posted 04-19-2019 01:20 PM               

The Neil Armstrong Family Collection Part II of Personal and Space Memorabilia Returns May 9-11

Heritage Auctions' Space Exploration Auction presents one-of-a-kind rarities by moonwalkers, NASA program astronauts

The Neil Armstrong Family Collection Part II, the second presentation of the private and professional treasures from the personal collection of the first man to walk on the moon, will be presented by Heritage Auctions May 9-11 in Dallas, Texas. The entire Space Exploration Auction will also feature one-of-a-kind rarities from several moonwalkers and NASA space pioneers, including:

• The Apollo 11 Lunar Module Flown Spacesuit Comfort Glove worn by Mission Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin, flown to "Tranquility Base" on the moon's surface during the first manned lunar landing, on July 20, 1969.
  
  
• A historically important copy of the July 21, 1969 edition of The New York Times, signed by Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, below the blaring headline "MEN WALK ON MOON"
  
  
• An Apollo 11 Flown Flight Plan Pages with Armstrong's Notations, from the Collection of Buzz Aldrin, Signed and Certified, with Signed LOA.

Personal prized mementos from The Armstrong Family Collection include the auction debut of a Western Union Telegram to Neil Armstrong from President Richard Nixon sent upon his Wapakoneta (Ohio) Homecoming Celebration, and an Apollo 11 Crew-Signed "Type One" Insurance Cover canceled at Houston, Texas, on July 20, 1969, when Apollo 11 landed on the moon.

Also offered are Armstrong's handwritten notes concerning spacesuit technology from his personal notebook of NASA-related archives. The fascinating pre-launch notes chronicle the astronaut's own scientific equations on how to build the safest spacesuit possible.

"This auction event gives the world a behind-the-scenes experience of Neil Armstrong's personal thoughts on the historic lunar landing," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions. "The advance preparation he planned before launch and a trove of memorabilia from the time immediately following his crew's safe return will impress passionate collectors of space race rarities and American history."

Additional, highly personal items from Armstrong's collection include:

• His Owned and Worn Leather Bomber-Style Leather Jacket
  
  
• Armstrong's Presentation 1955 Class Ring, 10K Gold with Diamond
  
  
• The Pen Used by the United States as Signatory to the Outer Space Treaty, which forms the basis for international space law – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own such an important piece of Space history.
  
  
• Armstrong's own Apollo 11 Flown Largest Size American Flag, an 18-inch by x 11-1/2-inch silk U.S. flag carried to the moon and back aboard the Apollo mission. This incredibly rare and desirable flag, the largest size typically flown on Apollo missions, traveled to the moon with Apollo 11 and was kept as a treasured souvenir by Mission Commander Neil Armstrong.
  
  
• Additional flags of interest include Armstrong's personal Apollo 11 Lunar Module Flown Explorers Club Flag, which the pioneer took with him in the Lunar Module Eagle all the way to the surface of the moon. An incredible rarity and fitting for three explorers like Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, each of whom was awarded the Explorers Club Medal in 1971.
  
  
• Also offered are a beloved Apollo 11 Flown Flag from Neil Armstrong's Home State of Ohio and an Apollo 11 Flown U.S. Naval Academy Flag of the Brigade of Midshipmen, a true rarity featuring the academy's coat of arms and the first flown example ever offered at auction.

All of the lots from The Armstrong Family Collection are sold with a Statement of Provenance signed by Armstrong's sons, Rick and Mark. Collectibles Authentication Guaranty (CAG) painstakingly sealed or encapsulated each item's provenance for study by future generations.

Pre-auction bidding opens April 19 on HA.com for Heritage Auctions' May 9-11 Space Exploration Auction featuring The Armstrong Family Collection. Auction highlights will be on display at Heritage Auctions' offices in New York and Dallas. Please see the auction page for more preview details, and HA.com/Armstrong to see all of the lots. A special Platinum Night® auction – The Armstrong Family Collection Part III – will be held July 16 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first man on the moon.

posted 05-12-2019 09:33 AM               

There were some amazing items, and per usual (whether here, or at RR, Lunar Legacies, American Space Museum, etc.), some very eye-popping prices as well. $13K for Armstrong's owned glass slide of the Buzz visor shot; $175K for a 1 inch square Wright Flyer fabric piece; five figures for a red-numbered, NASA glossy Apollo 8 earth rise photo; etc.

What continues to amaze me is the just seemingly insatiable appetite for this material. With so many auction houses and auctions, the material just keeps getting sucked up... and most of it never seen of or heard of again.

posted 05-12-2019 10:05 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by rjurek349:
Interesting. This multi-day auction goes off with over $4 million in sales, and no discussion.

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posted 05-12-2019 02:19 PM               

I have to say, I’m wondering if all the high prices in RR’s and Heritage’s spring auctions are new “normals”, or if they are all jumped up because of the Apollo 11 hype this year. My best guess is that prices are trending higher, but that these auctions are indeed supercharged because of the Apollo 11 hype.

posted 05-12-2019 05:46 PM               

I bid on all the Wright Flyer pieces. At least, I can say I bid on them. I would love one of those pieces.

I did get two items that I was interested in at the auction. I picked up Armstrong's Thai Tie Tack with the Tektite attached to it. I liked the fact that it was a Thai Tie Tack. I love wordplay.

I also picked up one of Gene's last words on the Moon inscribed photos.

posted 05-13-2019 01:15 AM               

• Too big for a single auction. 5 sessions is just too much, with the 5th feeling like a bit of an afterthought. I would not have been too happy to have my material appear in that 5th session if I was a consignor.
  
• Some of the Armstrong material continues to pull in big prices but other material didn't show exceptional prices. I don't see the same sort of spill-over as you get in a Sotheby's auction.
  
• Indeed, even the Armstrong material was not always hugely expensive. $13,750 for the Apollo 11 flown Indiana flag seems comparable to earlier Apollo 11 flown state flag pricing.
  
• The flown Wright Flyer fabric swatches - $175k for the first in this auction but one went for $40k and there are plenty more to appear in part III. I guess may see slightly lower prices by the end.
  
• The two Apollo 9 flown LM kapton foil pieces - definitely bargains.

posted 05-13-2019 03:10 AM               

Then because of the sheer volume of Armstrong family material, much of it not space related at all, this stuff was also spread at random throughout the auction in batches.

posted 05-13-2019 02:40 PM               

Space Exploration Memorabilia, including Neil Armstrong Collection, Brings $4.57 Million at Heritage Auctions

Armstrong's private collection makes $2.34 million May 9-11

Objects flown to the moon and kept for 50 years in the private collection of "First Man" Mission Commander Neil Armstrong sold for more than $4.57 million during Heritage Auctions $4.47 million Space Exploration auction May 9-11.

The sale featured the second presentation of 620 lots of mementos and NASA-related items saved by the first man who walked on the moon, July 20, 1969.

Special keepsakes owned by Armstrong brought top dollar, particularly the moonwalker's collection of pieces of the Wright Flyer, which was flown on Apollo 11 to commemorate mankind's first successful airplane flight made by Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1903. A group of nine pieces sold for a combined $888,750, the most expensive piece being a rare swatch from the wing fabric from flyer, which sold for $175,000, as did a section of the propeller.

Additional highlights include:

• A single Apollo 11 flown crew-signed and stamped "Type One" Quarantine Cover also sold for $93,750. Signed by Armstrong and crew astronauts Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin, Armstrong did not receive the piece until three weeks later when the crew completed mandatory quarantine following Apollo 11's splashdown.
  
  
• One of six Apollo 11 Flown Mission Insignias, 6-inch-by-6-inch swatches made from fire-safe fiberglass Beta cloth used in the space suits worn by the Apollo astronauts, sold for $25,000.
  
  
• Among pieces of Apollo flown artifacts, a module flown spacesuit comfort glove originally from the personal collection of Mission Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin, sold for $68,750.
  
  
• An extraordinary complete set of 135 commemorative sterling silver medals, referred to as a Robbins Medallions, one for Each Mission and assembled by former NASA astronaut Colonel Jerry Ross, sold for $55,000.
  
  
• A one-of-a-kind NASA color lunar planning chart signed by one moonwalker from each landing mission ended at $55,000.

"Heritage Auctions' next presentation of Armstrong's collection is July 16, the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 space launch and just four days before Armstrong's historic moonwalk."