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Author
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Topic: 220992001475: STS-4 crew patch on card
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Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1082
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 04-08-2012 08:44 AM
   
I have been watching this Vintage NASA STS-4 Crew Patch on Contribution Presentation Card since it was first listed a week ago. It is described as: Here is a Vintage and Original NASA STS-4 Crew Patch. The Patch is affixed to a 8 1/2 x 11 inch card. The card contains the facsimile signatures of the STS-4 Crew.The patch is fully embroidered. The Card reads: "The STS-4 flight emblem represents the fourth and final flight of the Orbital Test Program. Flight four expands our knowledge of the thermal environment of the Orbiter and further demonstrates its payload carrying capability, opening the way to the operational era. It is presented in appreciation of your contribution to our Mission. The Patch is 2 1/2 x 4 Inches and in Excellent Condition. The card is in Very Fine Condition. I have looked hard at this 'crew' patch and the only difference I can see to the normal original AB Emblem souvenir patch which was available at the time of the mission, is that this one has a small light red or pink section in the fold of the red, white and blue vapour trail from the shuttle to where it joins the figure 4 around the Earth.(Lion Brothers also manufactured their version of this patch with the light red or pink section in the fold of the vapour trail, but their patch was much bigger at 3 1/4 x 6 inches). Is this another 'crew worn' variant patch like in the recently discovered STS-3 'crew' patch? The bidding on this item has been steadily rising over the past few days from the start price of $9.95 to a staggering $81.80 with 12 bids from 5 bidders so far. Is this an example of another 'crew worn' variant patch that is attracting a lot of interest? This lot has had 81 viewers so far. |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 04-08-2012 04:57 PM
I don't have a collection of vintage AB Shuttle patches any more but I can say that the STS-4 I had didn't have this lighter red fill area.Another difference I can see between the one on sale here and the reference image I have of an AB patch is that my old one was embroidered onto red twill backing cloth, the color of which was visible around the trimmed edges. The one on sale here is on white twill which is clearly visible around the top edges of the patch. Unfortunately I don't have access to high-res pictures showing the patches worn by the STS-4 crew. The low-res versions I have don't show the patches in anything like enough detail to see if the version on sale here is the one the crew wore. The best I could find in my own records was an image of a matching AB patch (with lighter fill insert white backing exposed to the edges) on an NASM card, which means this version was commercially available at least. Indeed, this version may be quite common, who knows? Until someone can come up with a high-res picture of the patches worn by the crew it's not possible to say if this is a 'crew' patch or just an AB variant. I do hope this doesn't turn into another $200+ patch for no good reason. Hopefully the current highish price of this listing is based on the fact that it's a fairly uncommon presentation piece rather than on the patch. |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1082
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 04-08-2012 09:24 PM
Sorry Chris but this STS-4 patch on card has just sold for a staggering $179.50 with 15 bids from 5 bidders. This lot had 126 viewers on the counter. |
idrvball
Member Posts: 150
From: Burke, VA USA
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 04-09-2012 03:01 PM
This was my item that I sold on eBay yesterday. I acquired it in a collection from an ex NASA Employee. I will look and see if I can find out who this came from. If I can't be 100% sure, I'll try to narrow it down to a few individuals. |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1082
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 04-09-2012 03:19 PM
Many thanks for this information Mike. It will be a great help if you can. |
idrvball
Member Posts: 150
From: Burke, VA USA
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 04-10-2012 07:20 AM
I looked at this, and believe this came from Dr. Sylvia Rose, because I found another patch WITHOUT the card in with her collection. And, this other patch matches exactly with the same pink section in the vapor trail. Dr. Rose worked with NASA on biological and medical programs during Apollo up through the Shuttle. Among her items were also two of the STS-1 four color crew patches, and one of the STS-3 crew patches with the yellow, as well as about every other of the early STS Flight crew patches. Hope this helps. |
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