armstrong’s secretary wrote back stating that he was not interested.

Posts: 2275
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005

posted 01-26-2022 05:30 PM               

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I’m not sure doing a signing like that would have deflated the market for Armstrong’s autograph, which has appeal from multiple areas of collectors.

John Young had several signings, charging (if I recall) around $450 and his autograph remained in demand (and still does). Armstrong’s autograph would have been that on steroids.

Posts: 4428
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 01-26-2022 07:09 PM               

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At the time I was attempting to paint a scenario that might make sense to Armstrong's sensibilities. I think in political parlance it could be called "spin".

Your point about Young's signature is noted, but since Armstrong passed an abundance of signed pieces have come to market and the price of his signature for the most part (classic WSS uninscribed portrait litho) with a few notable exceptions, has remained unchanged over the last 10 years.

Heck, in 2004 I remember seeing uninscribed Armstrong WSS lithos on occasion fetching much the same as they do now.