Now At: $783 (7 bids)
Next Bid: $862
The 30 Minute Rule begins April 17 at 7:00 PM EDT. An Initial Bid Must Be Placed By April 17 at 6:00 PM EDT To Participate After 6:00 PM EDT
From the personal collection of Apollo 14 Lunar Module Pilot Edgar Mitchell—a rare 50-page Lunar Bible microfilm text fragment, carried around the moon on Apollo 13 and brought to the lunar surface on Apollo 14, presented in a modern Fabergé egg. The iconic ‘Lunar Bible’ represents the first Bible, the first complete scripture, and the first true book ever carried by man to another celestial world. Printed as a ‘microform’ tablet—the only format possible for flight to the lunar surface—a complete Lunar Bible contains all 1,245 pages of the King James Version. Initially, 512 of these microform Bibles were created and all flown on Apollo 13; some of these were distributed to dignitaries and notable persons following the successful return from the near-disastrous mission. A total of 300 of the Apollo 13–flown Bibles were then given to Edgar Mitchell to carry on Apollo 14; of these, 200 stayed in orbit in the Command Module, and he brought 100 to the surface in the Lunar Module.
In an effort to maximize the number of potential recipients, Reverend John M. Stout segmented a small portion of the bibles into 50-page and 2-page sizes following the mission. This is one of only 32 examples to be encased within a modern Fabergé egg, housed in its original deluxe velvet presentation box, with engraved plaque on the front: "Apollo 14 Lunar Surface Bible Text Fragment, 50 Pages."
This lot is of profound significance not only to the space community as a twice-flown and once-landed lunar artifact, but also to the religious, rare book, and Masonic communities—Mitchell was a freemason and a member of Artesia Lodge No. 28 in New Mexico. Several of the 32 custom Fabergé presentations are already permanently off the market; the State of Georgia acquired an example for their rare-book holdings, another 50-page example is on indefinite loan to the Atlanta Masonic Library and Museum, and more of these precious few Faberge examples may become permanently institutionalized and unavailable to collectors in coming years. You may read ‘The Story of the First Lunar Bible’ at www.LunarBible.com.
Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Karlyn Mitchell, the daughter of Edgar Mitchell.
