Lot 14: Crew-Signed Apollo 11 "Insurance-type" Cover
This unusual and perhaps rare Apollo 11 "Insurance-type" cachet cover was authentically signed by Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins before their launch on man's first lunar landing mission in July 1969. The colorful cachet features the Apollo 11 mission insignia above a picture depicting the historical "first" landing of men on another world.
Apollo insurance covers were a tradition that started with Apollo 11 and continued through Apollo 16. The flight crew astronauts would sign hundreds of covers like this to be left on Earth by their families in case a tragedy occurred during their epic lunar voyages. They could later be sold with the proceeds benefiting their families, similar to an insurance policy.
This cover was given to Dora Parker, one of KSC-NASA's full-time astronaut crew quarters resident workers throughout the Apollo era, by one of the crewmembers. It was later donated to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
The insurance cover was autographed on the back surface by the crew while they were in quarantine at Kennedy Space Center awaiting their launch to the moon. Why it wasn't signed on the front surface of the envelope is unknown, however, it would seem likely that Ms. Parker had planned to address and stamp the cover to herself. For some reason, the cover never was mailed.
The lot, therefore, includes two cachets; one signed and one not, so that both sides of the envelopes can be displayed in an archival frame. The covers measure approx. 6.5" x 3.5" in size and are accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from Space Memorabilia Expert Ken Havekotte with Space Coast Covers. The gold plate reads "Apollo 11 Cachet Authentically Signed By The Astronauts Of The First Lunar Landing: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin".
ASF reserves the right to disqualify the high bidder, to reject the high bid, and to accept a bid from a lower bidder, for any reason within their discretion, which shall be exercised in good faith.
The auction concluded on April 18, 2009 at 5:00 pm EDT.
Bids: 91 Winning Bid: $5451 Bidder: 356