Project Mercury Memorabilia: Value Factors & How to Sell

To auction, sell or consign your Project Mercury memorabilia, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (natedsanders.com).

What Types of Project Mercury Memorabilia Are There?

Project Mercury was the first U.S. program that launched humans into space and took place between 1958 and 1963. As an integral piece of the space race between the U.S. and Soviet Union, its goal was to orbit the Earth before the Soviet Union could. The Mercury Seven included astronauts Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn, Walter Schirra, Donald Slayton, Gordon Cooper and Scott Carpenter. Space collectors seek out a variety of Mercury memorabilia, including space-flown items, original photos, mission patches, manuals, and signed items.

Here Are Some Project Mercury Memorabilia We’ve Sold:

John Glenn’s In-Flight Instructions Flown Aboard Mercury 6 — Sold for $66,993

One-of-kind piece of space history flown with John Glenn aboard the Mercury-Atlas 6 “Friendship 7” – the first manned orbit of the earth by an American astronaut. These in-flight photo instructions were used by Glenn aboard the 20 February 1962 mission and feature both a chronological flight plan with detailed astrological markers (“+7′ CASSIOPIA/COUNT STARTS” and “+23′ ORION & MOON/UV PHOTOS COUNT STARS”), as well as fixed geographical landmarks (“LAKE VICTORIA/KENYA NAIROBI” AND “CHRISTMAS ISLANDS”). All data on the instructions was personally used by Glenn to confirm the capsule’s flight path during its 4 hour and 55 minute mission, instructing Glenn at which point to take photos in flight. Instructions also include an in-flight check list that covers such tasks as “Chng Film-Color Filter Out” and “STOW & R. SEQ CHK CET”. The document was attached to a bobbin at each end, forming a scroll that Glenn was able to move back and forth with his thumb during the mission. The long and narrow document measures 4.75″ x 42.5″, its ends trimmed to fit into the bobbin slits. The in-flight instructions were given by Glenn to Frogman Richard “Dick” Dunham of UDT-21 (Underwater Demolition Team) as a thank you memento for his work with Mercury 6; a precursor to Navy Seals, the UDT both trained astronauts for egress from the space capsule into the ocean and retrieved the astronauts after splashdown. The flight plan was then given to U.S. Navy veteran Justin C. Pollard by Dunham, who became a mentor during Pollard’s time in the Navy Bud/S School, Class 240. The document’s historical significance was confirmed by the John Glenn Archives at Ohio State University Libraries. Light creasing and wear, otherwise near fine. Additional provenance includes: (1) LOA from Justin Pollard; (2) 1959 photo of Dunham and Glenn together (Dunham is the blond gentleman, 4th from left in back row) and (3) screen-capture photo of the Mercury 6 cockpit, scroll visible in center of photo, in front of John Glenn. Sold for $66,993.

John Glenn Signed Mercury 6 Flown Dollar — Sold for $17,600

John Glenn signed dollar bill flown in space on the Mercury 6 mission with signed mat. The single dollar bill is signed “J H Glenn, Jr.” in ink. Launched 20 February 1962, Mercury 6 was the first mission to put an American (Glenn) in orbit. Flown bill is mounted to a COA also signed “J H Glenn, Jr.” and “M. Scott Carpenter”. The text of the COA reads: “This CERTIFIES / the following U.S. currency / Serial No. A31941854B / accompanied Lt. Col. John H. Glenn / on the first manned orbital flight aboard Friendship 7 Feb. 20, 1962″. Bill measures 6.25″ x 2.5″. Stapled to COA with two staples near the bottom edge to an overall size of 11.25″ x 8.5”. An additional signature on the bill reads: “Terry Thompson”. Some abrasions to upper right of bill and creasing, else near fine. toning to the mat, else near fine. With JSA LOA and PSA/DNA COA. Sold for $17,600.

Learn about some of the items signed by the Mercury Seven that we sold.

Liberty Bell 7 Flown Dime From Mercury-Redstone 4 — Sold for $3,049

Space flown dime from the Mercury-Redstone 4 mission. Dime was flown with Gus Grissom aboard the Liberty Bell 7, which launched from Cape Canaveral on 21 July of 1961. Flown dime, minted in 1961, comes with a sterling silver medallion engraved with the launch date and mission title. Both are affixed to a metal loop for hanging on a necklace chain. Paper tape affixed to the medallion reads, ”66-90-31”. Some tarnishing, else near fine. From the personal estate of Gus Grissom and with an LOA from his son. Sold for $3,049.

Mercury 7 NASA Press Photo — Sold for $2,000

Press photo of the Mercury 7, ”wearing full-pressure flight suits especially designed for the Mercury mission”, as described in the NASA press blurb on verso. With black NASA photo number to margin, B-60-1587. Glossy photo measures 8” x 10.125”. Creasing in a few spots, overall in very good condition. Sold for $2,000.

Project Mercury “Capsule Flight Operations Manual” — Sold for $1,700

Project Mercury “Capsule Flight Operations Manual”, #SEDR 109 dated 1 February 1962 shortly before the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission. Manual is divided into three sections: Normal Procedures, Emergency Procedures and Trouble Shooting, with several fold-out schematics and specific instructions to aid for a successful launch, mission, re-entry, landing, and capsule egress. Housed in dark green custom binder measuring 6.25″ x 7.5″. Light wear, overall near fine condition. Sold for $1,700.

“Project Mercury NASA Familiarization Manual” — Sold for $878

“Project Mercury NASA Familiarization Manual”, SEDR 104, dated 1 December 1962, by McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. Manual was written for the one-day mission of Manned Satellite Spacecraft No. 20, with the introduction reading in part, “The Mercury Spacecraft described in this manual is designed for a one-day earth-orbiting mission. This mission is an extension of the three-orbit and six-orbit flights of the Mercury Vehicle…” Spacecraft No. 20 was ultimately used in Mercury-Atlas 9, which launched on 15 May 1963 and lasted just over 34 hours. With a wealth of information about the mission and the spacecraft, including several pull-out schematics. Housed in original McDonnell three-ring binder. Minor wear to covers, overall in very good plus condition. Sold for $878.

Thanks for viewing some of our Project Mercury memorabilia! Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. Our monthly auctions can be viewed at natedsanders.com.

FAQs

How do I consign or sell my Project Mercury memorabilia?
It’s never been easier to sell your Project Mercury memorabilia 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 want to move forward. What’s the consignment process like at Nate D. Sanders Auctions?
We’ll send you more information about our auctions along with an agreement for your 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.