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Author
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Topic: Alan Shepard pre-flight photography test label?
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hbw60
Member Posts: 350
From:
Registered: Aug 2018
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posted 03-13-2025 12:41 PM
   
A few weeks ago, the collection of NASA Spacecraft Operator Clark McClelland was auctioned. I won a binder full of signed photos in that auction. When it arrived today, I removed the Alan Shepard photo and found that there was a second piece of paper behind it. It appears to be a trimmed envelope portion, containing a photography test label signed by Shepard. But what really caught my eye is that both the label and the Shepard signature are dated "5-5-61" - the day Shepard became the first American in space! If this item was actually signed on that date, it would be a very special signature. It seems possible that this came from a final pre-launch camera test on the morning of the flight. But I wanted to ask about it here first. Can anyone provide any further information about this item?  |
gareth89
Member Posts: 728
From: Ireland
Registered: May 2014
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posted 03-13-2025 02:08 PM
I don’t have any info to give you about the label, just wanted to say congratulations on your acquisition, very nice indeed. It looks to me to be Shepard signing off on a piece of equipment, maybe the film for the onboard camera. It’s definitely a lot more than just a signature, it’s a little part of his checklist ahead of his historic flight! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 54246
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-13-2025 02:49 PM
"Test 108" was the designation for the launch of Mercury-Redstone 3. So any reels made of the flight, whether original or copies, could have had that numbering and date as a reference. It would be similar (though not exactly like) writing "AS-506" and "7/16/69" on a tape for Apollo 11. I do wonder about the tear just above Shepard's signature. Maybe it is nothing, but it also looks like it could have been made to remove a personalization. The tear seems to be at the same angle as the signature and date. |
4allmankind
Member Posts: 1143
From: Dallas TX
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 03-13-2025 08:32 PM
Cool piece - I can’t add anything about this exact item but I can confirm that I’ve seen a few instances of Alan Shepard signing an item related to his Mercury flight with the 5/5/1961 date addition in his hand though the item was clearly not signed on that day. |
hbw60
Member Posts: 350
From:
Registered: Aug 2018
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posted 03-16-2025 11:59 AM
Thanks so much for the detailed information and comments! I'm so grateful for the people here!I'm a bit sad to hear that this almost certainly wasn't signed on the launch date. But considering that it was an unexpected surprise to obtain this in the first place, I'm still just thrilled to have it. Also, I think you're right about the removed personalization, Robert. The angle/position matches up. There seems to be the slightest hint of blue ink residue in the "pit". And the erosion itself looks to me like someone went at it really harshly with an eraser. I don't know why someone would rather deface the item than keep the inscription. Maybe it's for the same reason that Clark decided to keep this hidden. In the binder, the page opposite to the Shepard photo was left empty. But instead of displaying this item in that empty slot, he kept it hidden behind the photo, out of view. I can't think of a reason why he'd want to do that. Anyway, many thanks again! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 54246
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-16-2025 12:52 PM
Without speaking too much ill of the dead, in his life, Clark McClelland was known to add and remove inscriptions from otherwise authentic signed photos to serve as evidence of his alleged closeness to the astronauts or to key missions in history. This was all done to support some his more wild conspiratorial claims.To be clear, all of the autographs in the auction were reviewed by trusted people, so there is no reason for concern. I confirmed with the auction house prior to the sale that none of McClelland's known questionable inscriptions were part of the auction. It is pure speculation, but McClelland may have removed the personalization because it was not made out to him and he wanted to claim it was something he got directly from Shepard. |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1051
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 03-16-2025 03:33 PM
Why does it say Shepardt? ... Oh, it is "Jr". |
Ross
Member Posts: 569
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 03-18-2025 06:19 AM
I believe your second guess is correct. It is Jr. |
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