Remarkable, ultra-comprehensive archive of more than 2,800 original vintage circa 1977 silver gelatin photographs from the Viking Project originating from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, measuring from 4.5 x 5 to 10 x 5, housed in a series of ten large binders. Among the highlights are four variants of the first-ever photo taken on the surface of Mars ("Frame 12A0001/000"), which consist of two-panel 10 x 5 diptych panoramic prints that demonstrate different levels of computer enhancement to the image. The lander's close-ups provide the first detailed glimpses of Mars's surface, capturing the barren, rocky Martian landscape, and showing fine details like wind-swept dust and eroded rocks. The orbiter's wide-angle shots display vast plains, deep valleys, and the occasional crater, offering a comprehensive overview of the Martian planet. Transmitted from Mars in 1976 and 1977, these important photographs deepened mankind's understanding of the geological history of the 'Red Planet.' The photographs have JPL Image Processing Laboratory data imprinted in the borders, with information including identification of the spacecraft, camera number, and frame number, and various data on azimuth, elevation, lines, channel, scan rate, histograms, and more.
Includes (counts are approximate):
- 954 larger photos (about 10 x 5) processed by the JPL Image Processing Laboratory, featuring images of the Martian surface captured by the Viking 1 Lander.
- 660 larger photos (about 10 x 5) processed by the JPL Image Processing Laboratory, featuring images of the Martian surface captured by the Viking 2 Lander.
- 318 smaller photos (about 4.5 x 5) processed by the JPL First-Order Viking Lander Imaging Processing (FOVLIP) system, featuring images of the Martian surface taken by the Viking lander. Many of these images are incomplete, owing to errors in data acquisition or transmission.
- 909 smaller photos (about 4.5 x 5) processed by the JPL Mission Test Imaging System (MTIS), featuring images of Mars taken by the Viking Orbiter.
Includes an official Jet Propulsion Laboratory manual entitled "Viking '75 Lander Camera Image Product Formats," approximately 24 pages, dated June 3, 1976, explaining some of the terminology and data imprinted in the borders of the JPL photos. Additionally includes a NASA booklet entitled "Second International Colloquium on Mars," a hardcover edition of "Scientific Results of the Viking Project," a JPL binder entitled "Mars Scientific Model, Volume I," a binder of 35mm color slides related to Project Viking, a handful of official NASA lithographs of photos taken by the Viking spacecraft, and some related papers. In overall fine condition.
From the Tony C.D. Knight Collection.
