posted 01-31-2014 10:28 AM               

WestLicht Photographica auction on March 22, 2014:

Hasselblad 500 'EL DATA CAMERA' NASA

A big step for us and one of the most exciting cameras we ever offered in auction!

After presenting and auctioning the most rare and most valuable cameras of mother earth for many years, we proudly present the only camera ever used on the moon AND which also came back home.

Jim Irwin took exactly 299 pictures with this Hasselblad 500 'EL DATA CAMERA HEDC' during his 3 days stay on the lunar surface and 96 more on the way to the moon and back again.

The mission was the first not to land in a lunar mare, instead landing near Hadley rille, documenting an area of the Mare Imbrium called Palus Putredinus. The crew explored the area using the first lunar rover, which allowed them to travel much further from the Lunar Module. Often quoted, NASA called Apollo 15 the most successful manned flight ever achieved.

The offered camera no.1038 was one of 14 cameras used on the moon during the APOLLO missions 11-17.(nos.1002, 1003, 1016, 1020, 1023, 1026, 1027, 1028, 1031,1032, 1033, 1036, 1038, 1039)

But only this Hasselblad used on the 4th NASA mission between July 26th to August 7th, 1971 made it`s way back to earth finally landing at the Westlicht auction house.

The other 13 cameras were left on the moon, as the astronauts only took the film magazines back home in order to take lunar rocks in the equivalent of the weight of the cameras.

The authenticity of this camera can be proven easily, as the reseau plate is marked with number 38. This number appears on all photographs taken by Irwin.

This historical camera comes with an extensive documentation and photographs taken by Jim Irwin, assembled by its former owner Alain Lazzarini, author of the book 'Hasselblad and the Moon'

Technical details:

Hasselblad 500 'EL DATA CAMERA HEDC' from the first generation NASA motor-driven cameras for the Lunar missions, silver painted, with reseau plate with matching body number '38' to imprint on taken images, a special NASA Biogon 3.5/60mm no.5198329 with black/chrome anodized finish with control tabs designed for use with space gloves, silver 70mm. 200-exposure magazine no.UI310739, the body engraved: NASA no.P/N SEB 33100040- S/N 1038, magazine engraved 'P/N SEB 33101018-301 S/N 1003 HASSELBLAD REFLEX CAMERA FILM MAGAZINE'.

Startprice: 80,000 EUR
Estimates: 150,000-200,000 EUR

posted 01-31-2014 10:31 AM               

NASA moon landing camera claimed to be used by Apollo astronaut up for auction

A camera purported to have been used by the eighth man to walk on the moon while he was exploring the lunar surface in 1971 is now heading for the auction block in Austria, the sale's organizers announced on Thursday (Jan. 30)

A 70-millimeter Hasselblad Electric Data Camera (EDC), described by the WestLicht Gallery in Vienna as having flown to the moon and back on NASA's Apollo 15 mission, is included in the gallery's March 22 auction of vintage and collectible cameras. The lunar-flown Hasseblad is said to have been used by astronaut James Irwin, as identified by the registration number "38" on a small plate found inside the camera.

"[The plate number] is 100-percent proof that this camera is the real thing and really was on the moon," Peter Coeln, owner of the Westlicht Gallery, told the AFP wire service. Coeln said the camera is estimated to sell for $200,000 to $270,000 (150,000 to 200,000 euros).

posted 01-31-2014 11:17 AM               

Had Mitchell's attempted sale of the DAC camera come after the 2012 legislation was passed, then he would have been able to keep (or sell) the camera without issue. Unfortunately, the bill does not reverse the legal settlement he reached in that case.

The Hasselblad EDC does not appear to have originated from Irwin's collection, and if that's true, then the astronaut artifacts bill does not apply.

NASA did not halt the sale of the same HEDC when it was offered by RR Auction in 2012 (assuming they are the same unit, and based on the serial numbers, at least the body is). But RR Auction did not advertise it as a lunar-surface-used camera; it was offered as a command module-flown camera.

posted 01-31-2014 11:43 AM               

I can understand astronauts keeping checklists, or documents, maps, etc., they used on missions and items in their PPKs.

Without judging too harshly since I do not know the facts on how the camera came into private hands, I would have thought such an item would have been under strict control.

posted 01-31-2014 03:55 PM               

169:29:44 Parker: ...and, Jack, we're making plans here... we'll bring both (cameras) back, and carry them to the ETB when we get done.

170:39:59 Parker: Okay, and we gather an ETB coming up with two cameras in it.

170:40:04 Schmitt: ETB's next. (Pause) (To Gene) Got an ETB? Yeah. (Pause) ETB has two cameras.

I can sit here and, just as sure as I'm alive at this moment, I can remember placing that camera (on the Rover seat). And I thought it was such a crime to leave a Hasselblad. But we were going to point it with the lens up so that, someday when someone goes back there, they can see the degradation of the lens from the cosmic radiation. And I guess I didn't do it. What can I tell you.

[Gene wonders if the memory of putting the camera between the seats is actually derived from training. However, the possibility remains that he put the 500 mm camera on the seat.]

Schmitt's HEDC was later jettisoned with the LM's ascent stage.

On edit: Ulli offers "clear proof" that Cernan's HEDC SN 1023 was brought back:

Check the last pictures on Mag 139. These pictures taken on lunar orbit revolution 73 and 74 and thus after jettison the LM show the Reseau crosses and the marking 23 for HEDC SN 23, the CDR's HEDC.

posted 02-01-2014 06:14 AM               

Magazine doesn't have the stickers on the top or the velcro tabs that tend to go with the lunar surface used versions, and the lens, whilst looking correct, has obviously been added at a later date as it wasn't on the camera for the last time it was sold.

posted 02-01-2014 08:30 AM               

silver 70mm. 200-exposure magazine no. UI310739, magazine engraved 'P/N SEB 33101018-301 S/N 1003 HASSELBLAD REFLEX CAMERA FILM MAGAZINE'.

posted 02-01-2014 12:08 PM               

The lens offered at RR was an 80mm lens. The lens on the Westlicht camera is a Zeiss 60mm Biogon lens. Two very different lens. Also, it appears that a square of velcro has been added to the camera that was not on the camera during the RR sale.

posted 02-02-2014 12:47 PM               

Here is the photo from the RR Auction.

Comparing to the current listing, the central body is the same (same part numbers and every little scratch is the same), but the film canister and lens have been swapped out for something new. I am more disturbed by the addition of the velcro square to the main body. The seller could have tried to make the argument that they reunited parts that had originally flown together (however unlikely), but the addition of velcro seems like a fairly inexcusable step (unless they disclose and explain that in the forthcoming listing).

Is there any chance that a SEB component would have been lunar flown? It's interesting that the original RR-auctioned camera had a SEB body and SEF magazine. Does anyone know how that would happen ...other than collector who had a flown subcomponent (e.g., just the magazine) and wanted to display it with the unflown body for context in a display? In that case, it appears that the current consigner removed the 70-exposure SEF magazine and replaced it with a 200-exposure SEB.

Presumably, more than one magazine was used on the camera if WestLict's claim is true:

Jim Irwin took exactly 299 pictures with this Hasselblad 500 'EL DATA CAMERA HEDC' during his 3 days stay on the lunar surface and 96 more on the way to the moon and back again.

200-exposure magazine no.UI310739, the body engraved: NASA no.P/N SEB 33100040- S/N 1038, magazine engraved P/N SEB 33101018-301 S/N 1003.

And RR auctioned:

posted 02-02-2014 12:59 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Jurvetson:
In that case, it appears that the current consigner removed the 70-exposure SEF magazine and replaced it with a 200-exposure SEB.

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I've sent off a list of questions to WestLicht, including:

Based on the serial numbers shared on the WestLicht website, the camera (or at least its body) was previously sold at auction by RR Auction of New Hampshire (USA) in 2012. The camera's appearance, based on the WestLicht images, appears to have changed since that previous auction and it has been paired with a different lens and magazine. Has the consignor altered the camera in the intervening years and are those changes documented?

posted 02-03-2014 11:23 AM            

Magazine 88 started off in Irwin's camera, but after it jammed it swapped to Scott's, which has the number 31.

posted 02-05-2014 09:35 AM               

Yes, images on mag 88 were taken with Scott's HEDC after TEI.

Also the image descriptions in the Apollo 70mm Image Atlas mention that these pics were shot with a 60mm lens (the 60mm Biogon fits only the HEDC not the HEC).

Conclusion: Yes, also the Apollo 15 CDR's HEDC was brought back.

posted 02-07-2014 07:03 PM               

It is very interesting that the last three digits of the camera part number were left off the lot description on the Westlicht auction.

The part number of the camera that the consigner bought at RR Auction in November 2012 is SEB 33100040-301.

I went into the stowage list for Apollo 15. The Hasselblad camerss are listed on page 46 and page 78 of the NASA stowage lists.

The part numbers of the lunar surface cameras that Scott and Irwin returned to Earth are SEB33100040-307.

While the serial number might be the same, the part number is different. A change in a part number means that new cameras with modifications were used during the Apollo 15 mission.

posted 02-25-2014 04:14 PM            

Quite simply the Hasselblad site is here.

Only 12 Hasselblad EDC were taken to the moon, all were left. Only magazines were returned.

Even if Hasselblad were wrong, the camera in the picture has the incorrect lens for any Apollo mission! Let alone Apollo 15.

posted 02-25-2014 04:27 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by z0sense:
Only 12 Hasselblad EDC were taken to the moon, all were left. Only magazines were returned. Even if Hasselblad were wrong...

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quote:

---

...the camera in the picture has the incorrect lens for any Apollo mission!

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posted 02-25-2014 04:33 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Per Ulli: ...the 60mm Biogon fits only the HEDC not the HEC.

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posted 02-25-2014 04:41 PM            

I am not disputing the fact, only looking for references.

posted 02-25-2014 05:49 PM               

Dave said that both lunar surface cameras were brought back. He does not know what happened to either camera body after he returned from the mission.

posted 02-25-2014 05:59 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Larry McGlynn:
Gene said that he left his camera sitting straight up with the lens pointing skyward on the LRV seat per instructions from Mission Control.

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posted 03-21-2014 09:31 AM               

Unfortunately, some of the authenticity concerns were never fully addressed. The consignor did contact collectSPACE, but took offense to my questions and refused comment.

WestLicht did back away from the claim that it was the only HEDC returned to Earth, instead acknowledging in the final lot description that it was "one of 14-15 cameras used on the moon surface" and that "about 12 cameras were left on the moon."

WestLicht also confirmed that the camera was the same sold by RR Auction, and that the lens and magazine have been replaced:

The camera was purchased by the vendor at RR Auction in November 2012 with attached film magazine no. P/N 33101018-301, S/N 1039, as well as a Carl Zeiss 80 mm lens.

There were additional, unanswered concerns expressed about the nature and placement of the '38' on the Resseau plate, and the etched '301' serial number on the camera's body.

posted 03-23-2014 12:08 AM               

Moon camera sale soars sky high despite questions about history

A camera claimed to have been used on the moon's surface sold for almost $1 million in Austria Saturday (March 22), despite concerns about its history.

The WestLicht Photographica Auction in Vienna registered a hammer price of 550,000 euros (660,000 euros with the buyer's premium, or about $910,400 US) for a Hasselblad Electronic Data Camera (EDC) that the gallery described as having been used by astronaut James Irwin during the Apollo 15 mission.

"This Hasselblad used on the fourth NASA [moon landing] mission between July 26th to August 7th, 1971 made its way back to Earth, finally landing at the WestLicht auction house," the sale's organizers wrote.

The final sale price far surpassed the 150,000 to 200,000 euros (about $200,000 to $275,000) that WestLicht had estimated the lunar Hasselblad to be worth. The camera's lot opened for sale at 80,000 euros (about $110,000).

posted 03-23-2014 01:34 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Spacehardware:
Auction houses are well covered under their terms and conditions for the sale of what may later be determined as less-than-authentic, so Caveat emptor, as always.

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posted 03-24-2014 09:35 AM               

After an extremely close bidding war, Mr [Terukazu] Fujisawa, founder of Japanese retail chain Yodobashi Camera, managed to secure for himself the Hasselblad Lunar Module Pilot camera Jim Irwin – Apollo 15 for 660,000 Euros.

posted 03-24-2014 11:09 AM               

I've e-mailed an AP reporter (not the author of the article, which originated out of Vienna) with the correction and noting the authenticity concerns.

The collectSPACE article was picked up by PetaPixel and is in the process of going up on Space.com as I type. Yahoo! News will soon follow, as may other sites.

Update: The Associated Press updated their article:

The gallery initially described the Hasselblad as the only camera ever brought back from the moon but later said it was one of several, after some experts questioned that claim.

posted 03-25-2014 12:41 AM               

A 2012 law made it legal for the Apollo-era astronauts to own, and if so desired, sell the spent equipment that they brought home as mementos.