How to Sell Your Apollo 8 Autographs & Memorabilia

To auction, sell or consign your Apollo 8 autographs & memorabilia, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).

Who Were the Apollo 8 Astronauts?

The Apollo 8 mission launched on December 21, 1968 with the astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders. Originally the mission was meant to test the Earth’s orbit for the Lunar Module, but made changes due to Soviet plans. Apollo 8 was the first mission to launch via the Saturn V rocket and included other milestones like being the first crewed mission to leave Earth’s orbit and take color photos of Earth from deep space.

Here’s Some Apollo 8 Memorabilia We’ve Sold:

Earthrise ”Red Number” Photo — Sold for $21,875

Beautiful Earthrise photo from Apollo 8, one of the most famous images of the Apollo missions. ”Red number” photo AS8-14-2383 is printed on fiber-based paper with ”A Kodak Paper” watermark on verso along with NASA press blurb. Chromogenic print is encapsulated by PSA as a Type 1 photo from 1968. Measures 10” x 8”, encapsulated to 13.25” x 9.75”. Near fine condition. Sold for $21,875.

Flown Heat Shield Segment — Sold for $19,020

Very rare heat shield segment flown on the historic Apollo mission, not only the first manned mission to leave Earth’s low orbit and summit to the moon, but also the first manned mission of the Saturn V rocket. Segment is a charred plug, here preserved in lucite on a wooden base, with a plaque reading “First Manned Lunar Orbital Flight / Apollo 8 / Dec. 21-27, 1968″. Measures 4″ x 5.5″ x 3.125”. Very good plus condition. Very rare, with only one other recent example found at auction. Sold for $19,020.

Flown Robbins Medallion — Sold for $9,450

Flown Robbins medal from Apollo 8, the first crewed Apollo mission to orbit the moon. Sterling silver medallion is serial number 242, engraved on the reverse along with the Robbins sterling mark and mission dates of 21-27 December 1968. Obverse of medal features the mission insignia in relief with the surnames of crew members Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders. Medallion measures 1.5” x 1.25”. Very good to near fine condition. From the personal collection of astronaut Story Musgrave and with his LOA. Sold for $9,450.

Frank Borman & James Lovell Signed Lunar Orbit Chart — Sold for $7,980

Frank Borman and James Lovell signed Apollo 8 Lunar Orbit Chart, additionally writing memorable passages from their 1968 Christmas Eve lunar broadcast that mesmerized the world. Borman writes at top, ”’And from the crew of Apollo 8, We close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you – all of you on the good Earth.’ / Frank Borman”. Lovell then writes his memorable quote, ”Houston, please be informed there is a Santa Claus! / James Lovell”, followed by the passage from Genesis that Lovell read to the world, ”’And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day’ Genesis 1: 1-5”. Original Lunar Orbit Chart from 1968 is Edition 1, published 4 December 1968. Measures 41” x 12”. Very good to near fine condition. Sold for $7,980.

Apollo 8 Flown Robbins Medal — Sold for $6,250

Rare Apollo 8 Robbins Medal aboard the spacecraft during the 1968 mission. The historic Apollo 8 mission was the first human spaceflight to leave Earth’s orbit. Pyramid- shaped sterling silver medal features mission insignia including the number 8 circling the moon and earth, and the last name of each crew member Frank Borman, James Lovell, and Bill Anders to front. Reverse is engraved ”Dec. 21-27, 1968” with serial number ”205”. Medal measures 1.5” x 1.25” housed in its original ”Robbins Company” plastic box with an ”205” sticker on the bottom. Minor tarnishing to verso, else near fine. With an LOA from Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert’s sister. Sold for $6,250.

Jack Swigert’s Apollo 8 Flown Robbins Medal — Sold for $6,250

Jack Swigert’s rare Apollo 8 Robbins Medal flown aboard the spacecraft during the 1968 mission. The historic Apollo 8 mission was the first human spaceflight to leave Earth’s orbit. Pyramid-shaped sterling silver medal features mission insignia including the number 8 circling the moon and earth, and the last name of each crew member Frank Borman, James Lovell, and Bill Anders to front. Reverse is engraved ”Dec. 21-27, 1968” with serial number ”231”. Medal measures 1.5” x 1.25” housed in its original ”Robbins Company” plastic box with a ”231” sticker on the bottom. Tarnishing, else near fine. With an LOA from Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert’s sister. Sold for $6,250.

Space-Flown Flag Signed by Crew — Sold for $5,948

American flag flown in space aboard Apollo 8. Flown flag is mounted to a COA signed by command module pilot ”James Lovell”, lunar module pilot ”Bill Anders” and commander ”Frank Borman”. COA reads in print, ”This flag was carried aboard the first manned lunar orbit spacecraft / Apollo 8 / December 21-27, 1968…” Affixed below the flag is a color photo of the crew in their spacesuits. Cloth flag measures 6” x 4”. Certificate measures 10” x 12”. Show through of adhesive to flag corners, else near fine. Sold for $5,948.

Flown Beta Cloth, Signed By Frank Borman — Sold for $5,775

Apollo 8 flown Beta cloth, signed by mission Commander Frank Borman, from whose personal collection this originates. Beta cloth shows the Apollo 8 emblem, signed by Borman in black felt-tip, “Flown on Apollo 8 / Frank Borman CDR”. Apollo 8 was the first manned mission to leave Earth’s low orbit, then reach and orbit the moon. Measures 9″ x 9″. Near fine condition. With Novaspace COA. Sold for $5,775.

Set of Two Apollo 8 Earthrise Photos — Sold for $5,000

Set of two NASA ”Earthrise” or ”Blue Marble” photos from the Apollo 8 mission, showing, for the first time, the Earth from the vantage point of the moon. Two of the most coveted photos from the Apollo space program, both photos show the purple NASA press release stamp on verso, dating the photos to 1968. Each glossy photo measures 8” x 10”. Approximate 3” surface scratch on each at left mid-center. Light creasing, overall in very good condition. Sold for $5,000.

Apollo 8 Crew Signed Photo — Sold for $3,493

Excellent Apollo 8 photo signed by crew members Jim Lovell, Frank Borman and Bill Anders, as the first three men to travel to the moon and back. Official NASA photo depicts an image of Earth taken from just above the surface of the moon. Caption along bottom reads: ”Apollo 8 Spacecraft in orbit around the moon views earth”. Verso to photo has a printed narrative about the Apollo 8 mission. Matte photo measures 10” x 8” with very minor foxing to margins else near fine. A spectacular photograph, all the more so signed by the first men to view this image of Earth. Sold for $3,493.

Space-Flown Flag With COA Signed by Frank Borman and Jim Lovell — Sold for $3,049

American flag flown in space aboard Apollo 8. Flown flag is mounted to a COA signed by command module pilot James Lovell and commander Frank Borman, who also inscribes, ”To Ron / With very best Wishes”. COA reads in print, ”This flag was carried aboard the first manned lunar orbit spacecraft / Apollo 8 / December 21-27, 1968…” Affixed below the flag is a color photo of the crew in their spacesuits. Cloth flag measures 6” x 4”, mounted, matted and framed to an overall size of 15” x 17”. Scuffing to frame, lifting to edges of photo and toning to adhesive at flag corners, else near fine. Sold for $3,049.

Frank Borman Signed ”New York Times” Poster — Sold for $2,500

Frank Borman signed ”New York Times” poster of its front page from 25 December 1968, reporting on the historic Christmas flight of the Apollo 8 mission. Broadcasting from lunar orbit, the three astronauts made a broadcast on Christmas, which up to that point was the most watched program in television history. Borman writes, ”From Apollo 8, good night, Merry Christmas and God Bless all on Earth / Frank Borman / Apollo 8 CDR”. Poster measures 24” x 36” on flexible off-white cardstock. Near fine condition. With Novaspace COA. Sold for $2,500.

“Red Number” NASA Photo — The First Photo of Earth from Space — Sold for $1,050

Historic Apollo 8 photo showing the very first photo of Earth from space. NASA “red number” photo AS8-16-2593 is printed on “A Kodak Paper” with the NASA press release in purple also printed to verso. Glossy chromogenic photo measures 8.5″ x 8″. Trimmed edges, faint discoloration and yellowing. Overall in very good condition. Sold for $1,050.

Crew-Signed First Day Cover

Apollo 8 astronaut signed first day cover, dated 24 December 1968. Signed by the crew, “Jim Lovell” in blue ink, and “Frank Borman” and “Bill Anders” in black ink, as the first three men to travel to the moon and back, with a Christmas Eve television broadcast to mark their journey. Cover features a depiction of the moon’s surface with print reading: “Apollo 8 orbits moon at Christmas / First live TV pictures from the lunar surface / Man’s horizon now reaches to infinity”. Postmarked Cape Canaveral 24 December 1968. Printed map of their route and typed description of their journey is also included. Cover measures 6.5″ x 3.75″, in fine condition. Sold for $873.

To auction, sell or consign your Apollo 8 autographs & memorabilia, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).

FAQs

How do I consign or sell my Apollo 8 memorabilia?
It’s never been easier to sell your Apollo 8 items at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Email a description and photos of your item to [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can with a free appraisal.

This sounds great and I’d like to move forward. What’s the consignment process like at Nate D. Sanders Auctions?
We’ll send you more information about our auction house along with an agreement to review. Your item will appear in our next auction. Unlike many auction houses, we hold monthly auctions and pay you within an industry-leading 45 days following the auction.

What factors determine the value of Apollo 8 memorabilia?
The value of your item can vary based on condition, provenance and subject matter.