A camera flown to the Moon aboard the 1971 Apollo 15 mission is valued at $200,000-270,000 ahead of a sale at the WestLicht Gallery in Vienna on March 22.
The 70mm Hasselblad EDC (Electronic Data Camera) was operated by Lunar Module pilot Jim Irwin, who took almost 300 photographs over the course of the mission.
 One of the photographs taken by Jim Irwin on the surface of the Moon |
The model was produced specifically for use in space, and features a number of innovations including a rangefinder at eye level rather than the standard reflex mirror.
It has exceptional provenance, with the number printed on the photographs (38) matching that found on an internal plate used for calibration purposes.
Such cameras were generally left behind after the film was removed to allow for more moonrock to be carried aboard, with this example brought back to earth by accident after it was attached to Irwin's spacesuit.
Following the lifting of a ban on the sale of memorabilia collected by astronauts last year, we are beginning to see a significant increase in the variety of space memorabilia consigned to auction.
Recently a flag flown aboard the Apollo 11 Mission made $63,000 at Nate D Sanders.
You can view our space and aviation memorabilia here, which includes this Neil Armstrong-signed copy of Life Magazine.
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