|
Author
|
Topic: Appraising Apollo 14 support team letter
|
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
|
posted 08-27-2016 04:49 PM
   
I am sure most collectors are familiar with the Apollo era team letter that where given to almost all Kennedy Space Center workers and support staff. They where part of the Manned Flight Awareness program and had the printed signatures of the crew and a mission decal.Well I am in possession of the original Apollo 14 team letter that all of the copies were made from. As I have never seen one of these in the collector's market I was hoping someone would know if there are any others originals out there? Just to double check I will be having this authenticated next week but I am 100% sure this is the real deal original. This will be going to auction at the Space Walk of Fame charity auction in October. I have no idea how to value this as it was reproduced in vast quantities so it is a well known item in copy form. If anyone would have an idea of fair market value that would also be appreciated. This is a true find. Please see the picture below.  |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
|
posted 08-29-2016 06:49 PM
I see there where no reply on the Apollo 14 letter, Would it add any interest if I also had the Apollo 16 original signed KSC team letter? Again I have no idea of value I would appreciate some feedback. |
CMikeW
Member Posts: 89
From: United States
Registered: Apr 2013
|
posted 08-29-2016 08:38 PM
First the signatures look good to me, but I'm just an old guy. I'm going to say the value is that of a signed letter by the respective crews plus some premium for what the documents are. The Apollo 14 letter is probably worth a bit more since all three are deceased. Next. |
schnappsicle
Member Posts: 396
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Jan 2012
|
posted 08-30-2016 07:22 AM
It is a great find, but they're not my cup of tea. I'm more into signed photos than letters, and there's no amazing content in either letter. Nothing that says "I accept your offer to fly for NASA" or anything like that. They're both just ordinary letters with some very extraordinary signatures. To me, the only value to those letters are in the signatures. If I had to put a price on them, I'd say about $1,500 each letter. Maybe it's just me, but I see signed photos selling for more than signed letters, unless of course the letter has some amazing content. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 08-30-2016 12:03 PM
I would suggest, if possible, obtaining a set of the reproduced letters and their accompanying mission emblems to be included with the original. For some, the value proposition would be greater if the original can be presented side-by-side with what was sent to the KSC team members. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2914
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 08-30-2016 02:42 PM
I am sure Chuck can also provide the original printed letters on NASA/MSC stationery along with the actual decal stickers. If not Chuck, I have several of them that can be used as a supplement to the auction lot(s) that I would gladly donate for the next SWOF auction. |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
|
posted 08-30-2016 03:24 PM
I thank everyone for the input and opinions. I have one more to add to the list for Apollo 17. The Apollo 14 and 17 have two variations of the letter but only one signed. Robert, I will include, with Ken's help, one of the printed letters for each original as I can only find an Apollo 16 copy at my house. Here is a picture of the Apollo 17 to complete the set.  |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2914
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 08-30-2016 03:54 PM
A complete "set" would include similar KSC team letters from Apollo 15, all three Skylabs, and Apollo-Soyuz. I don't recall similar "team letters" given out for the early manned Apollos, but other-type letters were distributed to the KSC launch/support team, but not with the later printed crew signatures, though. Other additional types of printed KSC team letters, however, were "signed" by KSC Center Director Kurt Debus and later Lee Scherer. |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
|
posted 09-06-2016 03:04 PM
Well it would seem as we have found the Apollo 14, 15, 16, 17, Skylab 1, 2, 3 and the ASTP team letters, but I was told this weekend that these letters went back to Apollo 11.Has anyone ever seen a KSC team letter before Apollo 14 and if so would you please post a copy? |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2914
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 09-06-2016 03:16 PM
Not that I can recall Chuck, especially after acquiring hundreds of aerospace collections in my lifetime (and with most from the Cape/KSC area), do I recall seeing similar astronaut crew signed/printed KSC team support letters prior to Apollo 14.There were similar letters and award certificates, of many types, given to contractor company workers here (i.e. Rockwell, Grumman, Boeing, MDAC, IBM, etc.), but they did not contain printed astronaut signatures as a KSC or CCAFS "team letter," though. |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 873
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
|
posted 09-06-2016 09:27 PM
Thank you Ken. |
Go4Launch
Member Posts: 542
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003
|
posted 09-06-2016 10:53 PM
Ken is correct; this is because these mission emblem letters were created as part of the Apollo 13 post-accident campaign from the MFA office. |
advertisement