September 2013 Auction Ends Thursday, September 26th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2013
Apollo 1 crew and backup crew signatures and photo of the astronauts meeting Red Skelton from 1966. A piece of stationery personalized for Louise Maxwell bears six signatures in red ink: ''Gus Grissom'', ''Edward H. White II'', ''James A. McDivitt'', ''Roger B. Chaffee'', ''Rusty Schweickart'' and ''David Scott''. Signed page has been typed upon with a caption identifying the date of signing as 17 July 1966. Sadly, Grissom, White and Chaffee were killed in a test run of the Apollo 1 just six months after this sheet was signed. Accompanying the autographs is an original photograph of the six astronauts meeting Red Skelton backstage in Las Vegas. The photo was published in the Las Vegas Sun newspaper on 16 July 1966. Its caption read, ''Six of America's astronauts, most of whom have already orbited in space, have been staying at the Sands Hotel during a brief break in their training schedule. Following the Red Skelton show, the six went backstage to compliment Skelton on his 'astronaut' pantomime, where the Skelton family turned the tables and insisted on autographs of their guests. Pictured backstage are from left David Scott, James McDivitt, Edward White, (Who walked in space), Roger Chaffee, Art Coleman, a friend of the Skeltons, Valentina Skelton, Red Skelton, his wife, Georgia, Virgil (Gus) Grissom, and Russell Schweickart. Several of the men have been in Nevada before for geology training at the Nevada Test Site.'' Photo is mounted over the signed 7.25'' x 9.25'' sheet. Framed to an overall size of 21.25'' x 28''. Light buckling from mounting, else near fine.
Apollo 1 Signatures -- The Entire Tragic Crew & First Backup Crew -- Signed Just 6 Months Before The Disaster When The Astronauts Met Red Skelton in Nevada - With a Photo of That Meeting
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