Silk 5.5 x 4 Italian flag, affixed to the original color presentation card bearing printed caption “This flag was on board Apollo XIII during its flight and emergency return to earth,” the name and dates of the mission, and an image of the mission logo, measuring 10 x 12 overall, signed in black felt tip by James Lovell and Jack Swigert. The card also bears the autopen signature of Fred Haise. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Lovell, stating “I hereby certify that this National Flag of Italy was on board the Apollo 13 spacecraft. Apollo 13 perilous flight [sic] took off on April 11 and returned safely on April 17, 1970. This flag was from my personal collection of space artifacts and has been in my possession since the mission.” Faint bend to one corner of presentation, and a very subtle hint of marginal soiling, otherwise fine condition. A superlative relic from this most harrowing of American space missions! JSA/Scott Cornish Auction LOA and RRAuction COA.
