Sotheby's Space Photos Auction
Courtesy Sotheby's01In this vintage “Black Number” print, captured during Apollo 12 in November 1969, Alan Bean holds up a sample of lunar soil, with commander Pete Conrad reflected in his helmet. It’s estimated to sell for $3,000-5,000.
Courtesy Sotheby's02In 1975, ufologist “Billy” Eduard Albert Meier took this purported photograph of an alien spacecraft from the planet Erra flying over Berg Rumlikon, Switzerland. Meier claimed aliens began communicating with him when he was 5 years old, in 1942. The image is among the more rare in the auction and is estimated to fetch $6,000-9,000.
Courtesy Sotheby's03NASA senior photographer Bill Taub captured this candid photograph of Walter “Wally” Schirra suiting up in December 1965. Schirra went to space three times and flew in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. The photo is estimated to fetch $2,000-3000.
Courtesy Sotheby's04This image was taken by Lunar Orbiter II 28.4 miles above the moon and about 150 miles south of the Copernicus Crater on November 24, 1966. It offered the first ever view of the moon’s terrain, and is estimated to fetch $3,000-5,000.
Courtesy Sotheby's05Neil Armstrong stands beside the first X-15 rocket plane in this vintage silver gelatin print from 1960. It’s estimated to sell for $2,000-3,000.
Courtesy Sotheby's06This vintage NASA “Red Number” photograph depicts the first American spacewalk on June 3, 1965. Command pilot James McDivitt photographed Gemini 4 pilot Edward White floating in zero gravity. It’s estimated to sell for $2,500-3,500.
Courtesy Sotheby's07This silver gelatin print comes from the estate of NASA’s first senior photographer Bill Taub. It depicts Gus Grissom and John Glenn beside Mercury capsule \#11, launched July 21, 1961. It’s estimated to fetch $2,000-3000.
Courtesy Sotheby's08Buzz Aldrin snaps a selfie with the hatch of the spacecraft open and Earth visible in the background. This vintage “Red Number” print is estimated to bring in $2,500-3,500 at auction.
Courtesy Sotheby's09This glass lantern slide photograph was shot on December 21, 1891 by Lewis Rutherfurd, a pioneering 19th century moon photographer. He took the first lunar photographs from his garden observatory in 1858. It’s estimated to fetch $2,000-3,000.
Courtesy Sotheby's10A TV camera mounted on the Lunar Rover made the television transmission from which this vintage “Red Number” print was reproduced. In it, Orion lifts off from the Descartes landing site on April 22, 1972. It’s estimated to bring in more than $2,000.
Courtesy Sotheby's11The Apollo 17 command module floats in the Pacific on December 18, 1972. The vintage “Red Number” print is estimated to sell for $800-1,200.
Courtesy Sotheby's12Sally Ride became the first American woman in space as a crew member aboard *Challenger* in 1983. She signed this vintage “Red Number” print, estimated to fetch $1,500-2,500.
Courtesy Sotheby's13Lunar Orbiter I captured humanity's first look at the Earth from the moon on August 23, 1966. This silver gelatin print is estimated to fetch $4,000-6,000.
