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Author
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Topic: Signing history and experience: Chris Kraft
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neo1022
Member Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 02-17-2014 02:39 PM
   
Just wanted to post an update on Kraft's continued willingness to sign. I sent him a nice personalized letter last month, and within a week he had emailed me back with a message that I could send him a copy of "Flight" for his signature. I did so, and he mailed back a nicely signed and inscribed copy about a week later. Class act, and a very nice man! |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 02-17-2014 05:50 PM
I sent him the book to sign about 10 years ago and included a few facts about myself in the included letter. Not only did he sign the book, the inscription complimented me. Pretty neat! |
Daniel Lazecky
Member Posts: 480
From: Czech Republic-Europe
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 02-21-2014 04:10 AM
Good day from Czech Republic. Yes, Kraft was a very kind person. Accommodating depreciate too. His contribution to my collection about 10 years ago back. Here you can also see. |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 946
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 02-22-2014 09:05 AM
I wrote a letter to Chris Kraft back in the early 1980's and he responded back with a letter and autographed photo to me. |
SpaceyInMN
Member Posts: 355
From: Andover, MN
Registered: Dec 2013
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posted 02-24-2014 11:10 PM
I've been considering sending Mr. Kraft a photo and request for his autograph. If I do, I will post the results here, if I receive a response. |
SpaceyInMN
Member Posts: 355
From: Andover, MN
Registered: Dec 2013
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posted 03-20-2014 04:31 PM
I received in the mail today two 8X10 photos nicely signed by Mr. Kraft. I had sent them on March 6. I'm thrilled to add these to my collection and appreciate Mr. Kraft's willingness to sign. |
neo1022
Member Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 03-26-2014 11:03 PM
Did he sign the photos personalized or unpersonalized?
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SpaceyInMN
Member Posts: 355
From: Andover, MN
Registered: Dec 2013
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posted 03-27-2014 07:04 AM
He signed the photos unpersonalized. I'm not opposed to personalized signatures, as my collection is strictly for my own enjoyment and not for profit, but I never request a personalization when I send an item to be signed. I try to keep my requests as simple as possible to prevent any errors or to impose on the signer more than I already am by my autograph request. |
neo1022
Member Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 03-27-2014 06:42 PM
I understand. I was asking because many "free" signers insist on personalization in order to prevent the items from ending up on eBay as soon as they send them back! I've got a nice old NASA book with an essay by Kraft — I think I'll send it off to him for signing... |
sprocketship
Member Posts: 72
From:
Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 08-19-2014 09:55 PM
I'm interested in your thoughts on this one.I sent a letter of inquiry to Mr. Kraft asking if he would be willing to sign 2 photos for me. I included a self addressed stamped postcard. On the postcard, I asked that he check or circle "yes"or "no". What I got back was his autograph signed between the yes and no on the postcard. Not exactly what I was expecting. I'm not sure if I should just send him a pair of stills and see if he will sign them or if I should leave the man alone. Your thoughts? |
neo1022
Member Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 08-19-2014 11:19 PM
As of earlier this year, he was signing (and was quite nice in all interactions). Didn't seem put-out at all by the requests, as long as postage was included... |
sprocketship
Member Posts: 72
From:
Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 08-21-2014 02:46 PM
Please don't misunderstand me. I don't know if he was put off or not. I'm not trying to put words in his mouth.I figured check Yes or No made sense. For all I know, he was busy, didn't even read the attached letter, saw there was a stamp on the postcard and signed it. I just don't want to be a pest to Mr. Kraft by sending photos if he isn't receptive to them. Of course, the NASA enthusiast and collector in me wants to send them. If I send them, the worst that can happen is that he sends them back unsigned or doesn't send them back at all... |
Mike_The_First
Member Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 10-30-2014 10:03 AM
I sent Kraft a copy of his book with a Priority Mail SASE a couple weeks ago, got it yesterday. Beautifully signed and inscribed on the dedication page in black Sharpie.I need a little help making out the inscription. I'm handwriting challenged. [Image removed] |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 10-30-2014 10:57 AM
Looks like "Best regards to, then under his name NASA's first Flight Director(s)? And then two further names I can't make out unfortunately. |
lspooz
Member Posts: 384
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Aug 2012
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posted 10-30-2014 11:21 AM
Looks like you got a double signature!! I read this as Best regards to Mike White,
Chris Kraft, NASA's first flight director
Chris Kraft - Red Flight
White Flight: Kranz
10/20/14 Very nice! |
Mike_The_First
Member Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 10-30-2014 11:21 AM
I was thinking something like that too for the last line, but the second word doesn't look like his usual capital "F", compared to that in "First", "Flt", "Flight".It looks to me (both in person and off the picture — sometimes one looks different than the other) like: Best regards to Mike White
[Signature]
NASA's First Flt Director
[Signature]-Red Flight
[Illegible]
10/20/14 But I could be seriously wrong on that. |
neo1022
Member Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 10-30-2014 01:37 PM
I agree with Larry (lspooz) — hard to read, but I think he nailed it. Glad the book finally made it back to you! |
Mike_The_First
Member Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 10-30-2014 01:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by neo1022:
Glad the book finally made it back to you!
Me too. It's dated around when he would've received it, so he probably waited to take them to the PO until he had a few packages.Gave me a few scares though; I really thought he didn't sign in at first flipping through. But it's really beautiful as is. I didn't know what to expect when I requested the "First Flight Director" and "Red Flight" inscriptions, but he really went went above and beyond for me. I love it. When it comes to historical autographs, I'm really starting to get into post-signature inscriptions, especially in books. |
Skyguy48
Member Posts: 142
From: Scotland
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 11-02-2014 03:54 PM
quote:
Originally posted by lspooz:
Looks like you got a double signature!!
Yep. Well spotted that's what I got too.
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Mike_The_First
Member Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 05-11-2015 10:17 PM
In addressing Chris Kraft, what is his title?I've been assuming "Mr.", but is there something higher up that I should be using? |
Buel
Member Posts: 649
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 05-22-2015 07:42 AM
Mike, very impressive signing. I have found Kraft incredibly kind when asked to sign items. What a man!Personally, I would go with "Dr Kraft." Hope this helps. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-22-2015 08:11 AM
Kraft did not earn a doctorate, and so "Dr. Kraft" would not be appropriate. NASA refers to him as Mr. Kraft. |
sprocketship
Member Posts: 72
From:
Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 08-05-2015 12:55 AM
Tonight, I received a signed photo from Mr. Kraft after only having sent it out about two weeks ago.That was very kind of him to do and in such a short amount of time, too.
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Dooku1996
Member Posts: 69
From: Terre Haute, IN 47805
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 05-19-2017 09:16 AM
A friend of mine sent a package to be autographed to Chris Kraft to his normal address and received it today with refused written on it. Has Mr. Kraft changed his autograph policy? My friend was hoping to get his book signed. Thanks! |
JasonB
Member Posts: 1091
From:
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 05-19-2017 10:14 AM
I know I have sent a larger than an envelope item to him in the past and they refused it due to them having to deal with it. Probably due to the post office not picking up packages like that anymore. I sent a letter asking if there was a way to get my item signed and got a very nice note from Mrs. Kraft explaining why they sent it back and that if I remailed it she'd keep an eye out for it. I did and got it back signed. I even offered to pay for the trouble but they declined money.It may just be he doesn't sign anymore too though (hopefully not). He is 93 now. |
SpaceyInMN
Member Posts: 355
From: Andover, MN
Registered: Dec 2013
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posted 05-19-2017 10:19 AM
I don't know if I've ever actually seen any official signing policy from Mr. Kraft. He has been kind enough to sign items in the past, including a copy of his book that I sent him almost a year ago. I was actually going to send another copy to him this weekend to get signed to give to my brother for his 50th birthday in July, so I'll be curious to hear if others have likewise been refused recently.He is 93 and has been very generous with signing in the past, so it would be understandable if he has chosen to stop doing so at this point. Out of curiosity, did your friend send return postage? I know when I sent him a book last year, I sent a priority mail box, a prepaid shipping label, and a roll of packing tape so that Mr. Kraft wouldn't incur any cost of his own to send the book back. |
Dooku1996
Member Posts: 69
From: Terre Haute, IN 47805
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 05-19-2017 05:39 PM
Thanks for the responses guys! My friend did send a SASE with return postage. That's interesting though but it does make sense. Maybe my friend should just write a letter then asking him. I don't think it would hurt. I absolutely concur though that if he is done signing, it wouldn't be for a lack of it. He signed a book for me two years ago. I know many have similar stories. I'll keep you updated on what happens. |
Silver
Member Posts: 62
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2015
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posted 05-19-2017 09:16 PM
Mr. Kraft was kind enough to sign a copy of his book for me late last year by mail. However, I recently sent him a photo tube with an item to sign and it was returned unopened. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 10-20-2017 12:11 PM
He's been refusing smaller items as well. I do believe his mail signings are over. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 10-20-2017 05:55 PM
Perhaps he got annoyed that many of the same people are repeatedly writing to him for autographs.After a while, they surely must start recognizing the same names over and over again. |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 10-20-2017 06:05 PM
If you send him a question about payload specialists you'll likely receive a lecture. More about his role in the payload specialist program in the 2018 release (we hope) of our Outward Odyssey payload specialist book.I still have his email response and enjoy reading it from time to time. |
Buel
Member Posts: 649
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 10-21-2017 04:25 AM
On behalf of Mr. Kraft, I can confirm that he and his wife are no longer accepting autograph requests.From a personal point of view, I'm surprised he carried on as long as he did. |
Mike_The_First
Member Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 12-08-2017 11:14 AM
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
Perhaps he got annoyed that many of the same people are repeatedly writing to him for autographs.
Not to mention the number of them that somehow found their way to eBay. |
Steve Zarelli
Member Posts: 731
From: Upstate New York, USA
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 12-09-2017 08:18 AM
It's surprising to me how many of these older folks sign for as long as they do. Even if it's only 10 requests a week, it's a lot of work and logistics in keeping track of packages... boxes filling their home and then having to make sure that stuff is mailed back properly. Especially when these folks get to a more advanced age, it has to be a big hassle.And they're doing this all for free. The cherry on top is when they see these items being sold for profit shortly after they were signed. I can't blame them for stopping at all. |
Daniel Lazecky
Member Posts: 480
From: Czech Republic-Europe
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 12-09-2017 11:34 AM
A wonderful day. I very much agree with Steve too. He is also very right.I am now correcting the link to my Kraft as well. I have new pages from my collection as well. His wonderful autograph in my collection is something knee for 20 years already. |
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