Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 64

Rockets

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1008		Rockets, 1961, Mrs. Robert Goddard Autograph. On a two page typed letter to the consignor on letterhead stationery in which she offers corrections to the author's book about her husband. Rare and quite interesting. Estimated Value $150 - 250. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1009		Rocket, 1972, Dr. Wernher von Braun Original Handwritten Manuscript. A two page, double spaced pencil manuscript to his secretary instructing her on writing three letters on his behalf and giving her the outlines of what he wants to say in each. One of the instructions deals with Bob Ward's planned anecdote book "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Moon," based on Wolfgang Bechtle's book "Wernher von Braun - Anekdotisch". Von Braun has signed the letter "Wernher". ALSO included is a famous black and white photo of von Braun in his office with a Saturn I rocket model in the background. Manuscript letters from von Braun are seldom available on the market. Rare. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $990
Lot 1010		Rockets, 1855//1900, "Hale" Rotary Rocket (14x2.25", 2.13 lbs) William Hale (1797 - 1870) was born in Colchester, Essex, England. His grandfather, William Cole, was an educator and writer and was probably Hale's first teacher. Other than this tutelage, Hale was self-educated. In 1827, he obtained his first patent for "improvements in propelling vessels." Hale later won the first class Gold Medal of the Royal Society of the Arts in Paris for a paper on ship propulsion that concerned internal-screw vessels (a crude form of jet propulsion). In 1839, Hale began to pursue "ordnance matters." By 1844 he received a patent on what he called the rotary, or stickless, rocket. Hale stabilized fired rockets by forcing them to rotate with the means of canted exhaust holes. He also refined the hydraulic rocket press and designed a new percussion shell. Hale's improvements lengthened the lifespan of the old military powder rockets by 40 to 50 years. This extended lifespan opened a new door to nonmilitary applications. Hale's rotary rockets were the forerunners of the larger rockets that propelled man into space. By the 1840's, research in France and the United States showed that rockets would be more accurate if they were spun, as a bullet is spun after being fired from a gun barrel. William Hale was the first rocket designer to seize upon this principle, and constructed a combination of tail fins and small nozzles to permit the escape of exhaust gases. Hale's rockets were the first spin-stabilized rockets, and their superior accuracy led to their quick adoption by the British and American armies. The first use of Hale's rockets on the battlefield occurred during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). During the siege of Vera Cruz, from March 24 to 29, 1847, hundreds of the rockets were launched against the city's fortifications by an American rocket brigade of 150 men. Their primary weapons were 2.25-inch wide, 6-pound versions of the Hale rocket. Vera Cruz surrendered on March 29 after continuous artillery and rocket bombardment. During the Battle of Cerro Gordo on April 18, 1847 the American rocket battery fired about 30 Hale rockets at Santa Anna's army, helping to rout the Mexican forces. During the climactic campaign of the war in August and September 1847, Hale rockets were fired against Mexican forces at the Battle Churubusco and during the storming of Chapultepec Castle outside of Mexico City. Though effective, the rocket brigade was disbanded in 1848 as the war drew to a close. During the American Civil War Hale rockets were used by the Confederacy in Virginia and in Texas, though with minimal results. Hale war rockets were used by the British during the Crimean War (1852-1854) but were not officially adopted by the British Army until 1867. As late as 1866 the Austro-Hungarian army had an elite Rocket Corps that employed Hale rockets but for the rest of the Nineteenth century Hale rockets were widely used primarily in colonial engagements in Africa and Asia against poorly armed native forces. Due to advances in conventional artillery in range, power, accuracy, and safety after the 1860's Hale rockets were outdated by 1900, though not officially obsolete until 1919. (ex International Space Hall and Fame / New Mexico Hall of Fame). This khaki colored, rolled sheet iron rocket is in excellent overall condition with minor breaks in the body. The rocket has a metal (?) insert in the nose along with three rocket vents in the base. There is a vintage tag attached that reads: "Rocket, Hale, 2 1/4 / Circa 1855 AD / Pre Civil War / Post Mexican War / ON LOAN from M. Sharp as of 1970". An important piece of military history and rocketry forerunner. Also included are a group of 8x10" black and white glossy photos (x30) relating to the rocket taken from the Smithsonian and West Point archives. An important piece of rocket history. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $630
Lot 1011		Rockets, Model, Presentation Missile Model (11x1.5") This striking, three-part, stainless steel, machined missile model is mounted on a black rectangular base (8x5.5") with a medal presentation plate that reads: "Presented to George Batiuk on 15 April 1994 for 20 Years of Service to the Aerodynamic Technology Function Area of the US Army Missile Command 1974-1994". Striking and unique. Estimated Value $500 - 750. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $288
Lot 1012		Rockets, c1970s, NASA "Goddard" Publicity Photos. Lot of about 100 8x10" black and white publicity photos, mostly reproducing earlier classic photos, all related to the father of American rockets, Dr. Robert Goddard. An important lot for the historian. The author probably accumulated, and used, these as illustrations in his many books and articles. Estimated Value $150 - 250. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $59
Lot 1013		Rockets, NASA/Contractor Satellite Publicity Photos. Lot of about 300+ different NASA 8x10" black and white publicity photographs. Included are photos of Aeros, Alouette, Comsat, Intelsat, Marisat, Explorer, Heao, Heos, etc. Some minor faults. The consignor used some of these as illustrations in his books and articles. Viewing recommended. Estimated Value $350 - 500. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $100
Lot 1014		Rockets, NASA/Contractor Launch Vehicle Publicity Photos. Lot of about 200 different NASA 8x10" black and white publicity photographs. Included are photos of Redstone, Atlas, Juno, Nike and other missiles. Some minor faults. The consignor used some of these as illustrations in his books and articles. Viewing recommended. Estimated Value $150 - 250. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $130
Lot 1015		Rockets, NASA/Contractor Missiles/Rockets Publicity Photos. Lot of about 350 different NASA 8x10" black and white publicity photographs. Included are photos of Jupiter, Thor, Scout, Little Joe, Nova, Hermes, etc. Some minor faults. The consignor used some of these as illustrations in his books and articles. Viewing recommended. Estimated Value $350 - 500. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $177
Lot 1016		Rockets, 1940-50s, Space-Related Negatives. An unusual lot of 400+ original/reproduction mainly black and white negatives used by the author as illustrations in his many books and articles. Some are already masked for reproduction. The subjects range from Goddard, Peenemunde and other German area, satellites and rockets, both vintage and modern, etc. A fascinating lot containing material you probably haven't seen before. Estimated Value $250 - 350. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1017		Rockets, 1982, Hermann Oberth Autographed Photo (9.25x12", framed to 11x14") This striking black and white photo is inscribed in German and boldly signed at the upper left. A striking, rare, portrait photo. Estimated Value $250 - 350. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $384
Lot 1018		Rockets, 1965, Hermann Oberth Photo (7.5x8.75", framed to 9x10") This black and white photo shows him writing a calculation on a chalkboard. He has inscribed the photo: "To Mr. Mitchell Sharpe with my compliments / H. Oberth / Christmas 1965 in blue (?) ink". Rare and striking. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $156
Lot 1019		Rockets, 1959//1969, Hermann Oberth Autographs. Lot of three different including on the first page of his book (The Moon Car, 1959, First English edition, 98pp., hard with dust jacket, a typed letter, in German (1969) and a postcard (1965). All are addressed/ inscribed to the consignor. A scarce lot. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $283
Lot 1020		Rockets, 1969//1984, Eberhard Rees and Rudolf Nebel Autographs. Lot of three different including two Eberhard Rees typed letters on personal letterhead (1984) and on NASA letterhead (1972). ALSO a Rudolf Nebel post card in German (1969. An interesting group. Estimated Value $100 - 150. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $35
Lot 1021		Rockets, 1940s-1971+, Wernher von Braun Photo Archive. A phenomenal archive of 500++ mostly 8x10" NASA and Contractor black and white (mainly) behind -the-scenes, publicity photos. This archive actually dates to pre-Peenemunde days (mainly copies). Minor duplication and minor faults are of no import. Most are identified on the reverse. Not counted are probably 100+ photos smaller that 8x10". Some of the 3x5" photos are truly fascinating. This holding would be next to impossible to duplicate today. Estimated Value $500 - 750. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,298
Lot 1022		Rockets, c1945, Peenemunde Photographs. Lot of about 100 photos in various sizes, both in color and black and white. Some are contemporary photos of V-2 rockets and the damaged rocket factories. Others are post-war showing rocket debris and wrecked buildings as well as how the area looked in the mid-1950s. A nice lot taken by the consignor and others who were there during the war. Estimated Value $250 - 350. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $189
Lot 1023		Rockets, Peenemunde and Operation Backfire and Operation PaperClip. A partial carton filled with correspondence, reprints and reports regarding the German rocket site, Peenemunde, Operation Backfire in which British forced fired a V2 rocket back at Germany using Rocket Team POWs and the capture by American forces of the German rocket scientists. Some original correspondence in which members of the team recount their memories of this time in 1945 to the consignor for use in one of his books. An interesting group of material in mixed condition. Estimated Value $250 - 350. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $448
Lot 1024		Rockets, German WW II Rockets + Peenemunde, c1930s-40s, Publicity Photos. Fascinating lot of over 230 8x10" black and white photos showing a variety of rockets (including the V2 and Backfire rockets) as well as pictures of Peenemunde both before and after RAF bombing attacks. There are probably an equal number of smaller photos (mainly 5x7" and larger) included showing behind-the-scene operations. An important lot that should be closely viewed. Estimated Value $250 - 350. Ex. the Mitchell Sharpe Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $540