Apollo 12 crew autograph set offers £895 bargain for space collectors

Want an Apollo autograph set for Xmas - without spending thousands? Look no further than Apollo 12

If you're a collector fascinated by the Apollo Moon missions, here are a few space memorabilia sales you definitely won't want to miss in the coming weeks.

We recently reported on HA.com's upcoming sale of an Apollo 13 "Flown LM Systems Activation Checklist Book" - also fascinating as the checklist contains dialogue later recreated for a pivotal scene in the 1996 Tom Hanks-starring blockbuster Apollo 13.

That piece is estimated at $25,000-35,000 and is from the personal collection of Mission Commander James Lovell. "It is extraordinary that [this] is not in a museum," we wrote at the time.

This Apollo 13 flag previously owned by Mission Command Jim Lovell is for sale at HA.com estimated at $4,000-$6,000

Also from Commander Lovell's personal collection is an Apollo 13 flag which was flown in space during the crew's famously unsuccessful mission. It is signed and will auction in HA.com's sale with a crew-signed certificate and an estimate of $4,000-$6,000.

But what if your budget doesn't stretch to $6,000? Well, while Apollo missions 11 and 13 get most attention, the onus falls on collectors to ensure memories of the brave men of the other Apollo missions are preserved.

And you can get some bargains in the process...

Like this set of three autographs signed by the crew of man's second successful Moon mission, Apollo 12 - a mission whose length and scientific accomplishments outdid Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's achievements during Apollo 11.

This autographed photograph signed by Alan Bean (1932-), the fourth man to walk on the lunar surface, is for sale alongside signed photos of his two crewmates – we’re offering it for just £895

We have the three signed photographs for sale priced at just £895 - a very low price compared to Apollo 13 crew group autographs which command an average value of £9,500 on today's markets - up 6.15% in the last 12 months.

Also for sale elsewhere is this space flown flag from man's final Moon mission, Apollo 17.

It measures 4 x 6 inches and is notably mounted on "an unusual" Goddard Space Flight Center presentation certificate. The centre was NASA's first space flight center, established in 1959.

"This flag was carried to the Moon aboard the spacecraft America Apollo XVII, December 7-19, 1972," reads the certificate.

This Apollo 17 flag is estimated at $2,500-3,500 - and bids close in nine days

Billed as an attractive piece, this Apollo 17 flag is estimated at $2,500 - 3,500 is currently for sale in an online auction by Ira and Larry Goldberg of Los Angeles, US - a great bargain price considering this item has been flown in space.

Online bids for the Apollo 17 flag close in nine days, on December 3.

Recent and related articles

·Italian flag flown to the moon leads the way at space memorabilia auction | 3 November 2011

·Top Five Space Photographs - holiday snaps that are 'out of this world' | 2 November 2011

·Grand Duke Owl meteorite shoots above the rest at Sotheby's auction | 18 October 2011

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Images: HA.com and Ira and Larry Goldberg