posted 10-16-2007 05:57 PM               

That time has now come and we need your help. We're soliciting your nominations for the Top 20 grails of SpaceBooks, those books which are the rarest and most desirable. We have some ideas about this, but we want to hear from you in a two step process.

First, we're seeking nominations. From now until Oct. 30, 2007, you can nominate your selections on our website.

On Nov. 1, 2007, we'll post our selection of the books most nominated and ask you to vote on the top 20 books. About two weeks later, we'll unveil our page of the winners, along with images and descriptions.

Some books become grails by virtue of the particular edition or having been signed by certain person(s) and you can specify this in your nomination.

Our only requirement is that at least one copy of the book in question must actually exist. For example, although a Gus Grissom SIGNED copy of "Grissom" would certainly be highly desirable, this is not possible because Grissom died before the book went to press.

posted 11-03-2007 02:20 PM               

The final voting will be open Nov. 6 in the evening, EST.

posted 11-06-2007 08:26 PM               

Due to the nature of the entries and by popular demand, we have decided to create two different Top 20 lists, so please read this carefully before voting.

One list is comprised of the rarest SpaceBooks which contribute the most to our understanding of spaceflight. The second list is comprised of the rarest Signed SpaceBooks.

Please take the time to vote in both surveys. The polls close Nov. 14, 2007 at Midnight EST.

Vote for the rarest SpaceBooks which contribute the most to our understanding of spaceflight and the rarest signed SpaceBooks on our website.

posted 11-08-2007 10:19 AM               

Some remarks:

Most of the books are Apollo or pre-Apollo and I expected the "Apollo 11 Preliminary Science Report" among the Grails.

posted 11-16-2007 04:35 PM               

I guess the question is whether the poll was to vote on actual examples or to vote on hypothetical examples. I initially thought the poll was to vote on actual examples, perhaps I was mistaken. If the poll were simply to vote on hypothetical examples, I don't recall seeing any titles listed that were hypothetically signed by all 12 moonwalkers.

posted 11-17-2007 06:31 AM               

Hypothetically I submitted "X-15 Diary" signed by Mike Adams and whilst I have a copy signed by five X-15 pilots including Walker, Armstrong and McKay, I've never seen an Adams signed book.

posted 11-17-2007 01:46 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by gliderpilotuk:
My favourite for having all 12 moonwalkers sign would be "Footprints" by MacKinnon and Baldanza.

---

posted 12-04-2007 07:48 PM               

There was one book which we did not have in our personal collection and we had to track down a copy to display a cover image.

posted 12-05-2007 04:49 PM               

Some observations:

1. Though rarity can be documented, value is much more subjective and we note that opinions varied among the voters.

2. Though we provided a brief description of the volumes nominated, we're aware that by definition, the "holy grails" are less known and this no doubt complicated the voting.

3. Tamara and I did not vote, nor manipulate the list in any way. Although the rankings surprised us a bit, we agreed for the most part.

4. This should not be construed as the "definitive list". Tamara and I could legitimately add another 40 or 50 and so could many of you. But, it is a popularly selected list and as a result, represents a broad range of views.

5. We have only a couple of these volumes in stock. Typically, when we purchase one of these books, it goes right out to someone who has a wish list with us. So, don't expect us to be able to ship a copy!

The rarest SpaceBooks which contribute the most to our understanding of spaceflight

1. Die Rakete zu den Planetenraumen (The Rocket into Planetary Space)
   by Hermann Oberth

2. A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes
   by Robert H. Goddard

3. History of Rocketry and Space Travel
   by Wernher von Braun and Frederick Ordway III

4. The Apollo Spacecraft A Chronology NASA SP-4009 (4 volumes)
   by Ivan D. Ertel, Mary Louise Morse, Roland Newkirk, Courtney Brooks

5. 10:56:20PM EDT 7/20/69; The Historic Conquest of the Moon as Reported to the American People by CBS News over the CBS Network
   by CBS

6. La Conquete da l'Espace (The Conquest of Space)
   by Victor Coissac

7. Moonport; A History of Apollo Launch Facilities and Operations NASA SP-4204
   by Charles D. Benson and William Barnaby Faherty

8. History of Rocketry & Space Travel
   by Wernher von Braun and Frederick I. Ordway III

9. Project Mercury Familiarization Manual SEDR 104
   by McDonnell Aircraft staff

10. Das Problem der Befahrung des Weltraums (The Problem of Navigating in Space)
    by Hermann Noordung (Herman Potocnic)

11. Rockets; The Future of Flight Beyond the Stratosphere
    by Willey Ley

12. Project Gemini Familiarization Manual SEDR 300
    by McDonnell staff

13. Apollo Program Summary Report JSC-09423
    by NASA staff

14. X-15 Research Results NASA SP-60
    by Wendell H. Stillwell

15. Saturn V Flight Manual SA 506
    by NASA staff

16. Saturn Illustrated Chronology (April 1957--April 1968) MSFC-MHR-5
    by David S. Akens

17. From Peenemunde to Outer Space; Commemorating the Fiftieth Birthday of Wernher von Braun March 23, 1962
    Edited by Ernst Stuhlinger, Frederick I. Ordway III, Jerry C. McCall and George C. Bucher

18. The Conquest of Space
    By David Lasser

19. Apollo Spacecraft News Reference Command and Service Modules
    by North American Rockwell

20. Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident (5 volumes)

1. We Seven
   by M. Scott Carpenter, L. Gordon Cooper, Jr., John Glenn, Jr., Virgil I, Grissom, Walter M Schirra, Jr., and Donald Keith Slayton

2. First on the Moon: A Voyage with Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.
   by Gene Farmer and Dora Jane Hamblin; Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.

3. A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes
   by Robert H. Goddard

4. History of Rocketry & Space Travel
   by Wernher von Braun and Frederick I. Ordway III

5. Apollo: The Race to the Moon
   by Charles Murray and Catherine Bly Cox

   Signed by the Apollo 11 crew Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.

6. Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journeys
   by Michael Collins

7. Across the Space Frontier
   by Joseph Kaplan, Wernher von Braun, Heinz Haber, Willey Ley, Oscar Schacter, Fred Whipple: edited by Cornelius Ryan

   Signed by Wernher von Braun

8. Die Rakete zu den Planetenraumen (The Rocket into Planetary Space)
   by Hermann Oberth

9. The All-American Boys: An Insider's Candid Look at the Space Program and the Myth of the Super Hero
   by Walter Cunningham

10. The Coming of the Space Age
    by Arthur C. Clarke

11. Mein Leben fur die Raumfahrt
    by Bernd Ruland

    Signed by Wernher von Braun

12. Always Another Dawn: The Story of a Rocket Test Pilot
    by A. Scott Crossfield and Clay Blair, Jr.

13. Two Sides of the Moon
    by David Scott and Alexei Leonov

14. The Long, Lonely Leap
    by Joseph W. Kittinger with Martin Caidin

15. At the Edge of Space: The X-15 Program
    by Milton O. Thompson

16. Moon Lander: How We Developed the Apollo Lunar Module
    by Thomas J. Kelly

17. Reaching for the Stars
    By Erik Bergaust

    Signed by Erik Bergaust and Wernher von Braun

18. Hypersonic: The Story of the North American X-15
    By Dennis R. Jenkins and Tony R. Landis

    200 signed copies only signed by Scott Crossfield, Bill Dana, Dennis R. Jenkins, Tony Landis

19. I Am Eagle!
    By Gherman Titov (but actually by Martin Caidin)

20. Schirra's Space
    By Walter M. Schirra, Jr. with Richard N. Billings

posted 12-06-2007 11:49 PM               

The list of signed rarities surprised me in some regards and pleased me in others. In many instances there are some where you just nod your head and say, yes that is right on.

I was surprised in that ones I thought might be sort of common made it, and pleased when some of my personal gems were on the list. (Milt Thompson's At the Edge of Space for one. Has anyone else ever seen a signed copy of that one?)

There was one I didn't even realize existed which was the leather bound limited edition version of Hypersonic. Until I opened up the list today and read carefully I had been in the dark on that little gem.

posted 12-07-2007 03:05 AM               

I have been collecting since 1976 and I'm still amazed to see how many "early 1960s" volumes there are by von Braun.

posted 12-07-2007 04:24 AM               

No way is "Two Sides of the Moon" rarer than "The Long Lonely Leap"; nor is "Carrying the Fire"; and there are plenty of signed copies of "First on the Moon" in circulation, if you're prepared to pay.

posted 02-14-2025 04:22 PM               

Editor's note: Threads merged.