Included in the sale is an extremely rare 70-mm positive film roll from Magazine S of the Apollo 11 Hasselblad camera, containing 126 of the most iconic images from the first lunar-landing mission.
Wound on a yellow Kodak holder and measuring 3.5″ in diameter. The roll features photographs taken by Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin during their historic two-and-a-half-hour lunar extravehicular activity at Tranquility Base with color images including: moments from inside the Lunar Module Eagle immediately prior to Armstrong leaving the spacecraft; Armstrong's first photograph after taking his historic first steps; Aldrin descending the ladder; Aldrin standing next to the American flag; the famous 'Moon Man' image of Aldrin in a full-length pose, his visor showing a reflection of Armstrong; and various bootprint images, shots of the Lunar Module, the lunar plaque, and panoramas of the desolate lunar surface.
The film roll was acquired from Terry Slezak, a member of the decontamination team at the Manned Space Center's lunar receiving lab, who was in charge of processing the film brought back from the Apollo moon landings.
Additional Apollo 11 highlights include:
A scarce flown American flag carried into lunar orbit during the Apollo 11 mission, signed and flight-certified signed by Command Module Pilot Michael Collins.
Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 Flown Robbins Medal that he presented to his brother-in-law following the historic mission.
Apollo 11 Flown Burn Chart Signed by Aldrin and Collins.
Apollo 11 Signed Log Book from Richard Nixon's Air Force One.
Also up for auction is the Jeff Hoffman collection. Hoffman is a former NASA astronaut he made five space flights—was NASA's first Jewish male astronaut, Hoffman become the first astronaut to log 1000 hours of flight time aboard the Space Shuttle, and is a now a professor at MIT's Aeronautics and Astronautics Department.
The highlight of Hoffman's collection is his flown sterling silver mezuzah case, and scroll carried on Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-75 from February 22-March 9, 1996, measuring 6" x 1" x .5". The mezuzah case retains the original rolled parchment klaf, or scroll, inside, and is stamped "Israel, 925" on the reverse. Includes a velvet-lined display case.
The Hebrew word, mezuzah, means "doorpost." According to tradition, a mezuzah is affixed to the doorpost at the entrance of a Jewish home as well as at the entrance of each of the interior rooms. The mezuzah itself consists of a small scroll of parchment on which are written two biblical passages (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21).
The custom of affixing a mezuzah to the doorpost fulfills the biblical commandment, "You shall write them upon the doorposts of thy house and upon thy gates" (Deuteronomy 6:9). The mezuzah is a visible reminder to all those who enter that this is a Jewish home connected to monotheism and Jewish values.
While traveling in space, Hoffman affixed a mezuzah on the entryway of his sleeping compartment.
"Since Jeff Hoffman was NASA's first Jewish male astronaut, this Shuttle-flown religious artifact holds a meaningful place in the history of space travel," said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.
Over his five space missions, Hoffman took other Jewish objects with him. On this particular mission in 1996, he also carried a small Torah scroll from which he read the first verse of Genesis (or Creation). Provenance: From the personal collection of Jeff Hoffman. Proceeds from the Hoffman collection will benefit the Space Torah Project, dedicated to making a documentary film exploring Hoffman's Jewish journey through his five space missions in space and beyond.
The Space Exploration Auction featuring Apollo 11th 50th Anniversary Artifacts began June 13 and will conclude on June 20. For more information go to RRauction.com.
