Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 68

The June 30th Manuscript and Collectibles Auction

Mercury (1961-1963)

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 341		Mercury Program, 1952//1963, Deke Slayton's Air Force "Official Records". A folder full of original and copied records of training, promotions, transfers and (finally) his Honorable Discharge from Active Service. Included are certificates for his Discharge (1963) and his Graduation from Air Command and Staff School (1952). A fascinating look at Deke's Air Force career prior to his resignation to join NASA as one of the Mercury Seven. Some Ready Reserve and other corresponded also included. The document envelope is rather tattered, but the documents themselves are in excellent condition. Estimated Value $250 - 350. Ex. the astronaut Donald K. "Deke" Slayton Family collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $324
Lot 342		Mercury Program, 1959, Deke Slayton's "Langley Field" Training Notebook. This 150/250 page original, three-ring notebook was used by Deke Slayton (one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts) while at Langley Field, VA where the Mercury Seven astronauts were sent after being selected to learn how to be astronauts. You may remember we originally offered this notebook a year or so ago when it was in its original, flood-stained condition. We withdrew the notebook from the sale as nobody- liked our negative-condition lot description. We couldn't blame them. We have since had the notebook professionally restored, cleaned, acidified and restored to the best condition possible - which is pretty good, considering. We strongly recommend paying attention to this lot as the combination of NASA issued printed pages and Deke's handwritten (pencil) notes in most areas gives a graphic picture of all that the Mercury astronauts had to absorb in the beginning. We now are able to note pages/sections of the notebook devoted to Survival Training, "First Months Program for Astronauts", "Ground Support Tests", "Crew Space", "Control System", "Restraint Harness" (with diagrams of spinal injuries from a hard landing), "Communications", "Instrumentation", "Radiation", and even "Some observations on the Personality Structure of Military Personnel Engaged in Unusual Missions". There is even a handwritten review that Deke wrote outlining his selection process from February to April 1959 and all that he went through. There are still faults and defects, but, considering how badly the notebook was originally, it is amazing how well it has been restored and repaired. It is definitely worth adding to any collection how. A unique piece of history. Estimated Value $15,000 - 25,000. Ex the astronaut Donald K. "Deke" Slayton Family collection. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 343		Mercury Program, 1960, Deke Slayton " Project Mercury" NASA Photograph (S-60-2743) This classic NASA 8x10" black and white glossy photo is signed by him in black ink. Virtually pristine condition. Clean and attractive. Estimated Value $150 - 250. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $312
Lot 344		Mercury Program, 1961, "Edward / Duke of Windsor" and "Wallis / Duchess of Windsor" Signatures. On a framed card with red royal crest at top (5.5x3.5", framed to 9x7"). The original transmittal letter from the Duchess' secretary and envelope addressed to Mrs. Slayton are enclosed. A striking piece of history. Clean and fresh. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. Ex. the Donald "Deke" Slayton Family collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $360
Lot 345		Mercury Program, 1962, "We Seven" by the Astronauts Themselves (1962, First Printing, 352pp, with dust jacket (faults). This important book is autographed on the third page by astronauts Alan Shepard, Wally Schirra, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, and Gordon Cooper and by astronaut wives, Betty Grissom and Bobbi Slayton. Minor page faults including an owner's handwritten name on the inside cover, but an important book well worth adding to your library. Estimated Value $150 - 250. Ex. the Donald "Deke" Slayton Family collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $660
Lot 346		Mercury Program, 1962//73, Deke Slayton Correspondence re his Medical Condition. A small lot of about 12 different documents, both original and contemporary copies, as related to both Deke's medical condition and his attempt to facilitate an astronaut pay raise. Letters include those from Mgen. O. K. Niess, Surgeon General, Don Flickinger, General Curtis LeMay, USAF Chief of Staff, Congressman Olin Teague (Tx), Dr. Brainerd Holmes, NASA, Director of Manned Space Flight, etc., make this a fascinating window into why only six of the original Mercury Seven got a chance to fly. Estimated Value $350 - 500. Ex. the Donald "Deke" Slayton Family collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $204
Lot 347		Mercury Program, 1963, NASA "Potential Astronaut Candidate" Original Coorespondence. A group of several 1963 documents, one of which is a copy of a Warren J. North, Chief, Flight Crew Operations Division, letter in which he says, in part: "…NASA desired an approximate reading (of potential USAF and USN personnel) who could meet certain criteria". Among the listed screening criteria are "1) Must be a US citizen, born after June 30, 1929 and six feet or less in height. 2) He must have attained experimental flight test status …, 3) The candidate must be an experimental jet test pilot and preferably be presently engaged in flying hi-performance aircraft, 4) He must have earned a degree in engineering or physical sciences and 5) He must be recommended by his present organization." Listings of men, based on both old (Group 1) and "new" (potential Group 2?) criteria are included in the coorespondence by count, rather than by name. Other included documents are the USAF and USN responses to the above letter. ALSO included is a 1978 copy of a NASA "Proposed Astronaut's Standards of Conduct" (10pp) with Slayton's ink notations. A fascinating, behind-the-scenes group of documents. Estimated Value $250 - 350. Ex. the Donald "Deke" Slayton Family collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $252
Lot 348		Mercury Program, 1975//1976, Deke Slayton's "Service Awards". Lot of two different including his "Twenty-Five Year" and "Thirty Year" Awards. Each is in its original glass frame (about 12c10"). They show minor aging which shouldn't affect their historic nature. It isn't often that one can acquire service awards from one of the Mercury 7 Astronauts. ALSO Deke's "30 Year" NASA enamel and jewel lapel pin AND his "35 Year" gold-filled lapel pins. A very nice lot. Estimated Value $250 - 350. Ex. the astronaut Donald K. "Deke" Slayton Family collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $192
Lot 349		Mercury Program, 1979, "20th Anniversary Reunion" Desk Display (10x7") This striking wooden desk display has a metal descriptive plaque on top that reads: "20th Anniversary Reunion / Mercury Astronauts / April 9, 1979" and a similar plaque at the bottom that reads: Deke Slayton". There may have only been seven of these plaques made - just for the astronauts". Minor faults, but a rare piece of memorabilia. Estimated Value $150 - 250. Ex. The astronaut Donald "Deke" Slayton Family collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $150
Lot 350		Mercury Program, c1959, Mercury 7 Autographed Photo. An early, classic 8x10" black and white glossy photo signed by Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Walter W. Schirra, Jr., J. H. Glenn, Jr., Gus Grissom, M. Scott Carpenter, Donald K. Slayton and Leroy G. Cooper, Jr. All are early autographs. UNFORTUNATELY, the Grissom autograph is waterstained (possibly an autopen also) and the top of the photo has been mangled in storage. This is still an important piece of history. Estimated Value $750 - 1,000. Ex. the Paul Haney Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $552
Lot 351		Mercury Program, c1960, Deke Slayton's Bulova Accutron "Astronaut" Wristwatch". This watch was found in Deke's jewelry box along with his Omega watch elsewhere in this sale. While the watch is in need of some TLC, he undoubtedly wore it back in the day when it was state of the art among the astronauts. Complete with original band, this watch will make a nice addition for any collection. Estimated Value $750 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,260
Lot 352		Mercury Program, c1960s, Deke Slayton's "Mercury Astronaut" Zippo Lighter. This striking lighter has "Mercury Astronaut" engraved on the cap on one side and a "Mercury Capsule" on one side of the body and a facsimile "signature" of Slayton's autograph on the other. This lighter looks as if it has been very lightly used (the wick is blackened), but the case shows only very minor surface abrasions. It would appear that this lighter is unique was a type presented only to the Mercury Seven. A rare find. Estimated Value $350 - 500. Ex. the Donald "Deke" Slayton Family collection. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 353		Mercury Program, c1965, "Project Mercury Verlort LRT-2 and LRT-3 Radar System". Lot of three volumes as issued by Reeves Instrument Corp in 1960 (revised 1963) including volumes 1 and 2 (card covers) and Vol. 3 (hard cover) "Drawings and Diagrams" (Official copy#1/#3). There are literally hundreds of pages and foldouts in each volume. We don't claim to understand even the most rudimentary explanations in these volumes, but we have found the following explanation as described in the NASA "Results of the Second Manned Orbital Space Flight, May 24, 1962" handbook : "Two principal types of precision tracking radars are used in the Mercury ground range to track the spacecraft: the AN/FPS-16 and Verlort radars. The AN/FPS-16, shown in figure 2-2, is a precision C-band tracking radar with a 12-foot dish. It operates on a frequency of 5,500 to 5,900 mc and has a beam width of approximately 1.2°. It is the most accurate of our tracking devices. The S-band, or Verlort, radar, shown in figure 2-3, is a very long-range tracking radar with a 10-foot dish. It operates on a frequency of 2,800 to 3,000 mc and has a beam width of approximately 2.5°. The redundancy provided by both of these radar systems supplies the computers with sufficient data to determine the orbit, should one of the spacecraft beacons fail." Note that Vol 3 is hand-stamped as being "Copy 1" (the only copy) from the Muchea Tracking Station near Perth, Australia for the Mercury Program (dated 9 October 1963) and then again as being "Copy 3" from the Carnarvon Tracking Station for the Gemini and Apollo Program. This mobile radar tracking station had a range of 4,000 Km and was a big improvement over similar WW II radars. We have been in this business for the past 20+ years and this is the first set of these Manuals we have encountered. If you are into original manuals, this lot is for you. All volumes show the usual wear, tear and aging and/or notations, but a great find. Estimated Value $350 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $264
Lot 354		Mercury Program, c1970s, Autographed Retirement Plaque (framed to 21x17.5") This plaque has a multicolor photo montage in the center (slightly faded) showing about 20 photos of various aspects of Range operations. The shield in the center of the montage reads: "Eastern Test Range". This range is the American Rocket Range that supports missile and rocket launches from the two major launch areas located at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center and also provides support for Arianne launches from the Guiana Space Center and for launches from the Wallops (Island) Flight Facility. The board around the plaque is signed by over 40 different co-workers. A brass plaque at the bottom of the plaque reads: "Good Luck Waldo / Lockheed". The piece is showing its years, but is an early classic piece of memorabilia that is rarely seen today. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $98
Lot 355		MR-3, 1986, "25th Anniversary of the "Flight of Freedom 7". This Anniversary of America's First Manned Orbital Flight was a major event for the nation and for the Mercury Seven Foundation (now the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation). Founded in 1984 by the six surviving members of America's original Mercury Seven, this was the first event (held in Los Angeles, on May 5, 1986) to really put the Foundation on the map of America's consciousness. Included in this lot are 1) the original Event Program with limited edition lithograph cover (No. 76/250) by artist Robert Peak (He did the promotional artwork for "West Side Story" (1961), "My Fair Lady" (1975), "Camelot", "Rollerball", the first six "Star Trek" films, "Superman" (1978)," In Like Flint" and "Apocalypse Now"). The original artwork for Program cover lithograph was auctioned at the 25th Anniversary Event (hosted by Bob Hope) for $21,000. This copy of the Program is autographed on the title page by Alan Shepard, 2) the printed invitation to the Event from President and Mrs. Reagan and the Mercury Seven Astronauts in an envelope addressed to Major and Mrs. Donald Slayton, 3) a second, more ordinary Event program with a different cover showing the Freedom Seven capsule during reentry (stained - coffee) and 4) a two-page printed program for a similar event held at the National Aviation Hall of Fame, USAF Museum, Dayton, Ohio on July 25th, 1986). A great group from one of the original sponsors of the Event. Estimated Value $150 - 250. Ex. The astronaut Donald "Deke" Slayton Family collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $96
Lot 356		MA-6, 1961, Senator John Glenn Autographs. Lot of three different including on two different 8x10" black and white photos (signed in blue or black ink) AND on a 1980 typed letter on Senate letterhead (two pages, recut to one page) in which he discusses his Mercury experiences. Interesting and attractive. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $132
Lot 357		MA-6, 1962, John Glenn Inscribed Launch Photo (framed to 11x14") This color photo reads: "4/5/62. My best regards to Jame and Paul and many thanks for all the help - There was a little interest up front when this picture was taken - I assure you. Good picture! (signed) J. H. Glenn, Jr. / St. Col. USMC / Mercury Astronaut". Minor rubs through parts of the inscription but unusual and unique. Paul Haney was NASA News Director from 1960-1962 and went on to become the "Voice of Mission Control". Estimated Value $250 - 350. Ex. the Paul Haney Estate collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $216
Lot 358		MA-6, 1962, Original Teletype Printout. This 14 foot long original teletype printout of the launch was recorded at the Grand Canary Tracking Station and saved by the Bendix Corporation Telemetry Supervisor. Although more technical than user friendly, this is an original document that is probably unique today. Excellent condition given its age with some edge faults, mainly at the top and bottom. This piece is doubly important given this year is the 50th Anniversary of Glenn's orbital flight. A fascinating document for the technically minded. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $630
Lot 359		MA-7, 1962, FLOWN Heat Shield Fragment (1x1x1") mounted on a beveled wooden display base with a metal descriptive plaque that reads: Heat Shield from "Aurora Seven" / Mercury-Atlas 7 - M. Scott Carpenter / May 24, 1962". Virtually pristine condition and almost never available. A rare piece of memorabilia. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $690
Lot 360		Gemini Program, 1962, "Astronaut Group 2" Candid Comic Polaroid Photo (4.25x5.25") This black and white photo has a red "Polaroid" and photo number printed on the reverse. It is one of a small series of unique "test" photos taken of the Group 2 astronauts (Armstrong, Borman, Conrad, Lovell, McDivitt, See, Stafford, White and Young) prior to their formal group photo being taken. This was done to relax the astros and to help the photographers adjust lighting and focus before the "money" shot. A great piece of memorabilia. Some toning/stining at the top of the photo, mostly clear of the images and should not detract from this unique image. Estimated Value $750 - 1,000. Ex. the astronaut Ed White II Family collection. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 361		Gemini Program, 1965-66, NASA-Bound Gemini "Fact Sheets" (Nos. 291, A-I). This hard-bound NASA publication has no ID number, but was undoubtedly issued mainly for insiders. The Fact Sheets cover each of the Gemini flights with full illustrations. This bound copy is inscribed on the first inside page: "Deacon - This will help fill those book shelves in your den - Appreciate your help and understanding throughout this project (signed) Paul Haney, 2/13/67". Those of you who follow our sales will remember that Paul Haney was the "Voice of NASA" during the Gemini and early Apollo Programs and that we sold the Paul Haney Estate collection in our last sale. The book is in excellent condition and was obviously appreciated as Deke (Deacon ?), who saved it for the past 40 odd years. ALSO included are two Mexican Hunting Licenses and a Mexican Gun Permit issued to Deke. Each is dated 1967 or 1968. A nice lot. Estimated Value $250 - 350. Ex. the astronaut Donald K. "Deke" Slayton Family collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $630
Lot 362		Gemini Program, c1965/1966, 16mm Color Film Reels. Lot of four different reels of 16mm, color film including film from GT-6 (300 feet), GT-11 (250 feet), GT11 EVA (250 feet) and GT-12 (1100 feet), all in metal film canisters. The first three are raw, possibly unedited, footage without sound, while the GT-12 footage has sound and is ex the NASA Public Relations Office. An unusual and seldom available lot. Estimated Value $250 - 350. Ex the Ludy Benjamin collection. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold