SGC Authentic

I am happy to announce I am consulting with SGC Authentic. As you may know, SGC is a well-known and respected card grading company that in the past year launched an autograph authentication division.

In actuality, I have been reviewing space autographs for SGC since they began their service late last year. However, now that they have officially announced their consultants, I can share the news! 

Air Force One Guest Log with Apollo 11 + more!

This Air Force One Guest Log recently closed at RR Auction for $6,543. A bargain in my opinion for a truly unique and historic item.

The leatherbound hardcover log book from Air Force One is signed on an inside page in black felt tip by the Apollo 11 crew and their wives upon their arrival in New York city for their ticker tape parade as they kicked off their around-the-world good will tour.

The book is also signed by 77 others, including Lyndon Johnson, Bill Anders, other politicians and dignitaries, and a 28-person contingent of family, friends, and NASA and White House staff of the Apollo 13 mission, who were flown by Nixon to Honolulu to be reunited with the crew.

Wow!

Shout out for bubble helmets

So who else is a sucker for bubble helmet poses? I am!

Are authenticity holograms secure enough?

Here is a "Derek Jeter" signed hat on eBay with a Steiner hologram and generic Steiner card, which states "Derek Jeter Autograph."

At best, this signature is highly suspect. Additionally, it appears to be a cheap knock off hat -- note the oversized NY logo and it is probably an adjustable cap as well. Is it likely that Steiner is selling Derek Jeter signed items on unofficial merchandise?

So, this leads me to believe it is either a real Steiner hologram removed from another item or a counterfeit Steiner hologram. Either way, it does not bode well. As reported on Net54, it seems that bad items are appearing with otherwise credible holograms with more and more frequency.

If they are counterfeits, Steiner, MLB and the third party authenticators need to go after the sellers and find out where they are coming from.

If they are legit holograms removed from other items, these holograms are not secure enough and need to be redesigned so they tear apart if removed. I know from personal experience I had a Steiner hologram fall off of a game used ball with only a tiny fleck of the backing being damaged.

A lot of collectors only trust items from supervised signing such as Steiner, MLB, TriStar, etc. If the credibility of these holograms comes into question, these collectors will leave the hobby and that is bad for all of us.

Apollo 8: Bill Anders signature

Obtained in-person in Seattle, 1999. Note this is a variant signature style, which differs from the classic style that has the stylized A.

Welcome to SpaceLOA.com

Welcome to my new and improved web site.

While I had a simple landing page for a while, I hope you enjoy the additional information here as well as my new Deep Space Blog.

This blog will mirror some of the content of my general collecting blog, Zipper's Collecting Obsession , however, you can expect content exclusive to this site as well.

Your comments and feedback are welcome as always. 

Happy collecting! 

Images from Spacefest V

Spacefest V was held over Memorial Day Weekend this year. For those who don't know, it is the event for the space enthusiast of any stripe - astronomy; manned exploration; robotic exploration; commercial space, space history, etc. One of the big draws of Spacefest are the astronaut autograph signings.

Thanks to Kim Poor of Novaspace and Mark and Tom Usciak for the photos.

Gemini IV and Apollo 9 astronaut Jim McDivitt

Gemini VII, Apollo 9 and Apollo 15 astronaut Dave Scott

Gemini XI and Apollo 12 astronaut Dick Gordon

Apollo 7 astronaut Walt Cunningham

Jim McDivitt Who wouldn't love to have a cocktail with a real hero?

Spacefest VI hasn't been officially announced yet, however I'm really going to try to make it next year. You should too.

Apollo 8: First to the Moon

Apollo 11 tends to get most of the limelight, but many forget that Apollo 8 was the first mission to the Moon. While Apollo 8 did not land on the Moon, they were the first to leave Earth and orbit the Moon in December 1968.

It was a daring mission led by the incomparable Frank Borman. Jim Lovell, the future commander of the Apollo 13 mission, and Bill Anders rounded out the crew.

The crew of the historic Apollo 8 Bill Anders, James Lovell and Frank Borman

On Christmas Eve 1968 during a live television transmission heard by an estimated 2 billion people, each crew member read a section from the Book of Genesis (verses 1-10). Borman finished the broadcast by wishing a Merry Christmas to everyone on Earth with, "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth."

(As an aside, it's almost unimaginable that religious content like this would be permitted on a broadcast today. If it was, they would have to include a message from every conceivable religion (and atheists) as to be as "inclusive" as possible. Some would call this "progress" I assume.)

The signed limited print above was issued by the San Diego Air and Space Museum in 2008 -- the 40th anniversary of the mission. As space collectors know, Bill Anders is an exceedingly difficult signer, making an Apollo 8 crew signed item one of the least common and most desirable Apollo crews.

Story of the Ted Williams “Thumper” postcards

The Ted William’s “Thumper” postcards often appear for sale. The signatures are generally authentic; however, it is possible that unsigned versions of the card exist where a forgery could be added.

So, where did these Thumper postcards come from?

Reportedly, Ted Williams had a business interest in an orange grove. When someone ordered a certain quantity of oranges, they received a free signed postcard. A larger 5.5 x 8.5 print also exists, and presumably these were sent with larger orders.

Whitey Ford Thumper Postcard

Interestingly, there are also Thumper signed postcards for others players as well including Brooks Robinson, Whitey Ford, Stan Musial and others. The quality of the artwork varies greatly. It is unclear if these were also "orange grove" giveaways." The Williams postcard bears a nice likeness, while some others -- notably the Ford -- are somewhat dis-proportioned and cartoonish.

Ted Williams Thumper Postcard envelope

New William "Bill" Anders Astronaut Autopen Identified

I found this suspect signature a few months ago, and this week a match was found. So this is now a confirmed Autopen pattern for Apollo 8 astronaut, Bill Anders.

Amazing how we are still discovering Autopen patterns 40+ years after they have been in circulation.