Lot 121
Apollo 11, 1969, FLOWN Commemorative Cover. This cover has a multicolor NASA Manned Spacecraft Center Stamp Club cachet and a Webster, TX, Aug 11, 1969 cancel on it. Below the cancel is a black rubber three-line handstamp that reads: 'Delayed in Quarantine at Lunar Receiving Laboratory M.S.C. - Houston, TX". The cover is boldly signed by the crew, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins and has an additional notation at the upper left "EEA-13, Carried to the Moon on Apollo 11" in the consignor's hand.
The cover was flown onboard the flight of Apollo 11 and returned to earth on July 24th, but, due to fears that the lunar environment might contain pathogens dangerous to terrestrial life, both the astronauts, and anything that they came in contact with during the flight that may have been exposed to lunar dust, went into three-week quarantine at the Lunar Receiving Laboratory after they returned to earth. That included both themselves and the covers they carried to the Moon in the Command Service Module. Therefor the covers could not be officially cancelled until they, and the astronauts, were released from quarantine on 11 August. The Webster, TX post office was the closest post office available to the Lunar Receiving Laboratory on 11 August.
A typed certificate of authenticity on multicolor Buzz Aldrin personal letterhead stationery is included that reads: "This NASA Manned Spacecraft Center Stamp Club commemorative postal cover was carried to the Moon during July 16-24, 1969 on the Apollo 11 mission. The lunar module Eagle made the first manned lunar landing on July 20, 1969. The cover has been in my private collection since 1969 and was signed by the Apollo 11 crew, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and myself. I have written on the cover that is was "Carried to the Moon on Apollo 11" and added my initials "EEA" with the number 13, which is my personal serial number of this group of covers". The certificate is signed: "Buzz Aldrin / Col. USAF (Ret.) / Gemini XII Pilot /Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot".
An important piece of historical memorabilia in immaculate condition.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 25,000.
Ex. the astronaut Buzz Aldrin collection.
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| Realized $36,800 |
