posted 12-07-2015 02:49 PM               

This auction features the incredible collection of Roy Gutzke, space collector and co-author of the Astronaut Autopen Guide. Space art, flown memorabilia and of course, astronaut autographs are all part of the unique collection from the man who not only was lucky enough to meet these brave pioneers, but forged friendships over the years with his heroes. Below are a few items from the Gutzke collection (and others).

Starting with the Mercury program, there are several singular, multiple, and complete Mercury 7 autographs offered in several lots – on a baseball, crew photograph, and a First Day Cover. All featured with beautiful bold signatures of these early astronauts.

If flown items are a passion of yours, there are over a dozen flags, patches and other items to choose from. Lot 86 is a flown United Nations flag signed in Michael Collins' hand in black ink "Carried to the Moon/aboard Apollo XI Michael Collins." A true gem for any Apollo 11 or general space enthusiast.

A piece that will surely turn heads is a shuttle EVA movie prop space suit (Lot 256). Complete space suit in three pieces: helmet, top part with oxygen pack and pants with attached boots. Used for a shuttle film that was probably made for simulation purposes. Top part has two shoulder patches, one on each shoulder that includes USA flag and MMU (Manned Maneuvering Unit) suit patch. Also has NASA and shuttle patches attached to control unit on front along with connectors and switches.

The gem of Gutzke's collection has to be the stunning original painting titled "My Brother, Jim Irwin," an original painting by Alan Bean (Lot 328). Textured acrylic with Moon dust on aircraft plywood, 14x18", framed to 21x24". This highly textured, original work of art is a portrait of Apollo 15 astronaut, Jim Irwin. Done in shades of blue and a whole palette of pastels, this work is simply breathtaking. Includes 5x7" image of painting, transparency and Apollo art book where he explains the process behind creating this painting in both images, all signed by Bean.

The entire auction is now available online for viewing and bidding (absentee and Live bidding) at RegencySuperior.com. Free color catalogs are available by calling toll-free 1-800-782-0066.

posted 12-07-2015 07:06 PM               

FLOWN black 4.5"x7" "Saturn Data" loose leaf book by Douglas Aircraft containing 130 pages of charts, drawings and text that is organized in three tabbed sections: S-IV, S-IVB/S-1B, S-IVB/S-V and APPENDIX. Greatly detailed with several fold out pages. Specific mission on which the book flew is unknown. From the collection of Dr Anthony N Kontaratos, supervisor for group providing systems engineering support to Manned Space Flight Office at NASA.

posted 12-08-2015 11:03 AM            

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Originally posted by Ken Havekotte:
Not to be a spoiler here, but the depicted "signed" Mercury Artcraft first day cover doesn't have any genuine autographs of America's first astronaut pioneers.

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posted 12-08-2015 01:59 PM               

That is incorrect. Both Stafford signatures are authentic but he obviously signed the cover twice. I feel certain that numerous well known collectors will concur.

posted 01-04-2016 09:28 PM               

I'll write below what I wrote in an e-mail to a couple of people at Regency-Superior. I haven't received a reply, but I did only write two days ago.

Neither of these lots have writing on them, or a separate letter, from an astronaut describing them as flown. This was standard for mementos flown on the missions. Manuals actually used by the astronauts sometimes didn't have such documentation, but this is definitely not true in this case. Neither are items that would have been used by astronauts during a mission. Even though the Apollo 8 mission analyzer is described as "Interesting flight item that must have proved useful to the astronauts", these were in fact produced by the thousands as souvenirs. A wide, flimsy item showing the entire week-long mission would not have been handy when the astronauts had to use manuals with hundreds of events timed to the minute.

As for the Saturn Rocket Data Book, you'll notice that it contained general information about several kinds of rockets - not at all the kind of thing astronauts would have carried on a mission when they would need very specific information about the rocket they were on board.

To sum up, both of these items were produced in large numbers for general information for people on Earth, and would not have been useful for astronauts on a mission. If they had been flown as mementos (doubtful considering their size), there would have been documentation on them or accompanying them. There is not. There is no reason to think they were flown in space. If Kontaratos or his heirs say they were flown, he or they are mistaken. If someone who worked at NASA came to you with a NASA t-shirt and said that he thought Neil Armstrong wore it on the moon, you wouldn't believe him. I'm afraid this is a similar case.

posted 01-07-2016 05:00 PM               

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Originally posted by Michael Davis:
Lot 141, the Mitchell signed Apollo 14 beta patch seems odd.

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