Apollo 13's Jack Swigert

John Leonard "Jack" Swigert, Jr. died way too young 33 years ago today. It was only 12 years after his heroic return on Apollo 13 and seven weeks after he had been elected to Colorado's new 6th congressional district.

Jack Swigert signed photo to Claudia Thames of the John M. King company.

While Swigert wasn't an especially difficult signer, his autograph is exceedingly uncommon on his NASA white space suit portrait. It seems that -- at best -- two or three come to market in any given year. In my estimation, Swigert space suit pose is just as rare if not rarer than James Irwin and John Young signed white space suit portraits.

Jack Swigert's signature can typically be obtained on postal covers, programs and the like for $300 - $400. His NASA business suit pose signed fetches around $600 - $700, and one can expect to pay $1,000 and up for a signed white space suit pose... likely much more for an unpersonalized example.

Due to his untimely death in 1982 -- before widespread commercial signings -- demand outweighs supply and forgeries abound. Be especially wary of Apollo 13 items that started with a bad Swigert, and an unwitting collector added authentic Lovell and Haise signatures.

USAF Band Holiday Flash Mob 2015

The annual United States Air Force Band holiday flash mob has become something I look forward to every December. This year's flash mob is at Washington, DC's Union Station and commemorates the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Enjoy!

A special holiday musical presentation from Union Station in Washington, DC celebrating the service and sacrifices of our nation's World War II veterans and commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of the war. Featuring The USAF Band, Washington DC, an extraordinary dance troup from NYC (choreographed by Jessica Hartman), and a cameo appearance by Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James.

Apollo 15 Dave Scott moon worn watch to hit auction block

The only privately owned watch that was worn on the moon will be going to live auction at RR Auction on Thursday October 22, 2015. As of writing this entry, the watch is at almost $130,000 in online pre-bidding. 

Some flown item experts are predicting it may hit $1 million due to the crossover appeal between space collectors and watch collectors.

Live auction on Thursday October 22nd at 7:00 pm ET, at RR Auction's Boston Gallery. More details can be found at www.rrauction.com.

They both can't be right: Apollo 11 Reproduction Signed Photo

Here is a common reproduction signed photo of the Apollo 11 crew. The signatures are not live ink -- they are part of the photo. This was distributed in mass quantities by NASA to schools, libraries and other public institutions around the time of the mission. It exists in 8 x 10 and approximately 16 x 20 sizes.

This eBay seller is offering the reproduction signed photo for a $1,000 Buy It Now and states that he has had "a few experts check it out and verify it is authentic." 

Common Apollo 11 reproduction signed photo being advertised as authentic on eBay

This seller has another print of the same item with identical signatures, and he assures potential buyers that "his uncle got the signatures at a show in Florida."

Another Apollo 11 reproduction signed photo being advertised as authentic on eBay

YF-12 Legends: Robert Stephens and Daniel Andre

Here is one you don't see every day... an official Air Force photo signed by Robert "The Silver Fox" Stephens and Daniel Andre. 

On May 1, 1965, at Edwards Air Force Base, Colonel Stephens and fire control officer Colonel Daniel Andre, set a speed record of 2,070.101 mph and altitude record of 80,257.86 ft. These records stood until 1977 when they were surpassed by an SR-71.

Alexey Leonov private signing for charity

Alexey Leonov private signing for charity

Florian Noller, Spaceflori, has conducted a private signing with Alexey Leonov. The proceeds will benefit Artem Anisimov, the son of a former cosmonaut candidate and now teacher of the cosmonauts, who suffers from a rare version of epilepsy that can only be treated outside Russia.

Prices are very reasonable and you are contributing to a good cause. For more details, check out Spaceflori.com.

Joe Walker, X-15 Pilot, signed postal cover

Joe Walker (February 20, 1921 – June 8, 1966) flew the X-15 rocket plane 25 times, and exceeded a 50 mile altitude three times, qualifying him as an astronaut by US Air Force standards.

Joe Walker was killed on June, 8 1966, when his F-104 Starfighter collided with a North American XB-70 Valkyrie. Walker's Starfighter was in a tight formation for a General Electric publicity photo when his F-104 collided with the XB-70's right wingtip.

Joe walker signed X-15 Sarzin postal cover

Due to his untimely death at the relatively young age of 45, Walker is a desirable and uncommon autograph... especially in 8x10 photograph format. Expect to pay a few hundred dollars for a postal cover and $600 - $700 or more for a signed 8x10 photograph. Due to the high value and demand, Joe Walker forgeries exist in quantity.

Stuart Roosa - An uncommon astronaut autograph

Stuart Roosa, Apollo 14 Command Module Pilot, was one of 24 men to travel to the moon. He was a sporadic signer and passed away in 1994, before the period when commercial signing became more commonplace. To my knowledge, he commercially signed Sieger Stamp blocks in the early 70s, a few art prints, and 8x10 photos for one of the first companies that specialized in astronaut signed photos, The SpaceSource of Glen Dale, Maryland. Other than that he did no commercial signings or memorabilia shows.

For this reason, Stuart Roosa is a relatively uncommon signature among the Apollo astronauts and can command top dollar. Expect to pay several hundred dollars for a personalized photo and perhaps $1,000+ for an un-personalized White Space Suit Portrait. The Sieger stamp blocks are small and the signatures typically have poor contrast over a busy background, so they are an economical way to get a Roosa signature at typically under $50. 

Regrettably, Roosa is the target of forgers... some of them skilled and fairly deceptive.

Interestingly, Stuart Roosa's image and family was featured in an USAA insurance television ad in 2013.

Stuart Roosa signed Apollo 14 Crew Portrait

Ed White: The first American to walk in space 50 years ago

50 years ago today, Edward H. White was the first American to walk in space on the Gemini IV mission. Even 50 years later, the images of White's space walk captured by Jim McDivitt are among the most compelling of the space race.

This photo signed by Ed White to "Warren" was originally from the collection of Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, Warren Spahn. Apparently, Spahn was a follower of the space race and a bit of an autograph collector himself. He met astronauts on occasion and his collection contained a number of gems, including baseballs signed by the Mercury 7, the Gemini IV crew and more. 

The NASA Collection of Leon Ford

The hobby is a little less bright without Leon Ford.