Extremely rare official color glossy 9.75 x 7.5 red-numbered NASA photo of the Apollo 1 crew posing in their blue flight suits behind a small model of the Apollo Command Module, signed and inscribed in black felt tip, “To Joyce – Thanks for all your help at KSC – with best wishes, Edward H. White II,” “Gus Grissom,” and “Roger B. Chaffee.” Includes a one-of-a-kind set of two leather NASA identification tags from the flight suits of Grissom and White, “V. I. Grissom, M.S.C. N.A.S.A.” and “E. H. White, M.S.C. N.A.S.A.,” who wore these ID tags during trips to and from the Kennedy Space Center; both name tags approximately measure 3.75˝ x 2˝. All three items are attractively suede-matted and framed together with an Apollo 1 commemorative patch and caption plate to an overall size of 23.25 x 18.25. In overall fine condition, with slightly trimmed edges, and some scattered small creases, one of which touches Chaffee's cheek; the name tags exhibit moderate to heavy wear. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Joyce Abrams, who served as the crew quarters attendant for the astronauts, in part: "The two leather uniform name patches for the Apollo 1 astronauts…are the original patches from the astronauts' flight suits which were worn by them while flying into and out of Kennedy Space Center during Pres. John F. Kennedy's Man to the Moon program."
A tremendous display honoring the tragic Apollo 1 mission — fully signed portraits of NASA’s first Apollo crew remain incredibly rare, especially in the elusive red-numbered variety, with this example, and its remarkable complement of flight-worn name tags, supported by provenance direct from longtime NASA employee, Joyce Abrams. The presence of the Grissom and White name tags is, for some, equivalent to the crew-signed photo; unlike all other Apollo missions, flight-worn artifacts belonging to the Apollo 1 crew members are virtually nonexistent.
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