posted 07-11-2024 09:20 AM               

The purpose of these occasional posts is (1) to present autograph material from earlier times; (2) present more unusual material; and (3) material usually seldom seen. But Buzz Aldrin's autograph is certainly not seldom seen and few among us collectors would not have at least one Aldrin autograph. But these several Aldrin autographs presented here are mostly on unusual material and most came via a very unusual source (an automotive dealership).

Buzz Aldrin (now 94 years old) was associated with Hillcrest Motors on ritzy Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills, CA, and for a short time would sign material mailed to him at that location. He indicated that he would completely stop signing on the tenth anniversary of Apollo 11 in 1979. So I quickly took advantage of this unique opportunity and ended up with several items signed by him during that brief window of opportunity.

But first, here is a form letter from 1973 prepared by Joan Aldrin and added to by him, "EEA", informing me that he chooses not to commercialize (his decision changed later), but kindly enclosed two nicely autographed items - a card and the photo card shown above. Those two autographs had to satisfy me for several years until late 1977 when I learned that he would sign collector material sent to the previously mentioned Hillcrest Motors dealership.

Sent to Aldrin at the Hillcrest Motors dealership were these two Apollo 11 recovery ship covers and nicely signed by him. At the top, a very desirable Apollo 11 Morris Beck printed cachet USS Hornet Prime Recovery Ship cover and below, a USS Ozark secondary recovery ship cover with "Apollo 11" added. Both are somewhat seldom seen, especially autographed.

Also via requests sent to Aldrin c/o Hillcrest Motors are these two Apollo 11 anniversary covers: at the top, an official NASA/KSC cacheted cover for the Apollo 11 first anniversary and below, from the Smithsonian's Milestones of Flight anniversary series, an Apollo 11 third anniversary cover, signed by Aldrin.

These excellent Aldrin autographs had to hold me for a number of years until Aldrin began his "Encounter with Tiber" book tour. A newspaper clipping above advertised Aldrin's visit to Atlanta on his book tour in 1996.

Russ Still (collector and author of "Relics of the Space Race" books) arranged for Aldrin to appear at his business while in Atlanta and sell and sign his books there. This great opportunity was made available to a number of us space collectors in the Atlanta area and at Russ's business Aldrin agreed to sign one collector item for each book sold (I bought two). The famous photo of Aldrin on the moon, above, was a result of that book signing for me. I meekly asked him to add his famous words upon stepping on the moon, "Magnificent Desolation", with his autograph. He hesitated and mentioned about the increased value it would add, but then added it. Many years later, to sign such a photo and add that historic quote, his fee would have been extremely high - I got mine for $21.95 - the cost of his signed book. In the "old days", such amazing opportunities were not uncommon (Gene Cernan's book tour also similarly resulted in much collector signed material).

posted 07-11-2024 10:05 AM               

Below is a page for my Apollo 16 album. Most of my Apollo mission albums begin with a KSC VIP postcard dated at liftoff, but my Apollo 16 album is fairly unusual - I have four pages of roll-out, roll back, and second roll out covers before the lift off date, and then this page to open the 'flight' material.

As you can see, at top I have an Apollo 16 Insurance Cover. Beneath that I have a similar style cover postmarked with a KSC machine cancel for launch date... but it is addressed to Colonel E E Aldrin in his own handwriting.

My research, backed up by opinions expressed on colectSPACE forum threads, would suggest this is Buzz Aldrin sending a launch cover for Apollo 16 to himself.

I have no idea whether this is unique (i.e. the only one he sent) or just rare (i.e. very few exist).

posted 07-11-2024 04:24 PM               

To elaborate a bit more on the encounter with Aldrin, I was in line right behind you when you asked him to add the inscription. My recollection of the incident was that he was not happy when you asked and he complained a good bit about "collectors" before he finally relented and added the inscription. Then when I moved up to the table, he just stared at me for a few seconds almost daring me to ask for his autograph. Lucky for me I had a back up plan that day. I had taken a photo him in a Corvette during an Astronaut Hall of Fame parade in Cocoa Beach several years earlier and I decided I'd bring a print for him to keep as well as one for him to sign for me. I think that greased the wheels a bit for me.

posted 07-12-2024 07:13 AM               

Yes, that was me that asked him to add "Magnificent Desolation" to my photo. I've always felt a little bad at causing Buzz to be upset, but he got over it and I got a real prize for my $21.95 .

Buzz didn't appear to be in a very good mood that day after he realized that he had been lured into a den of autograph-hungry collectors at Russ's flight simulation shop.

We all got autographed "Tiber" books along with our extra autographs, but I wonder how many of us collectors ever read "Tiber"? I never read mine (Joel, you?).