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Very scarce flown Apollo 14 postal cover carried to the moon’s surface aboard the Lunar Module Antares, numbered 33/55, signed to the right of the cachet in black felt tip by Edgar Mitchell. Stamped in red, "Delayed in Quarantine at Lunar Receiving Laboratory, M. S. C. Houston, Texas," and postmarked at Houston, Texas, on February 26, 1971, marking the end of the astronauts' period in post-flight quarantine. Complete with a notarized certificate also signed by Edgar Mitchell, "No. 33 of 55 covers carried to the Moon aboard Apollo 14, released from Quarantine at 5 P.M. Feb. 26, 1971." In fine condition.
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from noted Italian philatelist Enzo Diena and a four-page, quadruple-signed certificate of authenticity from fellow Italian philatelist Alberto Bolaffi, both of which illustrate the cover. All are housed in a blue leather presentation case by Bolaffi, featuring the Apollo 14 insignia imprinted on the cover.
Apollo 14 LMP Edgar Mitchell carried 55 of these covers in his Personal Preference Kit (PPK), bringing them with him to the lunar surface aboard the LM 'Antares.' Apollo 14 was the last mission where all astronauts and items carried into space were quarantined and examined for contamination for two weeks before being released, after which Mitchell had these covers postmarked. An extremely desirable, scarce, and sought-after example of a lunar surface-flown cover.
