posted 01-25-2020 07:27 AM               

Space Cover 549: Moonwalker Jim Irwin: A Tribute

USAF Col. James B. Irwin, Apollo 15 astronaut and the 8th man to walk on the moon, passed away in 1991 at age 61.

Apollo 15 was Irwin's only spaceflight, but he was part of one of the Apollo Program's most significant and adventurous flights to the moon. Many firsts were accomplished by Apollo 15, including the first landing in the lunar highlands, between mountains peaking at over 3 miles high; the first use of the Lunar Roving Vehicle, providing transport for three 7-hour EVAs, totaling over 17.5 miles of lunar exploration; and the first EVA between the earth and the moon. But perhaps, mostly, and unfortunately, Apollo 15 will always be remembered for the unauthorized carrying of over 400 postal covers on the flight, 100 of which were for a foreign citizen.

The top cover above marks the Apollo 15 moonlanding and was nicely signed and inscribed by Irwin. The Artcraft FDC below it was signed in person for me in 1974 at one of Irwin's "To Rule the Night" book signings.

The top cover is one of the Bishop "former" Apollo 15 insurance covers of the type now not considered an actual insurance cover. However, it came directly from Jim Irwin via Ken Havekotte and is the type that many still consider insurance covers. The cover below it is an exceptionally signed/inscribed Titusville-Moonport Stamp Club Apollo 15 launch cover.

Pictured here is one of the infamous Apollo 15 flown covers, shown with part of a lunar surface litho showing the Lunar Module Falcon, in which this cover and about 400 others were stored while on the moon.

After retiring from NASA, at least partly because of the Apollo 15 cover fiasco, Irwin founded the Christian organization, High Flight Foundation. Irwin was one of the most accessible and cooperative signers of the early astronauts and also one of the first to ask for a fee to sign ($5), but it was actually a contribution to his HFF. With the very modest fee/contribution, he provided an autographed lunar surface litho, as above, or would sign material sent to him (as this collector took full advantage of).

Col Irwin was one of the nicest of the Apollo astronauts and a very cooperative signer. Signed covers by him are easy to find, but surprisingly, his signed Apollo white spacesuit portrait lithos are very scarce and, ironically, often sell for more than WSSs signed by Neil Armstrong.

posted 02-01-2020 06:15 PM               

The Falcon LMP was my first "real" or face-to-face astronaut encounter on a more personal level after Apollo 15 flew to the moon. Col. Irwin had been invited to speak at my church on Merritt Island in 1972. After the worship service, I did manage to slowly walk on over to where he was standing, posing for pictures and signing autographs, and asked the recent-former NASA astronaut if he would sign an Apollo 15 launch cover of mine. At the time, I was a timid 15-year-old high school student with a speech impediment.

He said to me, "Sure thing son," and signed my cover and continued to strike up a "comfortable" conversation and wanted me to stay in contact by writing to him in Colorado Springs. Of course, I said, "Yes sir, I would love to!" Needless to say, I was flabbergasted to find myself actually talking to a real-live Apollo astronaut! It was the start of a special life-long friendship between us and later with several Irwin family members.

Below are just a few of my favorite Jim Irwin signed covers and crew items in honor of this outstanding individual that had been an important and cherished part of my life, and still is in heart and spirit, as he was a true brother in Christ.

I've tried not to duplicate any of Bob's signed covers, but I did include a few similar crew-signed ONC's with good inscriptions that I thought would be fun to share.

Irwin's charge of $5 for a signed photo of him on the moon saluting the flag with the lunar module and rover was during the later years of his Christian High Flight ministry. During the foundation's earlier years, I think HFF only charged $3 to $3.50 for a signed re-print color litho of that iconic lunar scene.

I do recall during his first public signing here at KSC's Visitors Information Center, it was the first time that the nation's Spaceport tourist complex had an "astronaut encounter" opportunity that I had arranged for Jim and his wife, Mary, on a Florida visit during a spaceflight anniversary of his in July 1987.

It had been posted on the table after Jim's Apollo 15 movie film had been shown in the new Galaxy Theater that astronaut Irwin would be available to sign autographs, however, there would be a small fee for providing the 8" x 10" famous color picture of the 8th moonwalker on the lunar surface highlands as the photos were professionally re-printed in large quantities and paid for by Irwin himself throughout his world-wide travels of the Christian non-profit organization.

Toward the end of the line waiting to see Col. Irwin was a gentleman. He seemed nice enough, however, when he got his HFF-provided photo signed and when Mary asked him for the small fee of only a few dollars, he got real upset and irate to us. "What!" he said in amazement, "You got to be kidding me — you want money for an autograph? It should be free since my taxpayer's money helped you (Irwin) get to the moon." Anyway, I did explain to him that astronaut Irwin's signature is complimentary, at no charge whatsoever — but — that the small "penny" or measly charge was only for the color photograph itself that Irwin had to pay for out of his own pocket. He did pay, but afterwards, stormed out of the facility not being a happy space center camper.

Heck, I thought to myself a couple decades later; Just imagine what that same gentleman would think if he knew what the average astronaut autograph fees are today!

Thanks for the tribute here, Bob, and perhaps others would like to share their Irwin encounters, experiences, memories, and favorite Irwin/crew-signed Apollo 15 covers.

posted 02-06-2020 08:12 AM               

He was the first astronaut I met and I'm sure he was certainly the most cherished and admired astronaut of the many you've met, Ken. Not many of us can say that we had a moonwalker as a good friend!

Interesting story about the person who complained about Irwin charging a nominal fee for his very special lunar surface lithos, which he basically signed for free. If he still has his, its value would be about $100 now and if somehow he had had an Irwin WSS portrait to sign instead, his reluctant $3 investment would be worth over $2,000 now.

Jim Irwin was a wonderful signer and the Apollo 15 crew was one of the best of all the crews about signing and your spectacular display shows that very well.

posted 02-06-2020 01:05 PM               

While several of the signed Apollo 15 covers and other crew-signed items were signed through the mail, however, many others that you see were signed by Irwin and Worden in person at my home(s) on Merritt Island, and during a few occasions, by Irwin in a beach house that he and his family had stayed at when visiting the Florida Space Coast that I had arranged in the Cape/Cocoa Beach area.

While I knew and worked with Irwin on many occasions, and with Worden a lot as well, I was never close nor knew Scott that well. But I was able to arrange a couple of private signings with the veteran Gemini and Apollo astronaut throughout the 1990's and 2000's, but he was never at my home, unfortunately.

Yes, indeed, we lost Irwin much too early, but in God's way, I do believe it was the Lord's perfect timing in calling him back home.

posted 02-18-2020 05:01 PM               

I brought about two dozen baseball caps with me and distributed everyone there. My cap bears the signatures of Irwin, Weiss and myself, along with those of Leo Malz, Sean Marsar, Les Winick, and Ben Ramkissoon.

I recall that Irwin was selling his flown-to-the-moon covers for $1,900 each. That was much too far out of my spending budget. I don't know if any were sold. Ben had an Apollo 11 flown to the moon cover already so I don't believe that he bought one. Winick or Malz may have. Luckily I was able get one "by accident" several years ago.

posted 02-18-2020 06:04 PM               

We did highlight a flown Sieger moon cover auction sale, but unfortunately, it didn't go in a price range that we had expected. But it was a single moon cover on the auction block at that event, with no others available.

The auction for the lunar cover was handled by a well-known stamp dealer in Chicago/NY, but at the time, we were hoping for at least $3.5K, but it did not reach that high.

After showing Irwin's personal Apollo 15 movie, he was kind enough to answer questions and sign space covers afterwards, and in those days, at no charge.

posted 02-20-2020 11:32 AM               

This was my first ever SU get together. I missed getting the word that Irwin would be there. So when the autograph line started to form up, I muttered something to the effect that I didn't have any Apollo 15 material with me. A hand came over my shoulder holding an Apollo 15 cover, and a voice said "Now you do"! That's how I met Bob Boyd and Ray Cartier — true gentlemen who became fast friends.

posted 02-20-2020 05:09 PM               

Astronaut Jim Irwin is seen seated on the couch, long time friend and collector Dennis Dillman is seen standing to the far right, next to Dennis is me.

To the far left back row standing is my brother Bob, in front of my brother in the light blue T-shirt is long time friend and collector Dennis Ranski. Next to Dennis in the light brown suit is long time dealer and collector Sean Marsar. The young man kneeling in the gray suit is long time friend and dealer and collector Ken Havekotte.

posted 02-20-2020 06:34 PM               

That's J.L. Pickering on the couch with Irwin, Ray Cartier and Bob Boyd behind me, and I think Bob Glass in the black coat and tie. The SUer in the brown shirt and jacket might be Pete Sarmiento or Leo Malz, however, I am not sure of any others not identified as yet, but I do not see Les Winick and Ben Ramkissoon in the room, also, one of them could be Ken Freund, unless Ken didn't attend the gathering. And let's not forget one of them could be the photographer not shown.

Does anyone know the guy to Irwin's left leaning on the couch in a white shirt and tie, also to my right? I just can't place him.

posted 02-20-2020 06:46 PM               

Jim Irwin gave a speech about the Apollo 15 mission, he discussed the flown Apollo 15 covers which was great to hear about and afterwards Jim was so kind to everyone answering all the questions anyone had and autographed covers and photos for anyone who asked.

posted 02-20-2020 07:22 PM               

Actually Bob Boyd is behind Ranski and Marsar. Ray Cartier is in the ballcap.

And Bob Glass in a coat and tie? Naa, couldn't be! RIP Bob...