An unflown earlier variant of a right-handed A7L glove, likely the training or backup EVA glove made for Commander Frank Borman and his Apollo 8 mission. The glove features an International Latex Corporation (ILC) label sewn inside the gauntlet, reading: "Item CP2001 Glove Assy, EV, Right, A7L-203000-04, Model No. 2001A, Size F. Borman, Serial 017, Date 4/68, Contract No. NAS 9-6100, 74897." The glove is complete with its internal latex pressure glove, red metal wrist disconnect, and external Thermal Micrometeoroid Garment (TMG) cover designed to protect the glove during extravehicular activities. The silver-gray cover layer consists of the Chromel-R material used on all of the Apollo EVA gloves as well as the lunar boots—this material cost as much as $3,000 per yard in 1968. Although there was no EVA scheduled for Apollo 8, ILC was contracted to build and supply EVA support items such as this glove for the mission. In very good condition, with wear consistent with heavy use, including some tears to the gauntlet's seams and glove's palm; tears and fraying near the ILC tag; several smaller tears and wear to edges; and deterioration to the internal pressure glove.
This variant of the A7L glove was the last of this particular Thermal Micrometeoroid Garment (TMG) configuration. A new style was made for Apollo 9 and the following missions. The newer gloves had blue silicone fingertips and the gauntlet would be cut shorter in order to expose the pressure relief valve and the pressure gauge located on the lower arms. A superb, early example of an A7L glove made for the commander of the first manned mission to the moon.
Apollo 8 is one of the most difficult missions to find hardware or artifacts from, and A7L gloves are similarly scarce—those that are typically offered are incomplete or in a lesser state of preservation than this fantastic specimen.
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