Topic: [RR] NASA Collection of Leon Ford (June 2015)
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-29-2015 06:35 PM
On June 25, 2015, RR Auction will hold a live auction offering the late Leon Ford's NASA collection. This special auction will include a pre-live bidding period from June 18 to 24.
posted 04-29-2015 10:34 PM
What a collection!! I'm sure a lot of money will be changing hands is this auction. I'd have to sell my house to get in on this one. Then i wouldn't have anywhere to put them in my cardboard box i'd be living in. Good luck to those of you with the deep pockets!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-08-2015 08:09 PM
RR Auction video release
NASA Collection of Leon Ford up for sale at RR Auction
RR Auction is proud to present the internationally renowned space collection of Leon Ford during a live auction event in June.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-08-2015 08:19 PM
On June 24, RR Auction will host a fundraiser in Boston benefiting the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
Leon had a love for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and LSU (Louisiana State University). For months, possibly years, Leon was asking for LSU to be considered for as an Astronaut Scholarship partnering university. As a promise and commitment to Leon, ASF's executive director began working with LSU to begin the screening process.
Unfortunately, Leon passed away before the scholarship could be awarded. In 2015, LSU will have its' first Astronaut Scholar awarded.
ASF has asked for the support of RR Auction and others attending the fundraiser to honor Leon's legacy through supporting the first scholarship at LSU to be done in Leon Ford's name. A scholarship is $10,000.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-27-2015 08:24 PM
The Shreveport Times profiles Leon and the upcoming auction.
Almost a year after his untimely death, Leon Ford's passion for space will help others.
Items gleaned from astronauts, NASA engineers and others involved in the nation's quest to land on the moon and explore the heavens, collected by the Haughton man who died in August, will be auctioned in late June in Boston. Proceeds will benefit his family and the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
More than 100 artifacts from the estate of one of the first significant space memorabilia collectors will be auctioned Thursday (June 25) in Boston.
The sale, organized by RR Auction, features a selection of the stand-out pieces curated by Leon Ford, a commercial photographer whose passion for space exploration led him to befriend other collectors and astronauts alike. Ford died unexpectedly of a heart attack in August 2014 at age 53.
"He loved the astronauts and he loved collecting materials that had flown," said Bobby Livingston, RR Auction's vice president, in a video about Ford. "He was a completist. He had one of everything. When we went through his files, he had every mission, every photo, every astronaut."
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-25-2015 01:35 PM
Some hammer price highlights so far:
5012 - Mercury and Gemini Astronauts Signed Display - $27,000
5024 - Lunar Planning Chart Signed by Six Moonwalkers - $19,000
5031 - Apollo LM Crew Umbilical Assembly - $15,000
5042 - Gene Cernan’s Apollo 10 Flown Map - $14,000
5047 - Apollo 11 Signed Lunar Map - $12,000
5048 - Buzz Aldrin’s Apollo 11 Flown PPK - $40,000
5053 - Richard Gordon’s Apollo 12 Oversized Flown Flag - $35,000
5056 - Charles Conrad’s Apollo 12 Lunar Surface-worn Backpack Strap - $50,000
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-25-2015 02:32 PM
Wrapping up the sale, additional hammer price highlights:
5064 - Tom Stafford's Apollo 12 Flown Robbins Medal - $12,543
5075 - Edgar Mitchell's Apollo 14 Flown Robbins Medal - $13,000
5079 - Al Worden's Apollo 15 Flown Flag Patch - $22,000
5090 - Charlie Duke's Apollo 16 Flown Robbins Medal - $17,000
5104 - Charles Conrad's Skylab 2 Training Suit - $10,000
5038 - Jim McDivitt's Apollo 9 Flown Tissue Dispenser Assembly
5054 - Richard Gordon's Apollo 12 Flown Lunar Map
5055 - Alan Bean's Apollo 12 Training Suit
5062 - Apollo 12 Flown Checklist
5082 - Al Worden's Oversized Apollo 15 Splashdown Flown Flag
5114 - Paul Weitz's First Challenger Presentation Key
Larry McGlynn Member
Posts: 1255 From: Boston, MA Registered: Jul 2003
posted 06-25-2015 09:34 PM
I was at the fundraiser last night and at today's auction.
I am hoping that, together, the space community can raise the money to provide an LSU student with an Astronaut Scholarship Foundation scholarship in Leon's name. That was his desire prior to his passing.
LateApex Member
Posts: 44 From: Chicago Registered: Oct 2012
posted 06-26-2015 08:46 AM
Agreed Larry. What a great collection and honorable use of the equity.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-26-2015 08:48 AM
Maybe the ASF can set up a GoFundMe-type donation page so people can both easily donate and see the progress being made to a full scholarship.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-26-2015 10:41 AM
RR Auction release
NASA Collection of Leon Ford Auctioned For $678,983
The internationally renowned space collection of Leon Ford sold for $678,983 according to Boston, MA based RR Auction.
The live event featured more than 100 premier items from Ford's collection led by Charles Conrad's Apollo 12 Lunar Surface-worn Backpack Strap that sold for $62,500. The rare backpack strap from Conrad's Personal Life Support System (PLSS) was used on the lunar surface during both of his moonwalks on the Apollo 12 mission, on Nov. 19–20, 1969.
"Leon Ford was one of the first significant space collectors — he had keen eye for the highest quality pieces and devotion to building complete sets, resulting in one of the most comprehensive space assemblages — not only in size, but its scope and quality," said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.
"We are honored to have been selected by Ford's estate and couldn't be more thrilled with the results of the sale," added Livingston.
Additional highlights include, but are not limited by:
Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 Personal Preference Kit (PPK), sold for $50,000.
Gene Cernan's Gemini 9A Flown EVA Checklist, sold for $46,875.
Richard Gordon's Apollo 12 Oversized Flown Flag, sold for $43,750.
Mercury and Gemini Astronauts Signed Display, sold for $33,750.
Al Worden's Apollo 15 Flown Flag Patch, $27,500.
Online bidding began June 18–24, followed by a live sale that took place on June 25, in Cambridge, MA. More details, including results can be found online at rrauction.com.
Larry McGlynn Member
Posts: 1255 From: Boston, MA Registered: Jul 2003
posted 06-27-2015 07:17 AM
The auction benefited Leon's relatives.
I am open to any ideas on generating donations.
Tallpaul Member
Posts: 153 From: Rocky Point, NY, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 06-27-2015 02:23 PM
An endowed scholarship fund that could spin off an annual scholarship of $10,000 would require an endowment of $200,000. This is based upon my understanding that each year a foundation is required to payout 5% of its endowment towards the purpose for which it was established. Perhaps an auction where cS members donate goods for sale, the auctioneer works for minimal commission and all proceeds go to fund the endowment.
There might also be a tax deductible benefit to the donors.
mode1charlie Member
Posts: 1169 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
posted 06-27-2015 04:20 PM
A write-up on the Leon Ford auction is on Gizmodo today.
Larry McGlynn Member
Posts: 1255 From: Boston, MA Registered: Jul 2003
posted 06-29-2015 11:50 AM
"TallPaul" that is a very good idea in terms of an auction.
This year, ASF is attempting to raise the $10,000 for the initial scholarship in Leon Ford's honor.
The ASF held the initial gala to raise the money for an ASF scholarship in Leon's name courtesy of RR Auctions. We hope to build on that initial donation to create that scholarship.
posted 04-29-2015 06:35 PM
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