|
Sale 58
Manuscript, Collectibles and Aerospace Auction
| Lot |
Photo |
Description |
Realized |
Lot 373 |
 |
MR-3, 1961, USS Lake Champaign (Prime) Recovery Ship Cover. With a distinct U.S.S. Lake Champlain, May 5 (AM) 1961 ship hand cancel and a boldly handstamped ship's cachet. Note the "wide spacing" in the U.S.S. ship cancel. The cancel is known with both wide and narrow spacing. Rare. Also included is a May 5, 1961 commemorative cover with a USCG "Eastwind" ship hand cancel and handstamped cachet. The USCG Eastwind was the First Icebreaker to sail around the world. Attractive.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500.
View details and enlarged photo
| Unsold |
Lot 374 |
 |
MR-4, 1961, Signed Recovery Helicopter Cover. Lot of three different recovery cachet covers including 1) a July 21, AM cover, signed by helicopter co-pilot George Cox,and with a USS Randolph (CVS-15) Prime Recovery Ship hand cancel, and a typed/hand-drawn cachet 2) a July 25, AM cover with a USS Lake Champaign magenta hand cancel (Secondary Recovery Ship) and a printed cachet and 3) a July 21st PM cover with a Newport News machine cancel and a handstamped Newport News Shipbuilding cachet. Helicopter #30 dropped the divers that assisted in the recovery of Gus Grissom. It was helicopter #32, piloted by Lt. John Reinhart that was unable to recovery Liberty Bell 7. A rare lot as the helicopter pilots who flew the recovery missions and were integral to their success, have been largely overlooked by history.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500.
View details and enlarged photo
| Unsold |
Lot 375 |
 |
MA-6// MA-9, 1962-3 Mercury Flight Space Memorabilia. An unusual lot consisting of memorabilia from MA-6 (signed cover with added crew patch as cachet, a launch cover (Patrick AFB cancel) and two Sarzin special folders (Port Canaveral cds'), MA-7 (a signed Captain's USS Intrepid (Prime) recovery ship cover with ship's secretary enclosed letter - saying that this was the Captain's last available cachet cover. the cover is soiled at top but rare), MA-8 (launch cover with MA-8 cloth crew patch cachet, card with USS Kearsarge (Prime) recovery ship handstamped cached (not cancelled) and a Sarzin special folder (Cape Canaveral cds) and MA-9 (launch cover with an MA-9 cloth cloth crew patch cachet and a USS Kearsarge machine ship cancel). An unusual and interesting lot.
Estimated Value $250 - 350.
View details and enlarged photo
| Unsold |
Lot 376 |
 |
Mercury Program, 1959, NASA, "Project Mercury Familiarization Manual". This 250+ pp. NASA manual was issued by McDonnell Aircraft Corp (1 September 1959) and is copy #80 as issued for SEDR 104 (Big Joe Rocket Test, BJ-1). The primary purpose of the flight was to investigate the performance of the ablation heat shield during reentry. Other purposes were to test capsule afterbody heating, parachute deployment and the dynamics of the spacecraft. This spacecraft was not equipped with an escape system.
This rare book is in pristine condition (even the pages) except that the front blue cover that has become detached over the years. Extensively detailed and diagramed, this Manual is an important addition to any collection and of invaluable help in understanding the Mercury Capsule and Systems.
Estimated Value $750 - 1,000.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$420 |
Lot 377 |
 |
Mercury Program, c1960, The "Ancient Order of Turtles" Lapel Pin (.75x1") An unusual Turtle Club pin showing two turtles "mating" with the bottom one having a pair of wings. While there are a number of different "Turtle" ranks, we can't come up with which one this pin is associated with. A great puzzle for the Turtle leadership.
The Ancient Order of Turtles was created by Captain Hugh P. McGowan, USAF and several US Army Air Corps 8th Air Force pilots while stationed in England during WW II. The Turtle Creed is that "Turtles are bright eyed, bushy tailed, fearless and unafraid folk with a fighter pilot attitude. They think clean, have fun a lot, and recognize the fact that you never get anyplace in life worthwhile unless you stick your neck out" (Wikipedia).
The first reference to theTurtle Club by an astronaut came when Deke Slayton asked Mercury-Atlas 8 astronaut Wally Shirra: "Are you a Turtle? Schirra, forced by Club rules to reply in vulgar language (to not answer would have obligated him to buy a drink for all Turtle member who heard the question), chose instead to turn off his radio when replying. The matter came up again during Apollo 7. By this time Schirra was Grand Potentate of the Ancient order of Turtles and again he finessed the answer. A more detailed explanation of the exchange is on Wikipedia.
This pin will raise eyebrows and questions among all Turtle members, and former members, who see it. Rare.
Estimated Value $250 - 350.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$240 |
|
|