RR Auction is selling a spectacular Cartier 18 karat gold model of the Apollo 11 lander gifted to Buzz Aldrin.
It’s valued at upwards of $150,000 ahead of RR's November 9-16 space memorabilia sale.
Double delight: 18 karat gold and once owned by the second man on the Moon
The Moon man received the generous gift from French newspaper Le Figaro in 1969, soon after his arrival back on Earth.
The newspaper commissioned three such pieces from Cartier, one for each of the three astronauts, which were paid for by subscribers and other well-wishers.
It weighs in at just under a kilo. The attention to detail is quite staggering.
It includes a small capsule containing microfilm listing the names of all those who chipped in some cash.
Aldrin and his associates made a whistle-stop tour of 24 countries following the mission. Everywhere they were greeted with wildly over the top gifts, of which this is easily one of the most extravagant.
Cartier is also offering the buyer the chance to have the piece fully restored at its Paris workshop (although the buyer will be footing the bill).
There’s also a series of artefacts from the Apollo 11 mission itself, including an “Evasive Manoeuvre Burn Chart” signed by Aldrin himself.
The lot lists instructions for the final boost to break through Earth’s gravitational field.
It’s expected to sell for somewhere in excess of $12,000.
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