LOT #71048 |
Current Bid: $503
Apollo 11 Crew-Signed Color Recovery Helicopter Photo on a Splashdown Cover Canceled aboard the Recovery Ship U.S.S. ...
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Description
Apollo 11 Crew-Signed Color Recovery Helicopter Photo on a Splashdown Cover Canceled aboard the Recovery Ship U.S.S. Hornet. A philatelic cover hand canceled on the Hornet on July 24, 1969, the date of the splashdown of Apollo 11. A 3.5" square color photo of the recovery helicopter about to land on the ship's deck has been attached to the left side of the cover; underneath (hidden) is a stamped Pacific "U.S. Navy Recovery Force" cachet. The photo is very neatly signed: "Buzz Aldrin", "Mike Collins", and "Neil Armstrong" in various felt tips. A significant and rare memento of this historic occasion, the return to earth of the first men to land and walk on the moon. Tiny handwritten/ stamped address. Very fine.On July 24, 1969, the Apollo 11 command module Columbia splashed down in the Pacific Ocean approximately 13 miles from the U.S.S. Hornet, which had been designated as the primary recovery ship for the mission. Under the command of Captain Carl J. Seiberlich, the Hornet's crew, along with Navy divers and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4 (HS-4), executed a precise recovery operation, retrieving astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, and transferring them to the ship. President Richard Nixon was present on the carrier to personally welcome the astronauts back to Earth, marking a historic moment in space exploration and naval operations. From the Family Collection of Jacques Bracke.
Auction Info
2025 September 27 Space Exploration Showcase Auction #33169 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
September
27th
Saturday
9:50 am CT
Auction Dates
September
27th
Saturday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining
12 Days
17h 43m 52s
Internet/Mail Bids: 12
Lot Tracking Activity: 43
Page Views: 109
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.
This lot is in: 1 -
Space Session
(Lots 71001-71528) - 10:00 AM Central Time, Saturday, September 27, 2025.
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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