Magnificent set of three ‘lunar’ photos of the Apollo 11 mission, each signed and inscribed by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins to Elton Stepherson, Jr., who joined the crew on their famed ‘Giant Leap’ publicity tour around the world as a member of the U.S. Information Agency. The photos are as follows:
Neil Armstrong
Color glossy 13.75 x 10.75 photo of LMP Aldrin on the lunar surface next to a large foot pad of the Lunar Module Eagle, signed and inscribed on the mount in black felt tip, “To Elton – With sincere thanks for being both one step ahead of us and one step behind us throughout 'Giant Step,’ — Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11.” Matted and framed to an overall size of 23.5 x 22.
Buzz Aldrin
Color glossy 10.75 x 13.75 photo of LMP Aldrin descending the rungs of the LM ladder to become the second man to walk on the moon, signed and inscribed on the mount in black felt tip by Aldrin, who writes in French, “To Elton, C'etait un grand plaisir de vous avoir eu avec nous pendant le voyage de Giant Step et d'avoir eu votre service common interprete [It was a great pleasure to have you tour with us during the Giant Step journey and to have had you as an interpreter], Buzz Aldrin.” Matted and framed to an overall size of 20.5 x 24.75.
Michael Collins
Color glossy 7 x 7.25 photo of the LM Eagle flying high above the moon, with the Earth visible in the distant background, signed and inscribed on the mount in black felt tip, “To Elton – With Sincere Best Wishes and Giant Thanks from Apollo 11 – Michael Collins.” Matted and framed to an overall size of 16.75 x 18.5. In overall fine to very fine condition. Each photo is accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from Zarelli Space Authentication.
After three weeks in confinement—in the Apollo spacecraft, on a USS Hornet trailer, and then in the Lunar Receiving Laboratory—the crew of Apollo 11 were finally allowed to leave quarantine on August 10, 1969. Two days later they attended a luncheon at Houston’s Rice Hotel, and the next day flew to New York City where the crew was honored with a massive ticker-tape parade before embarking on their famous 45-day 'Giant Leap' tour, which began with a stop in Mexico City on September 29, 1969. The astronauts were accompanied by their wives, support staff from NASA and the U.S. State Department, four members of Voice of America, and two staffers from the United States Information Agency, one of whom was Stepherson, Jr., the recipient of these incredible photos.
Elton Stepherson, Jr. (1934-1987) held a long career in the U.S. government as a foreign service officer, including more than 24 years with the U.S. Information Agency. His first Washington assignment found him working in conjunction with NASA as a USIA Liaison for the Mercury and Gemini Programs. In this capacity, he worked closely with space program colleagues to provide accurate information on NASA's activities to USIA posts all over the globe. The position also cemented him as one of the first African Americans to work alongside NASA in a management role. The ‘Giant Step’ tour guided Stepherson directly into the world spotlight as he spent weeks with three of the most famous men on Earth. After the ‘Giant Step’ tour, Stepherson became even more firmly aligned with NASA, lecturing on the Apollo program and exhibiting moon rocks, which earned him the nickname ‘The Rock Man’ in Latin America.
A truly out-of-this-world grouping of Apollo 11 signed photos for an array of reasons, with particular emphasis placed on the exceedingly rare Armstrong inscription, which cleverly references his iconic “one step” quote from the lunar surface. Armstrong once told his biographer, James Hansen, that he never wrote his famous quote in any inscription. This is one of only two known copies to have referenced it directly.
This item is Pre-Certified by STEVE ZARELLI
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