Two items: a Topping Inc. model of the McDonnell–NASA manned satellite capsule for Project Mercury, standing 6″ tall, encircled with embossed lettering along the base and top; and a Topping Inc. model of a Mercury spacecraft capsule, standing 4.25″ tall, accompanied by a felt-bottomed globe segment with a curved metal holder for suspending the capsule. The orange escape tower is missing. Light soiling, a crack to the base, and ownership notations carved into the side of the manned satellite capsule, and light overall soiling to the globe segment, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by a NASA envelope addressed to “Mr. and Mrs. John Yardley.” Consignor notes that the models originate from the estate of Yardley, the McDonnell project engineer who oversaw the 1958 building of the Mercury spacecraft.
