posted 03-13-2019 11:00 AM               

Consign to RR's Apollo 11 Auction

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing and RR is celebrating with a devoted Space Auction June 20, 2019 highlighted by an Apollo 11 featured section.

We're inviting you to send quality consignments to be featured in this special event.

Hurry — consignment deadline is fast approaching on March 29!

All eras from 'Space Race' history are welcome, from our early path to space, to Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and beyond. As always, a variety of item formats are encouraged, including: autographs, artifacts, hardware, manuals, and photography.

High-profile mission-flown artifacts are especially sought for this marquee auction!

The space collectibles market is exceptionally strong and this event may very well be its peak, so seriously consider selling now as we celebrate this incredible achievement together.

posted 06-14-2019 11:37 AM               

Space Exploration Auction featuring Apollo 11th 50th Anniversary Artifacts

Boston-based RR Auction will honor the Apollo 11 astronauts, their predecessors and those who made the historic mission possible, and their enduring legacy in manned spaceflight during its June 13-June 20 sale.

With over 500 lots highlighted by autographs, hardware, and flown artifacts, this auction brings to life the history of the space program.

Fifty years ago, on July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module "Eagle" touched down on the surface of the moon. Astronaut Neil Armstrong descended the spacecraft's ladder and spoke his immortal words: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Buzz Aldrin soon followed behind him, and the two became the first earthly beings to set foot upon another celestial body.

Included in the sale is an extremely rare 70-mm positive film roll from Magazine S of the Apollo 11 Hasselblad camera, containing 126 of the most iconic images from the first lunar-landing mission.

Wound on a yellow Kodak holder and measuring 3.5" in diameter. The roll features photographs taken by Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin during their historic two-and-a-half-hour lunar extravehicular activity at Tranquility Base with color images including: moments from inside the Lunar Module Eagle immediately prior to Armstrong leaving the spacecraft; Armstrong's first photograph after taking his historic first steps; Aldrin descending the ladder; Aldrin standing next to the American flag; the famous 'Moon Man' image of Aldrin in a full-length pose, his visor showing a reflection of Armstrong; and various bootprint images, shots of the Lunar Module, the lunar plaque, and panoramas of the desolate lunar surface.

The film roll was acquired from Terry Slezak, a member of the decontamination team at the Manned Space Center's lunar receiving lab, who was in charge of processing the film brought back from the Apollo moon landings.

Additional Apollo 11 highlights include:

• A scarce flown American flag carried into lunar orbit during the Apollo 11 mission, signed and flight-certified signed by Command Module Pilot Michael Collins.

• Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 Flown Robbins Medal that he presented to his brother-in-law following the historic mission.

• Apollo 11 Flown Burn Chart Signed by Aldrin and Collins.

• Apollo 11 Signed Log Book from Richard Nixon's Air Force One.

Also up for auction is the Jeff Hoffman collection. Hoffman is a former NASA astronaut he made five space flights—was NASA's first Jewish male astronaut, Hoffman become the first astronaut to log 1000 hours of flight time aboard the Space Shuttle, and is a now a professor at MIT's Aeronautics and Astronautics Department.

The highlight of Hoffman's collection is his flown sterling silver mezuzah case, and scroll carried on Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-75 from February 22-March 9, 1996, measuring 6" x 1" x .5". The mezuzah case retains the original rolled parchment klaf, or scroll, inside, and is stamped "Israel, 925" on the reverse. Includes a velvet-lined display case.

The Hebrew word, mezuzah, means "doorpost." According to tradition, a mezuzah is affixed to the doorpost at the entrance of a Jewish home as well as at the entrance of each of the interior rooms. The mezuzah itself consists of a small scroll of parchment on which are written two biblical passages (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21).

The custom of affixing a mezuzah to the doorpost fulfills the biblical commandment, "You shall write them upon the doorposts of thy house and upon thy gates" (Deuteronomy 6:9). The mezuzah is a visible reminder to all those who enter that this is a Jewish home connected to monotheism and Jewish values.

While traveling in space, Hoffman affixed a mezuzah on the entryway of his sleeping compartment.

"Since Jeff Hoffman was NASA's first Jewish male astronaut, this Shuttle-flown religious artifact holds a meaningful place in the history of space travel," said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.

Over his five space missions, Hoffman took other Jewish objects with him. On this particular mission in 1996, he also carried a small Torah scroll from which he read the first verse of Genesis (or Creation). Provenance: From the personal collection of Jeff Hoffman. Proceeds from the Hoffman collection will benefit the Space Torah Project, dedicated to making a documentary film exploring Hoffman's Jewish journey through his five space missions in space and beyond.

The Space Exploration Auction featuring Apollo 11th 50th Anniversary Artifacts began June 13 and will conclude on June 20.

posted 06-21-2019 03:13 AM               

Wonder if I'm the only one who often ends up in the following scenario:

A few hours before the end I'm trying to decide whether I want to up the amount of my last remaining winning bid. Looking at the listing again... comparing it to similar items... After much hesitation I eventually decide to do it, while wondering if I'm going to regret paying that much if I win.

posted 06-21-2019 11:06 AM               

Neil Armstrong 'giant leap' signed photograph sold for $52,247 at auction

An extremely rare signed photograph of Neil Armstrong taking his "giant leap for mankind" sold for $52,247 according to Boston-based RR Auction.

Fifty years ago, on July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module "Eagle" touched down on the surface of the moon. Astronaut Neil Armstrong descended the spacecraft's ladder and spoke his immortal words: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Buzz Aldrin soon followed behind him, and the two became the first earthly beings to set foot upon another celestial body.

The glossy 10x8 photo of Neil Armstrong just before setting foot on the lunar surface, signed in black felt tip, "Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11."

Captured from NASA's original video transmission of the historic event, this is one of the most recognizable images of the lunar landing: Armstrong taking his first step onto the landing pad, seconds before delivering what is arguably the most famous quote of the 20th century.

As the Apollo 11 astronauts touched down on the moon and the first television transmissions made it to earth, NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in California was called to work. Responsible for altering the images to photo film, the photo development team there was first to see and handle most of the now-famous images.

In appreciation for his hard work, NASA gave the man in charge of the Jet Propulsion Lab this photo, one of very few images of Armstrong on the lunar surface (as the man behind the camera, he is absent from almost all photos from the landing).

As coincidence would have it, the technician's sister lived in the same neighborhood as Neil and Jan Armstrong in Bethesda, Maryland, and on a family visit he was introduced to the astronaut and his wife.

A very gracious Armstrong gladly signed this photo, which has been in the possession of the family of the head of NASA's Photo Department Richard Windmiller, Sr. until now.

"It's boldly signed by the first man to step foot on the surface of the moon and represents the pinnacle of Armstrong signed photos,"said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.

Highlights from the sale include, but are not limited by:

• Apollo 1 crew signed photograph The tragic heroes of Apollo 1 sold for $31,251.

• Charlie Duke's Apollo 16 Flown Robbins Medal sold for $28,016.

• Apollo 11 full-length photograph of Buzz Aldrin standing on the moon, signed by all three Apollo 11 astronauts sold for $21,587.

• Neil Armstrong signed Apollo 11 Flight Plan sold for $21,446.

• Buzz Aldrin's Flown Apollo 11 American Flag sold for $20,803.

• Apollo 13 Crew-Signed Flown Flag Display sold for $16,250.

• Apollo 11 fully signed crew lithograph sold for $16,078.

• Apollo 11 Roll of 70 mm Positives made directly from the original Apollo 11 roll sold for $14,647.

The Space Exploration Auction featuring Apollo 11th 50th Anniversary Artifacts began June 13 and concluded on June 20.

posted 06-22-2019 03:19 AM               

Just to pick out one example — the Apollo 11 Robbins had a final bid of $45,008 ($56,347 with fees). That's higher than any of the four Apollo 11 Robbins medallions realized in the last Heritage auction and those were coming direct from the Armstrong family.

It's true that some examples have fetched even more in the past but even so this result for a medallion with this particular level of provenance (okay, but not Armstrong-family direct level) is a very good result. And yet — no sale.

posted 06-22-2019 06:48 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by spaced out:
...on every lot it should be shown in real time if the reserve has been reached or not.

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posted 06-22-2019 04:40 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by 1202 Alarm:
...we can say that the early "real" selling price is almost never less than a minimum of -5% of the low estimate.

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