posted 01-19-2025 01:27 PM               

I've been organising and cataloguing it over the holidays, though I have no idea as to the authenticity of the signatures. I purchased different lots over the years but obtained a big collection last year and I've been trying to fill the gaps since. I still have a lot of work to do!

I'm hoping that I might be able to lean on the community to help identify if there are fakes, forgeries or stamped signatures in the collection. I’m also curious as to what kind of value a collection like this might have.

I'm sorry if any of the photos are blurry or difficult to view, I didn't have great lighting when shooting, I can update later in the week. Your knowledge as always is greatly appreciated!

posted 01-20-2025 09:10 AM               

The Kniga Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 covers postmarked Moscow 10.1.64 are guaranteed authentic. Those two as a set are worth about $80.

The Leonov on the 20.10.67 anniversary cover with three stamps is genuine but a little clunky/heavy handed. Worth about $45.

Dealers being what dealers are will want to maximise profits, so if selling as an entire collection you will need to rein in your expectations. But personally I wouldn't accept any offer below $3,500 for the entire lot - and I'd only accept that if I really wanted to get rid in one very very quick shot.

posted 01-20-2025 11:26 AM               

I would define 'value' as what I would be prepared to pay for the item if I wanted to buy it. On that basis (and this is purely my view) I would value the addressed covers, including the postal stationary material, at $10-$15 each. The plain covers at $15-$20, multiple signatures for mission at $25-30, and there were a couple of nice pieces that Axman has already commented on at $40-$60. I also noticed a nice Soyuz 4/5 cover that might go as high as $75.

That would give an overall value of $3,000 tops. On that basis you might want to consider offers around £3,500 (as already noted) but I’m not sure you would get that. $3,000 - $4,000 is what the collection is probably worth, but if a dealer buys it from you for that he makes zero profit and still has to sell it.

posted 01-21-2025 06:37 AM               

It’s great to get your input as I’m not by any means an authority on cosmonauts or the Soviet space program, and it’s great to be able to learn through the collecting process. I’m using Siddiqis ‘Sputnik and the Soviet Space challenge’ as a reference point and the Cosmonaut Autographs Identification Guide.

Value is always on my mind (unfortunately) as I started the hobby as a teenager, writing to as many astronauts as I could. I never really considered the monetary aspects then but as we all know it’s become an expensive hobby and I try to keep my spending equal to my selling (though I think we all splurge on occasion!). With that in mind I try to keep an idea of what my collection is worth for insurance purposes.