Sotheby’s is holding its first space exploration-themed auction since the early 1990s, when it auctioned off Russian space history artifacts. The July 20 auction coincides with the 48th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and offers objects from both the American and Soviet space programs. To view the full catalogue, visit sothebys.com.
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The most expensive object is lot number 102 from Apollo 11, a flown contingency lunar sample return decontamination bag. This was the bag used by Neil Armstrong to bring back the very first samples of the moon ever collected. Estimated value: between $2 and $4 million dollars. -
Lot number 111 is a signed photograph of the Apollo 11 crew. This vintage official NASA portrait of the crew in their white space suits is signed by Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin. They wrote, “To Nick Petrou – With Thanks for Making Lunar TV a Reality.” Estimated value: between $5,000 and $7,000. -
The second most expensive object is lot number 13, featuring four telephoto panoramas of the complex impact crater Aristarchus. Each panorama is comprised of eight mounted silver gelatin prints; the photos were taken from an altitude of 80 miles. Estimated value: between $100,000 and $125,000. -
Lot number 64 is a Gemini G1C spacesuit thermal cover layer made for Gus Grissom, circa 1962. The suit contains the NASA “meatball” logo on the left chest, holes for oxygen and communication connectors, and has some orange discoloration due to oxidization of the aluminized coating. Estimated value: between $40,000 and $60,000. -
Lot number 44 is a records file by USSR citizen cosmonaut Yuli Alexeyevich Gagarin. He documented his 1961 flight on the spaceship-sputnik Vostok; this English-languge report was prepared for submission to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale and is signed by Gagarin and the chief engineers. Estimated value: between $50,000 and $80,000. -
Lot number 24 is an original oil on artist’s board illustration by Chesley Bonestell titled “Uranus Two Hours Before Encounter on February 1, 1984 (Launch From Earth January 29, 1979).” This was created as part of a collaboration between Bonestell and Arthur C. Clarke. Estimated value: between $6,000 and $9,000. -
Lot number 95 is an Apollo 11 emblem, one of the few flown Neil Armstrong signed mission artifacts. The emblem is signed by crew members Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. The provenance includes certification by Collins that he inscribed “Carried to the moon aboard Apollo XI, July 1969” above the emblem. Estimated value: between $40,000 and $60,000. -
Lot number 52 is an iconic photograph (20 by 16 inches) of the Mercury astronauts wearing their silver space suits and helmets. It is signed by Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper and Wally Schirra. Estimated value: between $2,500 and $3,500. -
Lot number 103 is an Apollo lunar sample return bag. This is an initial design created as NASA began making plans for the handling of lunar material, with the goal of biological containment. Estimated value: between $25,000 and $35,000. -
Lot number 86 is a collection of flight crew emblems for all Apollo manned missions. The Apollo 12 through 17 emblems feature their respective mission number hidden in the embroidery. Hallmarks are located in Apollo 12’s clipper ship dust trail, in a horse mane just below the sun for Apollo 13, upside-down in the white lunar surface for Apollo 14, just above the “D” in Worden on the Apollo 15 emblem, under the gold vector on the right for Apollo 16, and in the shoulder of god Apollo for Apollo 17. Estimated value: between $1,200 and $1,800. -
Lot number 105 is a flown Apollo 11 checklist taken to the lunar surface. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin realigned their onboard navigation equipment by taking star sightings through an onboard telescope. Estimated value: between $25,000 and $35,000. -
Lot number 33 is comprised of a custom command/service module model in four parts. It stands 20 inches tall and was most likely done by the Walter J. Hyatt Company and probably for Lockheed. The Command Module features a removable magnetic apical section that lifts to reveal molded parachutes. Estimated value: between $5,000 and $7,000. -
Lot number 106 is a flown Apollo 11 flight plan with extensive mission notes made by moon walkers Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. The annotations made by Armstrong are in blue ink and those made by Aldrin are with a black marker. Estimated value: between $25,000 and $35,000. -
Lot number 69 is photograph of Gemini 5 Astronauts Gordon Cooper and Charles “Pete” Conrad on the recovery ship after their record-breaking eight day flight in 1965. It is inscribed and signed: “You need a shave, Charles Conrad” with the reply inscription “Maybe tomorrow! Gordon Cooper.” Estimated value: between $1,500 and $2,000. -
Lot number 140 is labeled, “Houston, we’ve had a problem here.” This is the flown Apollo 13 flight plan and includes an inscription to the Apollo 13 lead flight planner Robert “Bob” Lindsey. Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert writes, “To Bob – A truly perfect flight plan as far as we got. We know it would have led us by the hand the rest of the way also. Thanks for this remarkable document which we carried to the moon on Odyssey 11, 17 April 1970. Fred Haise, James Lovell, Jack Swigert.” Estimated value: between $30,000 and $40,000. -
An inside view of lot number 140, the flown Apollo 13 flight plan with notations by Mission Commander James Lovell (black felt-tip pen), Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert (blue ball-point pen), Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise (pencil) and pre-flight notations by Ken Mattingly (red felt-tip pen). Estimated value: between $30,000 and $40,000. -
Lot number 94 is a signed Snoopy Astronaut doll, a mascot signed by the Apollo 10 Lunar Module Pilot Gene Cernan. Estimated value: between $2,000 and $3,000. -
Lot number 6 is from Lunar Orbiter I and is labeled “Man’s First Look at the Earth From the Moon, 23 August 1966.” This might be the most famous of the Lunar Orbiter images. The silver gelatin print was taken by the orbiter after responding to commands sent from Earth a quarter million miles away. Estimated value: between $4,000 and $6,000.
