|
Author
|
Topic: [Aurora] Oct. 2004 auction: Neil Armstrong check
|
fabfivefreddy
Member Posts: 1067
From: Leawood, Kansas USA
Registered: Oct 2003
|
posted 10-03-2004 06:31 PM
   
The Neil Armstrong-signed check sold by Aurora Auctions for $6,000 in their October 2, 2004 auction (lot 361) is an amazing item. I do believe it is the first check signed by him to be sold on the market.  Does anyone know the amount the check was written for? It appears to be for ten dollars, but the scan in the catalog was hard to read. I wonder if it was a bet or wager of some sort. Maybe Armstrong did not believe he would actually fly the mission or something (pure speculation). In any case, what a great item! Congrats to whoever owns it now. |
rjurek349
Member Posts: 1190
From: Northwest Indiana
Registered: Jan 2002
|
posted 10-03-2004 10:02 PM
I agree. A great item... and in all honesty, I kind of expected it to go this high. The signature is wonderful and full. And the key thing for me is that it was written out on launch date. I can't remember right now, but I thought I read somewhere that this was a ritual -- write a check to someone for good luck as you would still "owe them" the money until you got back. In any event, a great item. Congrats to whomever got it. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 10-04-2004 04:25 AM
quote:
Originally posted by rjurek349:
And the key thing for me is that it was written out on launch date.
In my opinion, this is the ONLY aspect that adds any value, but not $6000-worth - with all due respect to the buyer. In time I'm sure more checks will appear on the market and the only thing that will mark this out will be the issue date.As with a lot of items, the context made a big difference to the price, e.g. flown signed Skylab flag - $450; flown flag on SL-1 presented to Deke - $1500. |
mensax
Member Posts: 861
From: Virginia
Registered: Apr 2002
|
posted 10-04-2004 08:43 AM
This is a fascinating item isn't it? I would think that in any other sale it would have made the catalog cover. Okay, with the exception of the one that featured Walt Cunningham's shoes, of course.I'm sure that there must be a great unknown story behind this check. I only hope that it comes out someday. Great points about context Paul. So true. Context and verification add so much value to any item. I also agree with you that the date and context of this check will set it apart from any future checks that might come on to the market. I can't imagine that a canceled check from a local 7-11, that Neil wrote last week, would bring this kind of selling price. But, you just have to wonder, where are those other checks? Why hasn't a single one ever, ever, come onto the market? Or has it? Has anyone in the collecting community ever seen one? If this is the only one that has made itself known in the last 40 years, what's the chance multiple ones will become available in the near future? It would sure be great to be able to ask Neil Armstrong himself about his check writing history. There is one other appeal that this check has to it, at least for me. I know beyond a doubt that it's an authentic Neil Armstrong autograph. The skill level in forgeries today and ever improving ones in the future make all but three of them suspicious to me. Those three being... 1) this one 2) Sieger signed stamps 3) and any piece that Ken, Gerry, or Bob determine to be the authentic (and they won't be around 100 years from now to verify it to future generations). |
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
|
posted 10-04-2004 08:57 AM
I actually think $6000 was a fair price for this. The date is everything on this piece, not to mention that it is authentic. When you consider the thousands that people spend on bogus Armstrongs, this piece is not a bad deal at all. |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
|
posted 10-04-2004 11:38 AM
I'd guess a check made out by Armstrong dated 7/20/69 would probably fetch a higher price, but he was probably busy with other chores that day.  By the way, there are other Armstrong signed items that are certainly authentic, such as the "Naval Aviation" posters, the Paul Calle limited set drawings, and others. (I personally have less faith in the Sieger blocks). |
VCampbell
Member Posts: 83
From: Bell Canyon CA USA
Registered: Oct 2002
|
posted 10-05-2004 10:01 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mensax:
I'm sure that there must be a great unknown story behind this check. I only hope that it comes out someday.
I got the story today — Neil had borrowed $10.40 from Hal Collins and when he handed Collins this check, it was like a "good luck' charm — he told Collins (who is now deceased) "Here's a check for the loan - but don't cash it because I WILL be back"Interesting, huh? |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 10-06-2004 04:07 PM
Regarding the collection of Hal Collins, yes, I was contacted and aware of his collection even before Aurora got some of the material. The signed bank draft by Armstrong, in my opinion, is quite historic in a number of ways. Victoria's story is true and this is the only Armstrong check I know of that pertains to his Apollo era-career as a NASA astronaut; and on top of that, it was written in Neil's hand at crew quarters as he was preparing to command the first manned lunar landing mission in July 1969. For those who collect bank drafts, you can't ask for a better one — and from Neil Armstrong himself — on such a historic occasion; the first human exploration of another world! |
mensax
Member Posts: 861
From: Virginia
Registered: Apr 2002
|
posted 03-06-2005 05:36 PM
It appears that this was a good luck ritual on Apollo 12 too! Check out this check! If your looking for a great Apollo 12 collectible, and you've got some spare change, it's a terrific one-of-a-kind item. I wonder if there was an Apollo 13 check? |
4allmankind
Member Posts: 1043
From: Dallas
Registered: Jan 2004
|
posted 02-20-2016 10:37 AM
An old thread here, but does anyone know if the Hal Collins estate had any launch morning checks other than for Apollo 11 and 12? |
4allmankind
Member Posts: 1043
From: Dallas
Registered: Jan 2004
|
posted 11-17-2018 07:11 AM
Quick bump up. Have any other launch morning checks from Collins’ estate surfaced other than Armstrong and Conrad? |
4allmankind
Member Posts: 1043
From: Dallas
Registered: Jan 2004
|
posted 11-17-2018 07:12 AM
Quick bump up. Have any other launch morning checks from Collins’ estate surfaced other than Armstrong and Conrad? |
advertisement