posted 03-30-2005 01:16 AM               

Aurora Galleries International Inc. is pleased to announce that its April 23 & 24th, 2005 Space and Aviation Memorabilia Auction will include the "Translation Control Handle" from the Apollo 11 Command Module, Columbia. This handle was used by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to pilot the Columbia from Earth to the Moon and back during their historic mission to make man's first landing on the lunar surface. (Est: $50,000 - $60,000).

Over 1,300 lots of museum-quality aviation and space memorabilia included in this auction span the history of international aviation and space flight, from ballooning, to the dawn of flight, early rocketry and the U.S., Soviet and Chinese manned space programs as well items flown aboard as last year's successful flight of Space Ship One. The entire gamut of memorabilia is represented in this sale, from a strong selection of astronaut, cosmonaut and taikonaut (Chinese) autographs, to literature and technical manuals, equipment and artifacts used in manned space flight, autographs, models and art. All collectors, from entry level to museums, can find items in this sale to add to their collections.

Auction HD has filmed a one-hour special about this auction, to be broadcast about April 16th (watch for it on your local cable or satellite network), featuring some of the unusual items in this sale.

Some of the other notable items in the auction include:

Extremely rare Access Badges for Peenemunde, the top secret German rocket development base run by Wernher von Braun during World War II. (Est: 2,000 – 3,000 each). We also have an extensive selection of V2 artifacts and very rare Peenemunde photographs.

The official NASA timelogs used at Cape Canaveral at the beginning of the manned space program (Est: $300 - $500)

A photograph autographed by all seven of the original Mercury astronauts: Scott Carpenter, Cordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra and Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton (Est: $3,500 - $5,000)

Prototype Mercury Pressure Suit

Gold plated Flightline medallion flown aboard Gemini XI from the Richard Gordon collection (Est: $5, 000 - $7,000)

A solid selection of Apollo era space food (estimates vary) and an Apollo water dispenser

Complete Apollo Medical Accessories Kit, complete with original medical supplies carried aboard the spacecraft (Est: $1, 000 - $1,500)

An entire, unused roll of Kapton foil, still in the original manufacturer's box.

The three tools designed by NASA and used to open the Apollo 1 command module hatch. These tools were part of the investigation into the fire and were subsequently obsoleted by a redesign of the spacecraft hatch for future missions. They come from the personal collection of NASA's Pad Fire Chief. (Est: 5,000 - $7,000).

A Turtle (bank) signed by the Head Potentate Turtle himself, Wally Schirra (Est: $100 - $125)

Flown Apollo 8 Heatshield Plug encased in Lucite (Est: $500 - $750)

Apollo 9 Mission Patch carried to the lunar surface by David Scott (Est: $5,000 - $7,000)

Apollo 9 Flown Body Sensor (Est:$ 1,500 - $2,000)

Flag Flown to the Moon on Apollo 11, from the Michael Collins collection. (Est: $5,000 - $7,000)

Flag flown to the Lunar Surface aboard Apollo 11 with autographs by Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin on the very early, original style NASA presentation board (Est: $20,000 - $30,000). This presentation is VERY rare.

A CSM Operations Checklist flown aboard Apollo 12 (Est: $ 5,000 - $7,000)

Lunar Safety Line flown to the lunar surface aboard Apollo 14 (Est:$ 300 - $500)

US Flag flown to the lunar surface aboard Apollo 14 (Est:$ 5,000 - $6,000)

Ed Mitchell's Apollo 14 Spacesuit A7L gloves (used in training), Serial # 117, made by ILC Industries (Est: $2,500 - $3,000)

Apollo XV Commander David R. Scott's Communication Headset worn on the Lunar Surface (Est: $30,000 - $40,000).

An Astronaut Turtle Pen made by Fisher Space Pen from the David Scott collection (Est: $50 - $75)

Absolutely pristine Jim Irwin Autograph on a NASA white spacesuit color photograph (uninscribed) Photo #S71-56478 (Est:$ 150 - $200)

John Young autograph of himself on the lunar surface during the Apollo 16 mission as he executes "jump up and salute" aka "Jumpin' John"; pristine and signed simply "John Young". (Est:$ 350 - 500)

Harrison Schmitt autograph on a NASA color publicity photograph of him in his business suit.(Est: $100 - $125)

Hardware flown aboard Skylab 2 (Est: $ 250 – 350)

The Magna Carta of space flight– "The Certificate of First International Space Docking" signed in earth orbit in 1975 by the both the U.S. Apollo crew and the Soviet Soyuz crew (one of only 5 copies that were signed). (Est: $30,000 - $50,000).

Photos flown aboard Paul Allen & Burt Rutan's Space Ship One, as well as a beautiful scale model of Space Ship One and White Knight. We also have autographs from Mike Melvill and Brian Binnie.

A number of tiles flown aboard the Shuttle and Shuttle Robbins medallions (Estimates vary)

STS 107 Crew Autographs on a NASA (8 x 10") color lithograph of the STS 51-J launch. This photo may have been one of the last signed by the STS-107 crew prior to the tragedy. (Est: $3,000 - $5,000)

STS 114 "Return to Flight" Teddy Bear (Est: $25 - $50)

The sale will be conducted at the Aurora offices in Bell Canyon, CA. On Sunday, April 24th, David Scott will be in attendance to meet collectors and to sign autographs. Catalogs are in production now and will be mailed shortly to prior customers and consignors. The on-line catalog will be on our website next week in a PDF format and soon thereafter on an individual lot basis. Those unable to attend the auction in person may participate through Ebay Live Auctions, registrations for which will be open beginning April 14th through the Aurora Galleries website. I will be happy to answer any "do you have ___________ in the auction" questions via email to mclemmons@auroragalleresonline.com

posted 03-30-2005 08:59 AM               

O.K. they did ... sorry !

http://mars-literature.skynetblogs.be/

posted 03-30-2005 12:19 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:

[b]John Young autograph of himself on the lunar surface during the Apollo 16 mission as he executes "jump up and salute" aka "Jumpin' John"; pristine and signed simply "John Young". (Est:$ 350 - 500)[/B]

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posted 03-30-2005 01:29 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Ray Katz:
I respectfully disagree with the description of one item. Don't think anything from Apollo 9 made it to the lunar surface.

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While I haven't seent the catalog yet, I assume this means that David Scott carried a mission or crew patch of his Apollo 9 mission during Apollo 15 (a common practice) to the lunar surface.

Otherwise sounds like an impressive list of items and a horrible month (April) for all our budgets.

posted 03-30-2005 07:21 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Ray Katz:
I respectfully disagree with the description of one item. Don't think anything from Apollo 9 made it to the lunar surface.

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Best regards,
Victoria Campbell

posted 03-30-2005 10:13 PM               

Heck, it would be nice to actually receive
a catalog period!

Oh well, guess I can spend my money elsewhere.

posted 04-11-2005 10:38 AM               

------------------
Kind Regards

Douglas Henry

Enjoy yourself and have fun.... it is only a hobby!
http://home.earthlink.net/~aztecdoug/

posted 04-12-2005 08:24 PM              

Lot 176 - Kapton Foil Roll - Tag indicates a D.O.M. (date of manufacture) as 06/30/99 ..rolls are still very much in use today (produced by Dupont) and can be had inexpensively

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Scott Schneeweis

URL: http://www.SPACEAHOLIC.com/

posted 04-13-2005 06:48 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by LT Scott Schneeweis:
Lot 54 - $500 - $750 for a Mercury Filmstrip Acrylic?

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posted 04-15-2005 09:56 AM               

Judging by the pdf files it looks like the best sale of the three (Swann's, Superior and Aurora)

posted 04-15-2005 10:04 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by benguttery:
Has anyone received a paper copy of the catalog? Thanks. BEN

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I just got mine yesterday.

posted 04-15-2005 11:26 AM               

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Kind Regards

Douglas Henry

posted 04-15-2005 11:53 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by spaceflori:
Judging by the pdf files it looks like the best sale of the three (Swann's, Superior and Aurora)Florian

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I'd definitiely agree with that. My "wish list" is much longer from Aurora!

Paul

posted 04-18-2005 05:18 AM               

Now Paul....how about bidding on the Mercury Redstone rocket...should be fun with shipping and customs..

Maybe they better launch it in CA and fire it over here...if it wasn't a mockup.

Florian

posted 04-18-2005 10:21 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by spaceflori:
Now Paul....how about bidding on the Mercury Redstone rocket...should be fun with shipping and customs..
Maybe they better launch it in CA and fire it over here...if it wasn't a mockup.
Florian

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Florian, you read my mind...although I think the intelligence services might more worried than Customs

Paul

posted 04-18-2005 05:21 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by gliderpilotuk:
Catalogue arrived in London UK by Fedex this morning.

Paul

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Hello gliderpilot
What condition was your Catalogue in when delivered by Fed Ex?

I'm also located in the UK (Chelmsford,Essex) and mine was just dumped on my doorstep at 07.19 this morning. I wasn't asked to sign for it.

The shipping envelope was torn, each of the four corners were crushed, it was damp to the touch (left in the rain?) snd of course the catalogue was also damaged.

I would not have been so concerned if it had not cost me $35 including shipping to obtain a copy.

I've informed Aurora and I'm waiting for a call back from Fed Ex's UK Customer Services with an explanation.

posted 04-18-2005 05:58 PM               

My catalogue was hand delivered at 9:30am and was in mint condition. I think you've just had a rogue Fedex delivery guy, who's competing with Royal Mail for trashing your post!

posted 04-19-2005 01:11 AM               

the problem with FEDEX UK (and don't even ask me about my trouble with them) is that they are using a lot of completely dumb contractor companies that are delivering the packages.
(so you don't get the package from FEDEX but most likely from a drunk looser that earns $1 an hour and doesn't care at all about your stuff)

Hey at least you got something...last time I sent something to the UK by FEDEX they said they couldn't find the street ! No joke.

And forget the customer service...it's like with ebay...nonexistent.

posted 04-19-2005 05:29 AM               

Many thanks for sharing your Fed Ex experiences with me. I appreciate you taking the time to reply.

I notified Victoria at Aurora of the damage and she is very kindly shipping me a replacement Catalogue by Global Priority.

I was shocked to learn that Fex Ex charged Aurora $60.00 to ship my Catalogue. They in turn only charged me $10 which I think is exceptional customer service.

I believe you are correct Florian about some of the contractors employed by Fed Ex and your opinion about their customer service looks like it's spot on too.

I've not yet received the promised call back from them, but I'll give them to the end of today before making waves.

Like Vic Reeves use to say they will discover that "I wouldn't let it lie"

posted 04-19-2005 06:50 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Peter Kemp:
I've not yet received the promised call back from them, but I'll give them to the end of today before making waves.

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Please let us know if you get one - you'd be the first to hear back from FEDEX, in my disputes with them I was ALWAYS promised a call back as was the recipient in the UK...we both never heard back if we didn't call them a couple times again.

Victoria is correct...it's a mess, you pay $60 and those useless idiots just dump the package in front of your home.

Every time I hear those stories I get so upset...

posted 04-21-2005 11:06 AM               

Aurora should get a refund from FedEx as it was definately NOT signed for by anyone at my address... the driver signed it himeself!!

Regards, Derek

posted 04-21-2005 02:23 PM               

Cheers,
Matt

posted 04-21-2005 02:34 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by machbusterman:
Yesterday I checked the on-line tracking and they had it signed by "D Horne" at 1241 on Tuesday 19th. I told them I didn't sign for it and they tried to investigate but to no avail.
P.S. This is my first experience with FedEx.... not exactly a glowing report!!!

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Apparently this appears to be a general problem in the UK with mail delivery :

I recently successfully sued the German postal service (as my contract partner) after I got a signed and stamped ! statement from Royal Mail that an insured package has been delivered to the recipient which wasn't the case.
My attorney challenged them and suddenly they had to admit that they "can't find the receipt of the signing person and the package apparently was stolen"...hahahaha.

Good to know that even the postal inspectors in the UK have no problem lying and even sign their and postmark their written lies.
What a bunch of crooks...

And no, it's not different here in Germany...

Oh Derek...please tell Victoria about this, in fact you don't have to pay FEDEX charges if anything like that happens.

So the good thing is I have sent almost 5 packages for FREE to the UK because those idiots didn't either find the street, delivered to the wrong person or just returned it.

Florian