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Author
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Topic: Astronaut Scholars 2009 Tom Stafford signing
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gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-27-2009 12:51 PM
   
quote:
Originally posted by Spacefest:
I might note that, while Stafford's resale value is not $275 yet, it is well on it's way after only a week.
Per this recent eBay auction, only $229 to go... |
Spacefest
Member Posts: 1168
From: Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 05-27-2009 08:04 PM
Oh yes! Let's accept an uber-inscribed WSS on eBay (spits on ground) as the gold standard.I've got Stafford autopens that have sold for more. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 05-28-2009 04:46 AM
Obviously, opinions differ about the future value of Stafford signatures. As some sort of comparison, it's interesting to note that average prices for deceased moonwalkers Conrad and Irwin have yet to top $275 (except for the truly nice or rare items)...and they have been gone for a decade or longer. It's hard to imagine Stafford's signature fetching more than Conrad or Irwin on commonly available items on the secondary market.I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens... |
Spacefest
Member Posts: 1168
From: Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 05-28-2009 01:29 PM
Conrad and Irwin signed a lot of stuff, but like you said Mark, it depends on what. an Irwin WSS will go for over $1000, on the moon, $150 or so, Conrad WSS, $100, but on the moon, much more.Moonwalkers don't seem to matter much: unless it's Armstrong. Kim |
David Bryant
Member Posts: 986
From: Norfolk UK
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 06-02-2009 07:54 AM
quote:
Originally posted by ilbasso:
I was speaking of a single mission.
Well: that's sort of the point! WW11 heroes like Gibson, Cheshire, Tuck etc didn't just fly one or two missions, they flew dozens, night after night into hostile skies with night fighters and flak batteries deliberately trying to kill them. My father was in the RAF during the war: he said it got so bad at one point that no-one bothered to learn the names of new tail-gunners, because they weren't around long enough to make it worthwhile.... |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 06-02-2009 06:37 PM
Just to get things back on topic here, I sent this past weekend my most prized possession to ASF for the Stafford signature. I got a nice personal confirmation from them today, and I'm very much looking forward to adding Gen. Stafford's signature to my item. I'm grateful for this opportunity. |
paulushumungus
Member Posts: 466
From: Burton, Derbyshire, England
Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 06-03-2009 02:14 PM
What is this prized possession? |
413 is in
Member Posts: 628
From: Alexandria, VA USA
Registered: May 2006
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posted 06-03-2009 02:35 PM
Yeah, inquiring minds want to know.  |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 06-03-2009 04:04 PM
OK, so you have to promise not to laugh or pity me.Anyway, my dad took a VIP tour of the MSC and KSC two weeks after Apollo 11 returned from the Moon. One of the mementos he was given was a large vacuformed 3-D plastic map of part of the Sinus Medii alternate landing site for Apollo 11. It was produced by the Army Topographic Command for a conference in June 1969. [Donnis Willis had this exact same map at his last auction in February, from Guenter Wendt's personal collection.] My dad gave me this map when he returned from his trip, and I've had it in my possession for 40 years.  Like many other teenagers who were big into the space program, I was an avid model builder. This map made a fantastic base for photographing my models, as you'll see below, some realistic and some more fanciful. (I wish I still had that "2001" moonbus!)    Anyway, so I've had this map 40 years, and it finally dawned on me last year that I could/should have it signed. In the past year, I've gotten signatures of 9 of the astronauts who went to the Moon. I'm adding Gen. Stafford next month, and hope to add Lovell and Haise at ASF in November.  I've had this for so long, and it was such a key part of my childhood fantasy life during the Apollo program: that's why it's my prized possession... even more so than my Armstrong or Anders autographs. |
413 is in
Member Posts: 628
From: Alexandria, VA USA
Registered: May 2006
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posted 06-03-2009 06:16 PM
Great item and wonderful story Jonathan!------------------
b i l l |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 06-03-2009 08:26 PM
Priceless! |
AJ
Member Posts: 511
From: Plattsburgh, NY, United States
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 06-03-2009 08:42 PM
That is one of the coolest things I have ever seen! |
DCCollector
Member Posts: 227
From: Washington, DC USA
Registered: Dec 2006
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posted 06-05-2009 06:15 PM
Has anyone discussed with the ASF folks about when the multi-signed fees apply? I'm thinking of the questions raised earlier in the thread -- if you happen to have a Cernan signature on an item signed by a number of astronauts, will you be charged a completion fee, even though the item is not really a "Gemini IX" item... |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 06-05-2009 07:07 PM
They did not count my item as a crew completion, even though Cernan and Young were already on it - it was obviously not intended to be such since there were 7 other astronauts also on the item. I was charged the base fee plus $30 to have "Apollo X CDR" added. It never hurts to ask, just to be safe. |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1587
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 06-13-2009 01:02 PM
While I do not have a problem with an astronaut charging fees for signing items, I do think that the prices for Gen. Stafford are too high. I know the money goes to a great cause but even charging for a certificate of authenticity is a bit much. I wonder how the demand is going for it. |
Tyrell's Owl
Member Posts: 95
From: Hertfordshire, England
Registered: Feb 2008
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posted 06-23-2009 03:48 AM
Can anyone help? I have a photograph of the A-10 CSM over the lunar surface that I am having Tom Stafford sign and wanted to read up on 'Who said what' at that part of the mission. Crew to crew and 10 to Houston. Is there anywhere on the net that has the full transcriptions available to read. The Apollo journals site only has the first part of the mission available. Thanking you in anticipation.
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Spacefest
Member Posts: 1168
From: Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 06-23-2009 01:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Fra Mauro:
...but even charging for a certificate of authenticity is a bit much.
That is for a "photo COA," I believe. A photo is taken of the General signing YOUR piece(s) which takes some administrative work and some overhead. A legitimate price.Kim Poor
Novaspace |
Tyrell's Owl
Member Posts: 95
From: Hertfordshire, England
Registered: Feb 2008
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posted 06-24-2009 03:33 AM
I have checked with ASF about charging for COAs and they have informed me that - "That the ONLY way of having a COA is to order a photo of General Stafford signing your item". They are not issuing (non-photo) COAs if one is ordering a standard signature at $275. So in my opinion - 'Fra Mauro' is correct in the comment that charging for a COA is indeed a bit much! I think I speak for most in saying that Novaspace do tend to get the balance perfectly right... every signature has a COA and then we have the choice of having the photo and COA etc at a price that is agreeable. |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 06-24-2009 06:22 AM
A COA without a photo or at least a description of the item has little real value, so giving one for free or not giving one at all doesn't really make much difference in the end. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2476
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 06-24-2009 07:15 AM
That would depend on who gives you the COA. If I get an item with a COA from Novaspace I know it's good (and if I ever sold anything, I would know it makes it more sellable). |
Tyrell's Owl
Member Posts: 95
From: Hertfordshire, England
Registered: Feb 2008
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posted 06-24-2009 07:31 AM
I agree, Novaspace COAs are good! I have bought many signatures from Kim and Sally signings over the years and also picked up a couple of items on the secondary market on the strength of a Novaspace COA.I think a standard COA should have been issued for the ASF signing. I have several items that I am submitting but will probably opt for a photo COA on the main item only and the others will just have to be. My only concern is - I am collecting these for my son, 4 years old right now and I worry that one day he may want to sell them but I won't have ticked every box with provenance. I will at least have emails and FEDEX slips, so I guess that has got to help. You never know, maybe he won't want to sell them! |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 06-24-2009 09:15 AM
A basic Novaspace signing COA is fine as far as it goes but since it has neither a photo nor description included it doesn't really add provenance to a specific item. They are provided as a basic free service.If you sell a signed item with one of these COAs, the COA only proves that you (or the original owener) had something signed by the astronaut at that particular signing. A photo COA is much more valuable in terms of provenance and since it also takes considerable effort to produce it's quite reasonable to charge for that service. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 06-24-2009 04:31 PM
quote:
Originally posted by spaced out:
A photo COA is much more valuable in terms of provenance and since it also takes considerable effort to produce it's quite reasonable to charge for that service.
I agree. The photo COA is the best provenance you can get without actually witnessing it being signed in person. A more generic COA (without photos or an item description) is a nice token to keep with the item (as a reminder of when you got it signed), but doesn't provide any real provenance specific to that item. Overall, I think $30-50 is a reasonable price to pay for a photo COA, considering all the work that goes into them. The Novaspace ones are particularly nice in that they also provide a CD containing 2-4 hi-res photos taken at the signing. I know I will pay the extra $30 for anything I send to the Stafford signing. |
TRS
Member Posts: 721
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 07-03-2009 05:47 AM
Unfortunately the nail in the coffin for me was the return international 'non flat' fee. US$50 to post an item that I know will cost only US$15 was the amount that pushed this over the edge for me. I toyed with this given the cost and the poor exchange rate at the moment, but the combination mission additional fee plus international shipping was just too much.I'm really hoping there will be another chance when I am back in the US sometime. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-03-2009 06:25 AM
Back to certificates of authenticity... the best "COA" I've received was from the Space Source-hosted Fred Haise signing three(?) years ago. I was emailed photos (for free) of Freddo clearly signing my items and I presume others received the same. Can't get better evidence than that. |
cddfspace
Member Posts: 609
From: Morris County, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 07-10-2009 11:06 AM
Just received my two items back - perfect. Bullet proof wrapping, great COA with two photos - one of Stafford signing my litho, the other of him holding up the signed litho. Exactly what I requested - placement, wording, etc. First class all the way. |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 07-10-2009 01:30 PM
Just received one of my two items back...I'm hoping the second arrives tomorrow! Nice COA - good to see Gen. Stafford smiling! |
andrewcli
Member Posts: 328
From: La Jolla, CA, USA
Registered: Jul 2007
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posted 07-10-2009 05:35 PM
Got my notification from Nicole a few minutes ago! Looks like they will continue to do this in the future. |
DChudwin
Member Posts: 1096
From: Lincolnshire IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-11-2009 02:12 PM
I received a great birthday gift today from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and Gen. Tom Stafford.In May 1969, before Apollo 10, I sent my usual five stamped envelopes to the KSC post office for the official NASA KSC cachet and launch postmark. I received them back in the mail after the launch and proceeded to send one cover each to the crew for an autograph after the flight. The autopen machines were busy then and I was not too optimistic about getting real signatures. The Stafford and Cernan covers came back with autopens, but to my surprise the one from John Young came back with a genuine signature (the only one I ever received through the mail from Young). So I decided in May 1969 that I would complete the Apollo 10 KSC cachet launch cover no matter how long it would take. My opportunity to add Cernan came with one of the early Novaspace signings, so then I had two of the three crew members. But how to get Stafford's autograph? At the time he was represented by AVD/Space Source. I wrote Gregg and asked if Stafford would sign an ASTP cover I had and the Apollo 10 cover. Gregg arranged for the ASTP cover to be signed but claimed Stafford would not sign Apollo 10 covers. I wondered if I would ever be able to add him (I was not able to go to the Burbank show he attended). When the ASF announced the Stafford signing I was quite pleased he would sign covers. Even though the price was steep ($500), I rationalized that the proceeds were going to ASF and the Stafford Museum. And I was determined to complete the crew on this item. I received the cover back today, which is my birthday -- an Apollo 10 crew-signed KSC launch cover completed after 40 years in the making. I also received the photo COA which shows Gen. Stafford signing the cover and a second shot of him holding it up. A prized addition to my crew-signed cover collection! |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 07-11-2009 02:47 PM
quote:
Originally posted by DChudwin:
So I decided in May 1969 that I would complete the Apollo 10 KSC cachet launch cover no matter how long it would take.
Very nice. I recall when I was working to complete the flown Apollo crews on FDCs, I was surprised to find that Apollo 10 seemed to be the hardest one to find. |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 07-11-2009 05:11 PM
quote:
Originally posted by DChudwin:
I received a great birthday gift today from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and Gen. Tom Stafford.
Happy Birthday! Sorry KSC couldn't light that big candle sitting on Pad A for you today! |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 07-11-2009 06:11 PM
Great story! I really enjoy stories like yours, demonstrating such a deep and personal interest in an item over a lifetime. |
lm5eagle
Member Posts: 429
From:
Registered: Jul 2007
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posted 07-13-2009 10:18 AM
I received the first of my Stafford signed items today. A very quick delivery over the Pond. Just like every other aspect of the procedure, the shipping was exemplary. It would have been impossible for even FedEx to inflict damage on the contents.I pay tribute to Linn and her staff in the ASF for providing the opportunity of adding General Stafford's signature. I also single out Nicole for the competence and care she showed in every part of the operation - and she was a delightful person to work with. Well done ASF and I look forward to the next time. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 07-13-2009 02:35 PM
My Stafford items and photo COAs arrived on Saturday... not bad considering they were only signed 5 days before! For this being the first mail-in signing conducted by the ASF, they did an excellent job all around on this effort. And while the prices may not have fit everyone's budget, the excellent service from the ASF is to be commended. |
andrewcli
Member Posts: 328
From: La Jolla, CA, USA
Registered: Jul 2007
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posted 07-13-2009 09:03 PM
Received my item today, outstanding! Thank you Linn and Nicole for a great job! |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 07-18-2009 11:36 AM
I have my "prized possession" back at home again - I was out of town all week so wasn't able to be there to accept the insured package. But the folks at ASF certainly do things right, and I'm thrilled with the results! |
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