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Apollo 11 Lunar Module Flown American Flag and Embroidered (!) Mission Insignia Patch as Presented to and Directly from the Es...
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Description
One of the most exciting Space relics Heritage has ever offered! We firmly believe that this is the only embroidered Apollo 11 mission patch that flew to the moon on the Apollo 11 mission, in the Lunar Module Eagle even.
Apollo 11 Lunar Module Flown American Flag and Embroidered (!)
Mission Insignia Patch as Presented to and Directly from the Estate
of NASA Legend Chris Kraft, in Framed Display, with Certificate of
Authenticity. An absolutely incredible and unique presentation
piece. A 10.5" x 13.5" (sight size) certificate featuring two color
photos (one of the launch, the other of Aldrin descending the LM
ladder), a 5.75" x 4" cloth U.S. flag (with red stitching), and a
4" diameter embroidered mission insignia ( possibly a
Universal Commemorative variant) along with the printed text:In recognition
of his leadership and significant
contributions to the success of the first
manned landing on the Moon,
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
presents to
Dr. Christopher C. Kraft, Jr.
this flag and crew patch which were carried
to the Moon aboard the Spacecraft Eagle
on July 20, 1969
Framed to an overall 12.5" x 15.5" apparently exactly as presented. Any serious Space collector will immediately recognize the rarity and importance of this piece. To have both a flag and a patch flown to the surface of the moon in one presentation piece is extremely desirable. The fact that it was presented to such an important figure only increases its rarity. The additional element is that we assume that an Apollo 11 mission-flown embroidered patch is missing from virtually every collection, both private and institutional. Add those factors together and this significant relic of Space history should generate some serious bidding. What collector wouldn't want it? The flag has significant glue bleedthrough, otherwise excellent. This hung on the east wall of Dr. Kraft's home office.
After a tense few minutes while the Lunar Module Eagle approached a landing site, Dr. Kraft heard in his ear from Neil Armstrong: "Houston. Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." CapCom Charlie Duke replied: "We copy you on the ground."
Kraft comments: "On the ground. Is the moon 'ground'? Let the philosophers decide that one. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were safe, the first of our human species to land on another world. We'd done it. At least, we'd done it this far. And all hell broke out in mission control, cheering and waving small American flags, handshakes all around, complete pandemonium from people who'd held it in and did their jobs in the face of historic stress. Bob Gilruth brushed a tear from his cheek, and my own eyes were bleary. We shook hands and he clapped my shoulder. Neither of us could speak over the lumps in our throats. We didn't have to. The shouting and cheering in mission control was saying it for all of us." (Flight. My Life in Mission Control by Chris Kraft, page 322, New York: Dutton, 2001)
NOTE: Chris Spain, in his highly-respected Embroidered Crew patch site, states the following regarding the Universal Commemorative patch: "This vintage patch from Universal Commemorative has fairly crude artwork compared with some of the other versions but is noteworthy in that at least one example appears to have been flown as a memento on the Apollo 11 mission (in the Lunar Module even) by NASA, and was then used in a presentation given to Christopher Kraft. This would in fact make it the only embroidered patch known to have been flown on the mission as even the Texas Art Embroidery crew patches were only used post-flight."
Auction Info
2021 May 21 - 22 Space Exploration Signature Auction #6238 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
May, 2021
21st-22nd
Friday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 19
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 4,919
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,000 and $3,000,000, plus 12.5% of any amount over $3,000,000 per lot.
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