Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-23-2015 05:55 PM               

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Bonhams' Space History Sale in New York features items from the collection of Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean, including the biomedical harness he wore while walking on the moon and a flown package of his favorite meal, spaghetti with meat sauce.

Bidding on the 232 lot auction begins at 10 a.m. EDT on April 21, 2015.

Posts: 2476
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006

Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 04-21-2015 12:23 PM               

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Looks like most of Bean's flown memorabilia failed to sell, together with a whole load of other unsolds.

Some of the reserves were ludicrous, but there again crazy items like Lot 42 - Gordon signed Gemini XI EVA - went for $625, Aldrin signed photos went for $1k and a 16x20 Earthrise signed by Lovell and Borman went for $2,750!

Posts: 292
From: Houston, Tx
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 04-21-2015 12:24 PM               

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I just called Alan and gave him the results.

Other than the watch at $50,000, which included 25%, and a few smaller items Bonhams obviously overestimated (and rightfully so over priced things) but who knows what the reserves were on these items.

There were some crazy prices paid for what I considered junk (items signed by 3 Mercury astronauts!) or some stuff signed by Aldrin but other stuff that I liked went unsold.

Auctions are unpredictable and this one was no exception. Some people do their homework, others don't. Such is life.

Posts: 551
From: London, England
Registered: May 2001

Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 04-21-2015 12:42 PM               

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I've never seen so many unsold flown items in one space auction.

The only reasonable conclusion to draw from this it that the reserves or opening bid levels on the majority of important items in this auction were badly misjudged by Bonhams.

Unsold lots are a waste of time and effort for all involved.

Posts: 551
From: London, England
Registered: May 2001

Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010

Posts: 344
From: Albuquerque, NM USA
Registered: Jul 2003

Posts: 867
From: CA.
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 04-21-2015 11:13 PM               

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quote:

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Originally posted by spaced out:
Unsold lots are a waste of time and effort for all involved.

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+1

Also, there are likely to be some upset people when they find out the images they paid big bucks for were signed by Cunningham. Aside from the one mentioned above, there was also lot 105, a pic of Aldrin on the Moon that was signed by Cunningham. It also had a misleading title. It went (with commission) for over $1,000.

Posts: 344
From: Albuquerque, NM USA
Registered: Jul 2003

Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 04-22-2015 09:30 AM               

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I'm thinking many of the Cunningham-signed items on unrelated mission photos were scooped up by 'newbies' or just plain uninformed 'investors' who think ANY astronaut-signed items are a good deal.

Then again, some items are grossly overpriced for the specific astronaut and the rarity value. A signed Gordon Gemini 11 photo for $600+? I got mine for less than a 1/3 of that - from a fellow cS member. It pays to shop around and do your research. Than again, maybe some people don't have the time or inclination.

Posts: 231
From: Surrey, England
Registered: Aug 2005

posted 05-05-2015 05:16 AM               

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It is regrettable to note the caustic comments regarding the Cunningham signed large formats.

They originate from a presentation of 20 high quality Hassleblad photos presented to Walt Cunningham by Victor Hassleblad at a ceremony in Stockholm in 1972. The presentation was in recognition of the Apollo 7 mission and in particular to Cunningham's role in that flight.

To suggest that the purchaser thought he was bidding on an item signed by Ed White or Dave Scott is puzzling as surely the purchaser would read the description which was quite clear?

Walt signed and inscribed all but the Apollo 11 mission images. These were signed by Buzz Aldrin under the guidance of Robert Pearlman at the time.

It is clear that space memorabilia auctions are commanding much higher prices these days and if a bidder chooses to make a bid,he or she is obviously happy to do so. It is not for others, who obviously see themselves as so called experts, to deride that or to infer some kind of deception.

Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 05-05-2015 10:02 AM               

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You are entitled to your opinion, of course, as are we in the cS community who are longtime space enthusiasts/historians etc. I do not consider myself an 'expert,' certified or otherwise, but I am well-informed in say, space philately and spaceflight publications/ephemera. I'll leave it to others for their opinions, and yes, expert advice in things like autographs, NASA red-number photos etc. One can't know everything in the space collectible field!

As for the misleading Gemini IV photo description; in a word - yes! If you look closely at the header it says 'First American Spacewalkersigned' (all one word as in the online catalog). Then it says below the photo: "Signed and inscribed: 'Ed White...' and 'Walt Cunningham...' " No specific description like 'signed by Walt Cunningham only' and/or a further note that would have alerted people that only one astronaut signed it.

No deception was surely meant, just that when we are dealing with historical events and documents, sometimes a word to the wise or good advice (from people here on cS) is worth it in the long run, to avoid heartache-and an empty wallet.