Anticipation is heating up for Bonhams' forthcoming Space History sale, scheduled to lift off on April 13.
Whereas Bonhams' successful and much-publicised 2009 Space sale coincided with the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11's Moon landing, this year's auction is timed to mark the anniversary of Apollo 13.
Bonhams has steadily been revealing the historic memorabilia that will make up the auction - and one of its most valuable items bears the autograph of a man who appears regularly on Paul Fraser Collectibles: Apollo 11's command module pilot, Michael Collins.
Michael Collins' flown Apollo 11 emblem - "flown" meaning that it has been up in space - will auction with a sky high estimate of $40,000-60,000 when it goes on sale to collectors and investors.
As well has having belonged to Collins - the man who continued to orbit around the Moon's dark side while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin explored the lunar surface - the emblem is extra special for bearing the signatures of all three Apollo 11 crewmen.
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Measuring 3½ inches in diameter and printed on 6 inches square Beta cloth, it carries the further inscription by Collins: "Carried to the Moon aboard Apollo XI, July 1969."
The emblem will be sold with a signed provenance note, also by Collins, certifying its remarkable history. "I added the inscription at top approx. 25 years later," reads Collins' accompanying note.
An emblem of the famous Apollo 11 logo appeared on each of the crewmembers' spacesuits.
Space collectibles remain one of the more niche and rewarding areas of memorabilia - and Paul Fraser Collectibles currently holds a number of valuable, singular and highly coveted items.
Among our stock are flight and training suits worn and signed by Buzz Aldrin, aka the Second Man on the Moon, and Michael Collins during the Apollo 11 mission.
We also have memorabilia signed by each of the Apollo 11 crew, today regarded as the 20th century's most intrepid explorers.
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Images: Bonhams