posted 07-06-2015 07:10 PM               

There are currently over 700 lots in this auction and they can be previewed here. Uploading of the lots to the Invaluable site for bidding will be completed no later that 10 to 12 days before the auction.

This auction will feature a wide variety of items as usual from all programs.

posted 07-06-2015 07:49 PM               

Beyond the hallmarks of the forgery styles, other things just don't add up about this photo. When you examine the signature styles, most are signed in styles that weren't regularly used until the late 60s or much later (including those of the Gemini 7 crew). The only signature with a Gemini-era style is that of Ed White...meaning White would have been the first signer on this photo. One has to ask why would White sign a red serial Gemini 7 photo when he had access to an abundance of Gemini 4 photos (and lithos) to sign? While anything is possible, it falls into the realm of extremely unlikely.

posted 07-07-2015 10:24 AM               

Regrettably this is undoubtedly a product of the "German" forger in my opinion. For newer members, this relatively skilled forger who was prolific in the late 90s through the early 2000s. The reason he is referred to as the German is because his work most often sourced from a few German-based sellers. There is credible speculation about who the forger is, but he is slippery and it's tough to "prove" what you often "know." (Of course, there are many fine and credible German sellers... this isn't meant to be a condemnation of them all.)

In my opinion, all the signatures in the white border are undoubtedly matches to the known fake styles.

I can't be conclusive without having it in hand, but the Duke, Cernan and Gordon **may** be okay. These signatures do not match the style produced by the forger in question and he did not typically add inscriptions.

The forger is brazen and one of his traits is mixing in good signatures with bad or adding bad signatures to complete an item with authentic signatures on it. Also, what I have seen is people will buy a bad piece and then add real signatures through signings, etc.

Other traits to note common to this forger:

• He used NASA glossies with "generic" images such as the surface of the moon, earth from space, etc... often red serial numbers.
  
• Often "fantasy" assemblages of signatures. I've seen all moon voyager multi-signed (every one was fake), all Gemini astronauts, Mercury 7 on unique pose, etc.
  
• He knows the signing habits of the astronauts and often used the right type of pens, proper placement, etc. This is consistent with the belief of some that the forger is part of the collecting community.

posted 07-07-2015 01:36 PM               

As one can see, this photo is also a good match for the traits that Steve outlined in his post above... generic image, fantasy assemblage, etc.

posted 07-13-2015 02:52 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Silver:
How about this one? I can't help but notice a lot of similarities. Aldrin may be real?

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posted 07-14-2015 11:00 PM               

The uploading of the Lunar Legacies auction to Invaluable/Auction Zip has been completed, and it is ready for viewing and pre-bidding (you must register at Invaluable to bid).

There are some descriptions left to write and all should be completed by Friday (July 17) or possibly Saturday, but the bidding numbers are correct and you may pre-bid now if you so choose once you are registered.

Lunar Legacies does accept mail-in bids so if you cannot be there live for the auction, please email lunarlegacies@gmail.com with your list, and they will bid for you. All mail bids must be confirmed received.

Highlights in this auction include:

• Items from the Jack Lousma collection including many more Skylab and STS-3 training manuals.

• Items from the Walt Cunningham collection including much of his T-38 flight gear along with his Gemini-era flight suit.

• Several STS-107 Columbia crew-signed items.

posted 07-15-2015 03:56 PM               

On another topic, my last auction March there was some concern over bidders possibly bidding against themselves, and I have talked at length to Invaluable about this. As it was happening, I even thought that was happening myself, and ended several lots early to prevent it.

However, I eventually figured out that the same paddle number appearing over and over again was simply an internet bidder moving up a pre-bid amount, and the screen not showing the internet bid number, but only the pre-bidder number. Once the pre-bid was topped out, the internet bidder number was shown.

posted 07-21-2015 11:54 PM               

The auction is online at Invaluable.

The 17th Lunar Legacies Space Memorabilia auction is fast approaching and is scheduled to start on Saturday, July 25, 2015 promptly at 9:00 a.m. US Pacific Time, which is 12 noon EDT, 5:00 p.m. UK time, 6:00 p.m. for most of Western Europe time and pretty early in the morning Australian time. To view the auction now, go to invaluable.com, and hit the "Auctioneer Directory" link and find Lunar Legacies, or follow the link here.

Pre-bidding is now open, but you can bid live real-time, one lot at a time, on Saturday July, 25. The auction averages about 60 to 80 lots per hour.

Mail-in Bids: If you cannot be at the auction and wish me to bid for you, I must have all mail-in bids to me by Friday night. Please also make sure I confirm their receipt or they will not be valid.

Invaluable/Auction Zip will make the auction live to the public about 15 to 20 minutes before the auction start time, and at that time you should be able to see the first lot up on your screen and be all set to go.

After the auction, it will take me a couple days to generate all the final invoices and to email them out, so I please ask for your patience with that. I must make over 100 piles of lots and figure up over 100 postage amounts.

We hope to see you there and good luck!

posted 08-05-2015 01:32 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by eems:
If you decide to use eBay I would still register with invaluable just in case.

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