10 of the most valuable pieces of Apollo 11 memorabilia
On July 20, 1969, the world watched as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon.
The Apollo 11 mission was a historic event that captivated the world, and memorabilia from the mission continues to be highly sought after by collectors.
Here are 10 pieces of Apollo 11 memorabilia that have sold at auction:
1. Lunar Module Flown Ascent Cover:
This piece of fabric was part of the cover that protected the ascent engine of the lunar module during the mission. It sold for $175,000 at a 2019 auction.2. Buzz Aldrin’s Flown Lunar Module Cue Card:
This card was used by Aldrin during the mission and contains information about the various systems of the lunar module. It sold for $179,200 at a 2018 auction.3. Apollo 11 Flown American Flag:
This small American flag was flown aboard the Apollo 11 mission and was later presented to astronaut Michael Collins. It sold for $275,000 at a 2019 auction.4. Apollo 11 Lunar Module Flown Star Chart:
This chart was used by Armstrong and Aldrin to navigate during the descent to the lunar surface. It sold for $218,000 at a 2015 auction.5. Neil Armstrong’s Flown Checklist Page:
This page from Armstrong’s flight plan was used during the descent and landing on the moon. It sold for $152,500 at a 2017 auction.6. Lunar Surface-Flown Robbins Medal:
This medal was carried on the Apollo 11 mission and is made from gold that was flown to the moon. It sold for $218,000 at a 2019 auction.7. Buzz Aldrin’s Flown Apollo 11 Silver Medallion:
This medallion was carried by Aldrin during the mission and features the mission patch and lunar module. It sold for $175,000 at a 2016 auction.8. Apollo 11 Flown Heat Shield Fragment:
This piece of the heat shield protected the capsule during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. It sold for $143,000 at a 2019 auction.9. Apollo 11 Flown Checklist Page:
This page from the flight plan was used by the crew during the mission and contains notes and calculations. It sold for $62,500 at a 2018 auction.10. Apollo 11 Lunar Surface-Flown Contingency Checklist Page:
This page was part of the contingency procedures for the mission and was carried to the lunar surface. It sold for $162,500 at a 2019 auction.These 10 pieces of Apollo 11 memorabilia are just a small sample of the many items that have sold at auction over the years.
Collectors continue to be fascinated by this historic mission and are willing to pay top dollar for a piece of space history.
About your Author:
Adrian Roose has over 30 years’ experience covering all aspects of the rare stamp & memorabilia industry during which he has sold over £50m of unique items, helping build collections for Royalty, household name celebrities and 1,000s of collectors around the world.
Adrian was previously a Director at Stanley Gibbons, a Board Member of Stampex, and Executive Director of Paul Fraser Collectibles, PFC Auctions and JustCollecting, prior to founding The Memorabilia Club.