Aviation and Space

Scarce 1800 handwritten letter by the co-inventor of the hot air balloon

328. Joseph-Michel Montgolfier Autograph

Letter Signed. French politician and pioneering aviator (1740–1810) best known for inventing, with his brother, Jacques-Etienne, the first successful hot-air balloon. ALS in French, signed “J. Montgolfier,” one page both sides, 7.5 x 9.25, July 16, 1800. Untranslated handwritten letter about a factory opening in their famous city, Annonay, in 1800. Montgolfier gives densely penned scientific explanations about the power produced by vapor energy, and about the economic and commercial value of this initiative. In fine condition, with seal-related paper loss to the integral address leaf. Starting Bid $200

326. Amelia Earhart Signature. Choice vintage fountain pen signature, “Amelia Earhart,” on an off-white 3.25 x 1.5 card. In very fine condition. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity and grading from JSA, evaluating the autograph as a “9.” Starting Bid $200

327. Charles Lindbergh Signed 1927 Dinner Program.

Vintage dinner program for a “Civic Dinner in honor of Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh,” held by the Albany Chamber of Commerce on July 27, 1927, 9 x 12.5, signed inside on the opening page Underwood & Underwood portrait in fountain pen, “C. A. Lindbergh.” In fine condition, with scattered stains to the covers, and the front bearing a hole to the upper right corner. On July 18, 1927, Lindbergh was promoted to the rank of colonel in the Air Corps of the Officers Reserve Corps of the U.S. Army. An appealing program with a handsome portrait of Lindbergh signed two months after his famous 1927 solo transatlantic flight. Starting Bid $200

space exploration

331. Neil Armstrong Signed Photograph. Official color 8

x 10 NASA lithograph of Neil Armstrong posing in his white space suit against a lunar backdrop, signed and inscribed in blue felt tip, “To W. J. Van Hors, With Best Wishes, Neil Armstrong.” In very good to fine condition, with light bends and creases, and some surface impressions to the upper left corner. Starting Bid $200

“Recovery Ship for the First U.S. Manned Space Flight”—one of 44 covers canceled on the USS Lake Champlain

330. Mercury-Redstone 3: Freedom 7 Recovery Cover. Extremely rare USS Lake Champlain cover from the recovery of Alan Shepard following his historic first flight on the Freedom 7, canceled “USS Lake Champlain, May 5, A.M., 1961.” This rare cover features the printed ship information and eagle logo on the left side, and typed notation, “USS Lake Champlain CVS-39, Recovery Ship for the First U.S. Manned Space Flight, 5 May 1961.” Only 44 covers were canceled on the ship and fewer than half were this version with the printed ship info and logo. In fine condition, with a hand-colored blue perimeter. A seldom-seen and immensely desirable philatelic piece. Starting Bid $200

332. Apollo 12 Signed Insurance Cover.

Desirable Apollo 12 ‘Type 2’ insurance cover bearing a mission emblem cachet with NASA Manned Spacecraft Center Stamp Club text, postmarked at the Kennedy Space Center on November 14, 1969, the launch day of the Apollo 12 mission, signed in black felt tip, “Alan L. Bean,” “Dick Gordon,” and “Charles Conrad, Jr.” In very fine condition. Starting Bid $200