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Author
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Topic: [Lunar Legacies] Space memorabilia (Jan 2024)
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52087
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-17-2023 09:36 PM
   
From Lunar Legacies: The 43rd Lunar Legacies Space Memorabilia Auction is tentatively scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 27 and 28, 2024. Many of the auction lots (for preview purposes only) will be appearing the Lunar Legacies website soon.The deadline for consignments is Jan. 10. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52087
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-17-2024 12:47 PM
From Lunar Legacies: The uploading of the Lunar Legacies Space Memorabilia Auction 43 to Invaluable and Auction Zip has been completed, and it is ready for viewing and pre-bidding.Due to the number of lots in this timed auction, it will be split into two sessions each starting at 8 a.m. PST on Saturday, Jan. 27 and Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. Miscellaneous lots will appear at the beginning of both sessions, due to the fact that Session 1 would have been too long and Session 2 too short. - Session 1 - Timed Auction
Saturday, Jan. 27 starting at 8 a.m. PST
Lots 1 through 569
(Miscellaneous, Mercury, Gemini, Apollo) Invaluable | Auction Zip - Session 2 - Timed Auction
Sunday, Jan. 28 starting at 8 a.m. PST
Lots 570 through 1043
(Miscellaneous, Apollo-Soyuz, Skylab, Space Shuttle, Russian) Invaluable | Auction Zip
There are lot descriptions and some photos still be added, but all should be completed in a wee. The bidding numbers are correct so you may pre-bid now if you choose once you are registered. |
davidcwagner
Member Posts: 1025
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 01-27-2024 05:05 PM
Lot 402: LM, Flag & Armstrong NASA Numbered Glossy Photo$17,800 and counting. Somethings odd. Not a done deal until Lunar Legacies cashes the check. Hope it works out. |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 2096
From: Fairfax, VA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 01-27-2024 07:54 PM
Ha - I was top bidder on that for a few minutes this morning, at something like $350. Well, it's the best photo clearly showing him working on the lunar surface, and I think a rare red-serial-number print... so we'll see if the buyer follows through. |
randyc
Member Posts: 902
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 01-27-2024 08:18 PM
One of these red-number photos of Armstrong working at the MESA sold for $30,000 in September 2021 at a Heritage auction. Red-number Aldrin 'visor' photos have sold for $16,500 in November 2021, $15,000 in June 2022 and $18,600 in October 2023 at Heritage auctions. It has also sold for $6,250, $5,000 and $4,875 at Heritage auctions in 2023. Someone even paid $125,000 for one of these photos at a Heritage auction in September 2021! It appears that the highest prices were paid at auctions in 2021 with the prices decreasing, in general, in later auctions. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1443
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 01-29-2024 09:00 AM
That Armstrong at the MESA photo sold for $18,200. If I had that kind of money, I would have opted for a flown to the moon philatelic cover or flag. |
moonnut
Member Posts: 281
From: Andover, MN
Registered: Apr 2013
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posted 02-01-2024 10:20 AM
I sold an 11x14 A Kodak Paper photo of Neil at the MESA a year and a half ago for $12500. The gentleman who purchased it had his wife barter with me on the price cause I was aware of who he is. When she went to pay his name was the one purchasing the photo. I had the aha moment when I saw that cause I knew it was worth more and if he tried to barter the price would have went up. Well played, lol.I was fine with the price cause I purchased it years prior for $100 and used the additional funds to purchase my dream car, a Delorean. A month later the gentleman hosted a space photograph auction with my photo as the headliner and flipped it for $36000. I'm almost certain the same individual probably purchased the photo mentioned above and will flip for significant gains. I believe that photo could go for $40000 to $50000. I'm not in anyway upset about my transaction or with the individual. Just giving info about the value of this photo in general. The history of this photo: It is the only direct photo of Neil taken while standing on the surface of the moon. Yes, there is the visor shot but that is a reflection of Neil. Mr. Armstrong had the camera for the majority of the time on the surface and took most all the photos. For years it was thought that no pictures were taken of Neil on the surface. In fact, if I remember correctly, Armstrong couldn't even recall Buzz having the camera in his possession on the surface. It was discovered through transcriptions and timelines of events that Buzz indeed did take a few photos and the photo of Neil at the MESA was one. Not many copies of this photo were printed I believe as a result. It is henceforth the most valuable NASA photo to collectors. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3697
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-01-2024 06:20 PM
Just to be clear: this isn't a photo signed by Neil Armstrong? It's just a colour photographic print of a picture which can be accessed on several Apollo image sites (i.e. the Apollo Image Gallery)? I agree that it's the only decent Hasselblad image of Armstrong on the lunar surface (see see also AS11-40-5894 in "Apollo Remastered) but why such a high price for a photographic print which anyone can access and turn into a photographic print of their own? I suppose a vintage NASA print has some value (even if the colours have faded with age), but even so... |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 2096
From: Fairfax, VA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 02-01-2024 08:57 PM
The value to a collector is that it is a vintage print, made soon after the mission, on special paper. Think of it as a limited edition print, with no more of that kind to be made. To exaggerate a bit, the Mona Lisa is an image that anyone could access, but the original is more valued. It's the same thing with first edition books, etc. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52087
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-01-2024 10:10 PM
I won't say to who, but in the mid-2000s, I sold a box of 250 or so red numbered vintage Apollo glossies for $1 per glossy. There were at least five, maybe 10 of the Armstrong at MESA prints in the box.You'd think I would regret that sale now, but the market for them at the time was $1 (maybe a bit higher, $3 to $5). I was glad to sell the box so I didn't have to carry it back home. The thing about the current market that does bother me is how it seemingly came about. As best as I understand it, this wasn't driven by supply or demand, but rather a few consignors and a couple of auction houses agreeing to represent a false market and then, fortunately for them, it became a self-fulfilling prophesy. Overnight, prints that were selling for $5, were listed at auction for $50,000. The prices were high enough to attract a segment of the market that doesn't usually pay attention to space memorabilia. Now these prints were interesting and even though there was no justification for doing so, bidders happily raised their paddles and made the fantasy pre-sale estimates a reality. Once there were a few auctions with the same result, there was no going back. All of the auction houses embraced the higher prices (after all, why make $5 when you can make $50,000?). It is not universal, you can still find examples selling for less on eBay and through estate sales and the like, but I worry what happens when those who paid so much for the prints eventually go to recoup their funds? Will the market be able to survive a healthy supply or will it crash and what effect will that have on other space memorabilia? |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3697
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-02-2024 12:25 PM
I suppose this just goes to show that something is only worth what others are prepared to pay for it. I absolutely understand that the vintage nature of those prints sets them apart from reprints — but (only in my opinion) those prices are nuts. I think Robert has hit the nail on the head with the "false market/self-fulfilling prophecy" point.Let's test this: I have two NASA "red number" vintage prints from Apollo 15, both in what I would describe as excellent condition. - NASA S-71-41411, showing the launch of Apollo 15 in colour. Caption on the back in the usual purple ink and the print is identified as "A Kodak paper."
- NASA AS15-86-11603, showing Jim Irwin by the rover with Mount Hadley in the background, in colour. Purple caption and "A Kodak Paper."
If someone wants to pay me $1,000 for each, I'm content to take the risk that they might sell for many times that in the future. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3697
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-05-2024 07:49 PM
Thought not! |
chet
Member Posts: 1551
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-23-2024 12:31 PM
It's a little strange to read the phrase "false market" when it comes to vintage NASA prints, mainly because that false market has been prevalent for several years now and in my opinion, rightly so. Vintage NASA prints have "come alive" in price because of many factors, but none simpler than that they are now recognized as a commodity of finite supply with rising demand. In that sense they are no different than premium old sports cards or anything else that can no longer be produced. I don't see how this is in any way lamentable...and it's certainly great for those who've been primarily photo collectors of the Mercury-Gemini-Apollo era. Why fret over more collectors realizing what great items vintage NASA photos are? |
MartinAir
Member Posts: 353
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 02-23-2024 01:58 PM
The quantity of the existing NASA photos has not been or even cannot be determined. Hope it's organic, but market manipulations do exist. For example, the recent video game market controversy/collusion. |
chet
Member Posts: 1551
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-23-2024 02:58 PM
Fortunately the photo market does appear to be, so far, "organic." While it's true the number of vintage NASA photos that exist isn't known, what IS known is that no more can be produced, so it is a fixed number regardless. There may be some speculative buying keeping prices somewhat artificially inflated for now, but for the most part it seems more that photograph collectors are slowly becoming aware just how special the photos from the great space race are, with appreciation of their historic value becoming clearer with each passing year. |
distantworld
Member Posts: 18
From: Staffordshire
Registered: Oct 2011
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posted 03-02-2024 02:20 PM
I was wondering if anybody has had trouble in contacting Donnis? I've emailed him several times with no reply. I need a tracking number for the items I won in the last auction as they have not arrived yet.strange as he normally answers quickly. Anybody know a alternate contact address? |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 3038
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 03-02-2024 04:18 PM
Contacted him Friday, quick response. He has just had some surgery so there may be a lag there. |
GT76
Member Posts: 100
From: New Orleans, La. USA
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 03-02-2024 07:49 PM
Received an email with tracking number yesterday, Friday March 1st. |
rgarner
Member Posts: 1456
From: London, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 03-03-2024 04:25 AM
I spoke with Don recently, and he advised me that the site where he can print international USPS labels has been down for several weeks. This would explain your delay. |
distantworld
Member Posts: 18
From: Staffordshire
Registered: Oct 2011
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posted 03-03-2024 01:01 PM
Thanks for your replies. Guess I will just have to wait a bit longer. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52087
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-15-2024 04:55 PM
From Lunar Legacies: We will be having a small timed auction on Saturday, March 23rd consisting of most of the unsold lots from last January's auction, plus many extra lots and some duplications. About 150 lots total. The vast majority of the starting prices have been reduced from the January sale.It will be uploaded to Invaluable by Saturday, March 16th. |
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