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Author
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Topic: Apollo 15 Sieger cover (Cardenus Auctions)
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MartinAir
Member Posts: 469
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 08-02-2025 08:37 AM
   
At first glance, this flown Apollo 15 Sieger cover, serial number 5, appears legitimate. However, the NASA serial number 042 on the reverse side indicates that this cover was originally sold via Heritage with serial number 59. That cover also matches the cover no. 5 in all the details, except the erased number 9. What do you think?  
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Axman
Member Posts: 793
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 08-02-2025 09:02 AM
I think you are right. But why? What moron would possibly take a genuine cover and alter it in that way?The only answer I can come up with is that the moron in question thinks a #5 will be worth more than a #59... which converts them from a moron to an imbecile. |
MartinAir
Member Posts: 469
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 08-02-2025 09:07 AM
I think and hope that a copy of the original cover was forged. According to Chris Spain's website the cover with serial number 5 has not been on the market yet. |
Axman
Member Posts: 793
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 08-02-2025 09:36 AM
To produce a forgery in that detail? With actual stamps, and exact replica postmarks?And then to delete one single element - the 9. But then to insert a badly drawn thickened line where the 9 used to be???Sorry, I don't think it's a forgery. I think it's an alteration to a genuine. EDIT. OK, after thinking about it, I see your point. If it is a forgery, it is a masterpiece. Apart from the thickened line. And apart from not altering the NASA number on the back. So I still think it is an altered original. But, as I said, Why? There are only two possible answers. - It is an altered original - in order to potentially increase its desirability and therefore it's value.
- It is a highly sophisticated forgery with two really dumb elements. The forgers' thinking that nobody will notice the inconsistencies.
Has anybody contacted the auction house about this? |
MartinAir
Member Posts: 469
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 08-02-2025 09:51 AM
That is a good question. As far as I know, the signed and notarized certificate was not included either. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3989
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 08-02-2025 10:17 AM
The number and initials at top right on the back-side of the Sieger moon cover was provided by the U.S. government when they were confiscated in 1972. The initials stood for S. Neil Hosenball with number 042.Each Sieger cover should have with it a crew signed certification along with a notary public seal dated in August 1986. The Apollo 15 astronaut crew signed their full names at bottom and with their initials in the far border-right area. Serial No. 042 does not match up with the cover number 5 on the government's records transmittal and receipt by NASA. Based on those documents, Cover number 5 should be serial number 096, but there can be some discrepancies. Was the cover sold as No.5 or by another number, such as 59? UPDATE: As Martin pointed out and after a further examination, I am convinced that Serial No. 042 was indeed Cover No. 59 for this particular Sieger cover. It would most likely appear that someone erased the "9" perhaps in an attempt to lower the numbering sequence in an attempt to make a better sale with such a low number as 5. If the cover could be examined in-person or very close up, it might help to see if a deleted number on the envelope at top left of that area might had been done. This might also help explain why there may had been no certification included since the number might had been tampered with or changed. If so, where is that certification, I hope, not destroyed by its prior owner. That would be an absurd thing to do.
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astrobock
Member Posts: 234
From: WV, USA
Registered: Sep 2006
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posted 08-02-2025 06:24 PM
I am so thankful for the expertise on collectSPACE. This is fascinating! Thank you! |
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