RR Auction January 2011 space auction - collectSPACE: Messages

AMHERST, N.H. -- RRAuction breaks boundaries once again -- reaching into outer space to bring bidders approximately 500 unique and amazing objects in a special Space Artifacts sale in January 2011. This maiden voyage -- the first space artifacts auction undertaken by the company -- features high quality, select pieces spanning the decades from the early rocketry program to the space shuttle.

"Reflecting upon our long history of providing high-quality signed documents and photos, as well as our impeccable reputation for customer service, we decided the time was right to apply these positive attributes to another segment of the collecting hobby -- people who love space-flown artifacts," said Bob Eaton, RRAuction's owner. "Our reputation hinges on offering only the best items, authenticated by some of the best people in the business. That's true of our monthly autograph auctions and it's certainly true of this special space artifacts event."

Among the stunning pieces is the headset that received and transmitted the first words between a man on the Earth and a man on the moon. This tangible piece of history was worn by Charlie Duke on July 20, 1969 as CAPCOM for Apollo 11 during the descent and. The words from Buzz Aldrin "Contact light, OK, engine stop" and Charlie Duke's reply "We copy you down Eagle" rank as the most pivotal conversation in the history of our species. These few words are arguably far more significant than the more famous, but of necessity contrived, "Giant leap" statement. Words that changed the world as we knew it in 1969 ... words spoken to and by Duke -- and all mankind -- transmitted to this simple headset.

Complementing the risky part of space exploration is the "risque" part -- a calendar photo of Playboy magazine's Miss August 1967, DeDe Lind, which was stashed away in the Apollo 12 command module Yankee Clipper during its November 1969 voyage to the moon. Although photocopied images of Playboy bunnies made it to the lunar surface during the mission, this item remains one of only two only original color likenesses to make it out of Earth's orbit. Command module pilot Richard Gordon has signed and certified the back of this item.

Another unique object is the Roosevelt dime Grissom carried in his spacesuit during the 1965 Gemini 3 mission -- the one and only dime that flew onboard with the astronaut. The coin was later given to Guenter Wendt, NASA's pad leader -- but not before Grissom etched "GT 3" onto the coin's face in commemoration. Wendt himself provided provenance for this item for the collecting community.

Collectors of flight-flown material always covet the small American flags carried by crews into space, and this RRAuction event will not disappoint such aficionados, as a flight-flown flag from each Apollo mission is present, each as an individual lot. The Apollo 11 example, with the accompanying signatures of Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins, is the only such known example. The Apollo 17 flag was presented to Mercury astronaut Deke Slayton upon its return to Earth.

Here, as well, are silver Robbins Medals from each Apollo mission. These scarce and highly collectible mementos, some of which made their way to the moon and back, are prized whenever they can be found -- with this being the first time they are offered as a complete run in one setting. The first Robbins Medals were created for the Apollo 7 mission after Walter Cunningham wanted a special medallion to take on the mission. They proved so popular that every mission into space since has carried on the tradition. They are manufactured by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts. All the medals created for the missions up to Apollo 14 were flown.

Another interesting artifact is a 22-inch-long electric power instrument panel -- the same type of panel used by NASA during the mid-1960s and in preparation for the Apollo 1 mission, which claimed the lives of Gus Grissom and fellow astronauts Ed White and Roger Chaffee. North American Aviation sold the remaining parts from the Apollo program after the accident. This beautiful Apollo-era artifact -- with all of the associated electronics, wiring, dials, and switches -- has been held by the same owner for at least 30 years.

As a renowned auction company, RRAuction has not forgotten the essential element of its business -- signatures. Numerous autographs from the best of the best are to be offered. It's exciting to think that this event will feature a signed photo from every possible mission crew assembled: photos from all of the history-making Mercury 7 astronauts, the heroic Apollo crews (including members of Apollo 1 and Apollo 11), the tragic Challenger crew, and of course, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin -- who in 1961 became the first human being in outer space.

All signed items are reviewed by Scott Cornish, who has studied autographs for more than 30 years and specializes in authenticating space autographs; all flight-flown material is reviewed by some of the most well-regarded experts in that area of collecting. For information, visit the RRAuction web site or contact Bobby Livingston at bl@rrauction.com