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Author
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Topic: White spacesuit (WSS) portraits vs. others
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DChudwin
Member Posts: 1096
From: Lincolnshire IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-04-2002 03:17 PM
   
I have collected astronaut autographs and other memorabilia since 1965, originally mainly on postal covers. I'd like some opinions from experienced litho and photo collectors why WSS astronaut portraits are preferred. When I wrote for pictures in the l966-67 time frame, I received lithos with the astronauts in business suits, not space suits. Why are WSS more desirable than the older business suit pictures? What do you think? |
ALAIN
Member Posts: 355
From: GENT, Belgium
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 06-04-2002 03:30 PM
I want to point out that the NASA lithos are in fact a part taken from the original NASA photo as the astronauts appear more centered and the image is often more clear than the original photo.Astronauts wearing spacesuits are more spectacular I would say but the business suit photos (or lithos) are harder to find (e.g. who among us has Fred Haise posing in business suit individual portrait?). Some people really try to collect every individual astronaut portrait (even those of Crippen or Lind or Bobko posing in Apollo spacesuits taken during the 1970s), but I only collect individual portraits of astronauts who have actually flown a mission. Hard enough to get them all (gotta get em all!) so I stopped after STS-95. So John Glenn is at position 3 in my collection and at position 300... I have business suit portraits of those astronauts which I didn't find in spacesuit (these are: Shepard, Grissom, Glenn, Carpenter, Cooper, Borman, Chaffee, Eisele, Cunningham, Anders). I know the Mercury and Gemini astronaut posed in spacesuits but here I'm talking about the official NASA portraits standing near the US flag holding a launcher model. I also noticed some Apollo astronaut portrait lithos don't have numbers on the back? |
mercnvenus
Member Posts: 18
From: Lakewood, CO USA
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 06-04-2002 06:00 PM
Howdy I think one of the reasons WSS are so popular is the ability to get a complete set of Apollo moonwalkers. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but this about the only way to get a set of 8X10 photos in the same style. My own collection is a mix and match collection of what I can afford. I love the lunar photos but you can't get an Armstrong there is only one picture and video still of him on the moon? I love the pictures of the astronaut saluting of the flag on the moon, but there in no Alan Bean or Armstrong. An other reason WSS are attractive is you can see the individuals face. We know who is in the lunar photos are, but its not because we can see who is in the suit. If you want continuity the WSS is the only way to go! Watch out the Irwin, and Young are expensive $$$ |
WAWalsh
Member Posts: 809
From: Cortlandt Manor, NY
Registered: May 2000
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posted 06-05-2002 09:17 AM
I suspect the last post is right as far as providing a uniformity of appearance. Of course, getting a John Young or Jim Irwin WSS presents some challenge and cost. Personally, I would love to get the 11 flag photographs (including the single Armstrong photo, even though his back is to the flag) and simply add Alan Bean's autograph to one with Pete Conrad's. Of course, at the moment I only have three (Mitchell, Irwin, Duke), but that just provides some incentive. |
Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 655
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 06-05-2002 09:42 AM
Now you're making me feel guilty. When I had access to certain moonwalkers I didn't get the flag photos signed first. I was looking for the "signature" photo from their moonwalks, The famous Aldrin shot, Schmidt with the earth in the background... I had a few Aldrin signed photos, but not the flag photo. Let's see, moonwalkers with the flag...Shephard, Mitchell, Irwin, Duke, Cernan and Schmidt. Probably a great "signature" photo would be John Young jumping salute of the flag! Well, I can dream. |
bruce
Member Posts: 916
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-05-2002 03:27 PM
Cliff, you make me feel awfully lucky. Some years ago, a good buddy of mine who knew and worked with John Young at JSC in Houston sent me that famous NASA "jump shot" photo of Young with the following inscription: "To Bruce, with a salute from Descartes Base, Moon. Best Wishes, John Young".Best, Bruce Moody |
uzzi69
Member Posts: 181
From: Richmond, IN USA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 06-05-2002 07:43 PM
When I first started collecting astronaut autographs I prefered the lunar EVA shots, because that's what they were famous for... being on the Moon. After getting a few of the EVA/flag/salute photos I started getting into the WSS portraits... they just look cool. Besides Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and John Glenn, most people that don't collect space don't recognize anyone in a business suit, but they immediately know the guy in the spacesuit is an astronaut.... Another reason I collect WSS portraits is that I like spacesuits... My main interest lately though has been launch photos. Just my 2 cents. Regards, Bill uzzi69 | |
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