Amazing collection of ten original vintage glossy doubleweight silver gelatin photographs of Apollo astronauts by celebrated portrait photographer Yousuf Karsh, all approximately 11 x 14 or 14 x 11, sent by Karsh to Gay Alford, secretary of the Office of the Astronauts in Houston, in 1970. Includes: a portrait of the crew of Apollo 11, signed in the lower left corner in ink, "Karsh, Ottawa"; unsigned portraits of the individual Apollo 11 astronauts, showing Neil Armstrong posing thoughtfully in an Apollo 11 flight suit, Buzz Aldrin in a suit and tie, and Michael Collins showing off an analog dead reckoning air navigation flight computer; a wonderful close-up portrait of Apollo 8 LMP Bill Anders in his A7-L space suit, signed in the lower corner in ink, "Karsh"; a close-up portrait of Frank Borman in his white flight suit, signed in the lower right corner in ink, "Karsh"; a sharp portrait of Jim McDivitt in his Apollo 9 flight suit, signed in the lower corner in ink, "Karsh"; an outstanding headshot of Tom Stafford in his Apollo 10 A7-L space suit; a portrait of Charles Conrad in street clothes, signed in the lower corner in ink, "Karsh"; and a magnificent close-up portrait of Apollo 13 CDR James Lovell in his A7-L space suit, signed in the lower corner in ink, "Karsh." All are exceptional, crystal-clear images, with "Karsh Studio" or "Karsh Copyright" ink stamps on the reverse. In overall very fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope featuring a Karsh label addressed to "Mrs. Gay Alford, Office of the Astronauts, NASA, Houston, Texas, USA," postmarked at Ottawa on February 10, 1970. A stunning collection of original Apollo astronaut photographs by the master portraitist, who captured some of the most enduring images of icons and celebrities throughout the 20th century.
