The 30 Minute Rule begins April 23 at 7:00 PM EDT. An Initial Bid Must Be Placed By April 23 at 6:00 PM EDT To Participate After 6:00 PM EDT
Richard Gordon’s silver astronaut pin, .5˝ x .5˝, which he received upon reporting to NASA in 1964 after his selection as part of NASA Astronaut Group 3. The pin is accompanied by a signed and handwritten letter of authenticity from Gordon, which is headed “Silver Astronaut Lapel Pin,” and reads: “This silver Astronaut lapel pin was given to me upon reporting to NASA in early 1964. The silver pin was given to Astronauts who had not yet flown in space. After having flown in space an astronaut was awarded a gold lapel pin. This pin was proudly worn by me from 1964 until I flew on Gemini XI in September 1966 when it was retired and replaced with a gold pin. This silver lapel pin has been in my possession since early 1964.”
Both items are impressively displayed with supporting provenance and signed photographs, which include: a color NASA lithograph of the Apollo 12 crew and a color launch photograph, both signed in felt tip by the full crew of Gordon, Alan Bean, and Charles Conrad; a color panoramic photo of the Ocean of Storms landing site, signed in silver ink by Gordon and Bean, who writes “My silver astronaut pin is inside this crater somewhere??”; images of Gordon posing with the pin and Bean posing with the panoramic photo; and a typed information sheet from the pin’s consignor: “Alan Bean knew that he would get a Gold Astronaut Pin after having flown on Apollo 12. He decided that the best place for his Silver Astronaut Pin was to throw it out at the Apollo 12 landing site on the Ocean of Storms...As the owner of Dick's silver astronaut pin, it occurred to me, given the close relationship between Alan and Dick, that it would be fun to make a display that highlighted the silver astronaut pin…At Spacefest III (Tucson, AZ., June 2011), I had Dick and Al sign the above picture. I asked Alan to show approximately where he had thrown the pin. I've gotten to know Dick over the years, and I had him pose with the pin at an event I was a volunteer at in San Francisco later in 2011.” All of the items are archivally matted and framed together to an overall size of 45.25˝ x 25.25˝. In overall fine condition.
This item is Pre-Certified by STEVE ZARELLI
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$25.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
