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Exceptionally rare flown Apollo 15 'Sieger' postal cover carried to the lunar surface aboard the LM Falcon, signed at the top in black felt tip, "Landed at Hadley, Moon, July 30, 1971, Dave Scott," and "Jim Irwin," and also signed in the lower left corner, "Dave Scott," "Al Worden," and "Jim Irwin." On the reverse is the seldom-seen typed and notarized inscription that reads: "This is to certify that this cover was onboard the Falcon at the Hadley-Apennine, Moon, July 30-August 2, 1971," notary stamped and signed Mrs. C. B. Carsey. Her raised notary seal is also applied to the cover. Also on the reverse, in the lower left corner, Sieger's name, "H. W. Sieger," is stamped then signed by him below a handwritten serial number, "060." These flown Apollo 15 covers were constructed of a special lightweight material. In fine condition. Accompanied by an original 1973 letter from Sieger to a potential client offering a cover for sale.
Prior to the flight of Apollo 15, Hermann E. Sieger, a German stamp dealer, cut a deal with the crew to carry 100 covers to the moon in return for $7,000 each, on the condition that they not be sold until after the end of the Apollo program. The crew carried his covers, along with 300 of their own. Despite the agreement not to sell the items, the stamp dealer immediately began offering them to interested parties, leading to a Congressional investigation and a decision by NASA to suspend Scott, Worden, and Irwin from flight duty. This is one of those storied 100 covers, identified by the rarely seen handwritten astronaut inscription on the front and unique notarization on the reverse. Between their rarity and notoriety, Apollo 15 Sieger covers are prized by philatelists and space collectors alike.
