Description
Scarce flown Beta cloth flag of the United Kingdom, 5.75 x 4, carried aboard the command module Odyssey during the historic Apollo 13 mission, affixed to a 10 x 12 certificate of authenticity bearing the mission insignia and signed in black felt tip by James Lovell, and Jack Swigert (Fred Haise is an autopen signature). The certificate reads: "This flag was on board Apollo XIII during its flight and emergency return to Earth." In fine condition, with faint hints of foxing to left and top edges. Accompanied by a signed letter of authenticity from Lovell, in part: "I hereby certify that this National Flag of Great Britain was on board the Apollo 13 spacecraft…This flag was from my personal collection of space artifacts and has been in my possession since the mission." With direct provenance from the mission's heroic commander, this is a wonderful example of a flown flag and the first such example for the United Kingdom that we have encountered—an all-around tremendous piece.
Terms and abbreviations used in our descriptions.
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