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Author
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Topic: Jim Lovell's Lake Forest estate sale (Aug 2022)
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49013
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-07-2022 07:07 PM
   
Allie Loukas Estate Sales will be offering the Lake Forest, Illinois estate of Gemini and Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell on Aug. 26 and Aug. 27, 2022. Pictures coming closer to the sale date, truly the most unique and interesting sale I have ever conducted. This is the estate of famed astronaut, Jim Lovell. He was lost in space on the infamous Apollo 13 mission. Tom Hanks played him in the Academy Award winning film "Apollo 13." This is a rare and unique opportunity. Please do not call with questions. I cannot answer them yet. I will have photos when the sale approaches. The Lovells listed their 6,300-square-foot Lake Forest home for sale in July. |
waa49
Member Posts: 160
From: Neu-Isenburg, Germany, Hessen
Registered: Sep 2015
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posted 08-08-2022 03:54 AM
He was "lost in space" on the infamous Apollo 13 mission? |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 2093
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-08-2022 07:57 AM
We all know they were not lost, but they sure were in a big pile of trouble. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 571
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 08-08-2022 09:51 AM
Also, not sure Tom Hanks would appreciate that he is now being used to sell real estate.  Seems like an irrelevant fact to be putting into a real estate sales notice. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49013
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-08-2022 09:56 AM
Just to clarify, this is not a real estate listing (that came earlier, as noted); this is an estate sale of the items inside the house (whether that includes memorabilia from Lovell's career is still be seen). |
David Carey
Member Posts: 955
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-08-2022 12:56 PM
Looks like in-person only, and perhaps more household-related items, but curious to see what will be offered. I've had good luck with Lake Forest. Years ago, Jim Lovell consigned to Koppen's Lake Forest Resale Shop an Apollo 13 Backup Crew presentation and a meaty Distinguished Service plaque to the Apollo 8 crew from the Texas Press Association. Koppen's in turn listed these on eBay where they were ultimately purchased. A nice reminder that interesting astronaut-owned items can show up outside the major space auction circles. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49013
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-13-2022 05:46 PM
Update from Allie Loukas Estate Sales: This is an estate sale at the home of astronaut Jim Lovell. There are a lot of items associated with his career, interesting collectibles, mementos, furniture, bedroom sets, signed books and other books. Please do not call for artifacts, there are no artifacts, nothing that was flown in space. Please be respectful. Thank you. I will post photos as we set up and you can gather a better idea of the available items, please bear with me I appreciate your patience thank you. Numbers will post at 9AM one hour prior to the start of the sale. We will limit the amount of people entering the sale. Wait your turn thank you. No pre-sales! No questions, no calls, no texts. Please do not call, find or email. I will not answer. Closed to calls, emails and any form of contact prior to sale. |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 2056
From: Fairfax, VA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-13-2022 09:32 PM
Sounds like someone was getting a LOT of calls, emails, and texts about this sale.
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49013
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-14-2022 05:57 PM
Another update: We have basically two categories of items: Jim Lovell mementos/collectibles and housewares/furniture.Mementos and collectibles (so far)... - Apollo 13 movie memorabilia
- Apollo 13 foreign copies, Japanese Apollo 13 posters
- many, many signed books. Books signed by the author and some books signed by Jim Lovell. Tons of books!
- many awards owned by Jim Lovell, there really is a mixture of awards that he received throughout his career. Some of these awards are framed and some are crystal.
- Jim Lovell's aviation gear and lots of aviation related memorabilia
- Lunar star charts, many Lunar posters
- crystal decorative box etched with signature
Housewares and furniture (so far)... - Waterford Crystal stemware
- baccarat crystal angel
- Steuben crystal heart
- large Simon Pierce bowl
I will post photos as we set up and you can gather a better idea of the available items. Please bear with me. I appreciate your patience. Thank you. |
rgarner
Member Posts: 1377
From: London, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 08-15-2022 06:16 AM
Are they going to have any online or telephone bidding? I'd ask them, but clearly, they don't want to be contacted... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49013
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-15-2022 09:50 AM
This is a sale, not an auction, so no bidding. It is first come, first served, and generally that means the people who are there in person get first chance and then if there are items left over and if the estate sales representative agrees, then purchases by phone are accepted. It may not be until the day of the sale when the full details are released. |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 2056
From: Fairfax, VA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-15-2022 08:11 PM
A wonderful cousin of mine lives just 20 minutes south of there (she's actually been to that neighborhood) and she and a friend have agreed to be there super early to try to get a few items that will hopefully be pictured on the site a couple of days before the sale. |
MartinAir
Member Posts: 216
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 08-15-2022 08:38 PM
Well, hopefully the estate will not turn into a camping spot.  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49013
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-17-2022 09:49 AM
Photographs of some of the items have begun being added to the estate sale listing, some of which are reproduced below. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49013
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-25-2022 02:54 PM
The sale begins tomorrow and apparently will be an in-person event only. Please respect that I cannot answer your calls, emails or texts. Please come the day of the sale. All of the photos have now been posted to the estate sale listing. |
p51
Member Posts: 1750
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 08-25-2022 03:16 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Please come the day of the sale.
In a way, I respect the laziness of the seller. I've been to a couple of auctions where no locals got anything, as online or phone bidders won everything, no matter how high the locals were willing to bid. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49013
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-25-2022 07:34 PM
This isn't laziness. Many, if not most estate sales are in-person only and first come, first served, especially if they are high profile and are expected to attract a crowd. |
DChudwin
Member Posts: 1121
From: Lincolnshire IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-26-2022 05:50 PM
Interesting first-time experience at an estate sale! Jim and Marilyn Lovell are in the process of selling their beautiful Lake Forest IL house (asking price $3 million, allegedly under contract now). They turned over all kinds of high end furniture, accessories, taxidermy, space and other books, awards, and other memorabilia to a local company for a sale today and tomorrow at the house. I waited almost 1 1/2 hours in line (there were about 65 people in front of me). By the time I entered many of the items I coveted were gone. I was happy to get the following: - Framed 1998 Christmas card on the 30th anniversary of Apollo 8 with faded signature of Marilyn Lovell.
- 2010 wood award to Lovell from the USS Truman on the occasion of the visit of Jim, Neil Armstrong, and Gene Cernan as part of their tour.
- 150th Anniversary mug from the US Naval Academy
- Inscribed copy to Jim of “Riding Rockets” from Mike Mullane inviting him for “a beer or two.” Two of my favorite astronauts and shuttle book.
- NASA lunar poster map
Prices were relatively high, such as $250-500 for Lovell-signed books.I met Barbara Lovell, Darice Lovell, and Massimo Cutuli there (Jim at age 94 was understandably elsewhere.) Some of those at the beginning of the line were professionals who carted out loads of items which will likely end up on eBay. I was satisfied with my haul, which will end up in my study.  
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SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 5137
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-01-2022 10:32 PM
Lots from the sale already up on eBay. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 571
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 09-03-2022 01:58 PM
This is a totally useless lament on my part but there's something that leaves a bad taste in my mouth about certain people racing in to buy collectibles not because they themselves want them but purely for re-sell profit skimming. Pretty much in the category of ticket scalpers.I know, it's the world we live in. |
SkyMan1958
Member Posts: 1228
From: CA.
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 09-03-2022 03:44 PM
Last I checked, while the astronauts may prefer to sell to collectors, they basically want to sell, period. So, if they get the minimum price that they want, they are perfectly happy to sell. While I have never bought items specifically to re-sell, given this is capitalism, the resale buyers also have to price their purchases to be market acceptable, otherwise they will not sell their pieces. I know plenty of collectors who have had to sell pieces at a loss, and it would not surprise me if the re-sellers also end up underwater on some pieces. |
Liembo
Member Posts: 806
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 09-03-2022 09:35 PM
Every estate sale I've been to is 80% people there to buy to resell. There are generalists and niche buyers (MSM furniture, tools, vintage clothing, etc). That's why the organizers ask if you have are a reseller, so they can tax you differently. For you an estate sale might be a chance to snag a collectible where to others, this is their livelihood. |
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