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  Opinions on Armstrong, Apollo 8 autographs

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Author Topic:   Opinions on Armstrong, Apollo 8 autographs
gareth89
Member

Posts: 550
From: Ireland
Registered: May 2014

posted 03-15-2023 02:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for gareth89   Click Here to Email gareth89     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Can I have your opinions on the following two pieces?

First, this Neil Armstrong signed piece please? I've gone through dozens of examples of autopens, forgeries, etc., but I'm still completely up in the air when it comes to Armstrong signatures. I can't find any definitive matches (I think!). It is definitely not a preprint at least!

Secondly, I was hoping to hear your opinions on this crew signed Apollo 8 cover. I haven't been able to find any autopen matches and the Anders is definitely a bit atypical!

Any input on either would be greatly appreciated.

Ken Havekotte
Member

Posts: 3594
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 03-15-2023 05:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ken Havekotte   Click Here to Email Ken Havekotte     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just my 2-cents, but the Armstrong could be genuine if not a professional copy and the Borman and Lovell are authentic on the Apollo 8 "Orbit Covers" by Ronson" Christmas Eve lunar cover.

The Anders may be genuine, but is certainly atypical in that he may had signed in a different style to "throw off" autograph collectors, therefore I don't think it could be known for certain. I have seen this exact same crew signed cover before, and if I recall, the signature may had been an in-person contact with the Apollo 8 LMP. Might be best to contact Steve Zarelli for a final opinion.

Keep in mind though, if it means anything to the cover's owner, the Orbit cachet cover contains a "Plugged 9" fake cancel strike and is not a legitimate U.S. Postal Service postmark from Cape Canaveral.

gareth89
Member

Posts: 550
From: Ireland
Registered: May 2014

posted 03-15-2023 05:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for gareth89   Click Here to Email gareth89     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you Ken! That's very interesting about the fake cancel strike, I'd never have known. I was thinking (and hoping) that it was one of Anders purposefully atypical signatures and thought I'd test the waters here before sending to Steve!

Was it usual for Armstrong to sign in sharpie at any stage? I was hoping it was maybe a 80's or even 90's signature and hopefully not a forgery!

gareth89
Member

Posts: 550
From: Ireland
Registered: May 2014

posted 03-16-2023 09:07 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for gareth89   Click Here to Email gareth89     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Regarding the Armstrong signed photo: to the best of my knowledge the previous owner stopped collecting around 2003, and this portrait was likely obtained sometime prior to that.

Nanonevol
New Member

Posts: 8
From: Medway, MA
Registered: Mar 2023

posted 03-16-2023 10:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Nanonevol   Click Here to Email Nanonevol     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Does this help? From my Dad, Dave Hoag's collection. I know nothing about authenticating signatures but assume these are genuine.

gareth89
Member

Posts: 550
From: Ireland
Registered: May 2014

posted 03-16-2023 01:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for gareth89   Click Here to Email gareth89     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Wow, what a great selection of autographs! Thanks for sharing this. It’s a brilliant example of a Bill Anders signature on your Dad's piece (great examples of all the autographs!) but the Anders signature? on my cover is atypical in comparison.

kosmo
Member

Posts: 517
From:
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 03-16-2023 06:31 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for kosmo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A very atypical William (Bill) Anders autograph. He does sign Bill Anders, W A Anders, William A Anders and sometimes just Anders. I have never seen a signature like that before, but we are talking about Major General Anders, who doesn't care to sign anyway, so maybe he's just messing with his signature or maybe the signature was put on that part of the cache to help cover for a fake autograph.

I have a few Anders autographs in my collection, none of which look like that one.

gareth89
Member

Posts: 550
From: Ireland
Registered: May 2014

posted 03-16-2023 06:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for gareth89   Click Here to Email gareth89     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I agree with everything you've said kosmos, it's as atypical as it gets from my point of view! The main reason I'm asking about this one is because I'm fairly sure I saw one similar in the past few (5-10) years that was deemed authentic. and because of Anders signing habits it's probably worth a try. 😂

I bought a lot at an auction recently that both the Anders and Armstrong signed items were in alongside many unsigned lithos, so I can't help but wonder!

kosmo
Member

Posts: 517
From:
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 03-16-2023 07:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for kosmo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It would be interesting to see if that signature, because it appears to be in blue ink, could be isolated, and pulled out from that cache to get a better look at it. Maybe a Photoshop process.

Axman
Member

Posts: 12
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023

posted 03-21-2023 10:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Axman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Armstrong signature looks genuine to me. If it were mine I'd definitely submit it for authentication with Zarelli or one of the other main signature authenticators. (Providing, that is, it is as you say not a preprint.)

gareth89
Member

Posts: 550
From: Ireland
Registered: May 2014

posted 03-24-2023 07:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for gareth89   Click Here to Email gareth89     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I’m in the process of having Mr Zarelli do just that for both items but I always like to hear the opinions of the forum! Thanks to all for your input and I’d appreciate more if it’s there, the wealth of this communities knowledge is invaluable!

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