Six uncancelled personal checks, all measuring approximately 6 x 2.75, all dated from January 24-26, 1986, all written out to Cape Kennedy Medals, with each check filled out and signed by a member of the ill-fated Challenger crew. Signers are: “S. Christa McAuliffe,” who adds “Barb-20 Teachers in Space,” “Ronald E. McNair,” “Ellison S. Onizuka,” “Judith A. Resnik,” “G. B. Jarvis,” and “Francis R. Scobee.” The dollar amounts range from $27.00 by McNair up to $148.50 by Scobee. Also included is a personal check filled out and signed by Michael Smith’s wife, Jane. In fine condition. An impressive collection, not only for the more formal signatures of several of the astronauts, but for the direct space relation, and proximity to the launch date of January 28, 1986.
Cape Kennedy Medals was a Cocoa Beach, Florida, company that manufactured mission patches, medallions, pins, and other related souvenirs and memorabilia for shuttle crews. The Challenger crew ordered such mementos for their upcoming mission while in quarantine at crew quarters before their flight, with McAuliffe’s check dated just two days before the launch. (Her memo, “Barb-20 Teachers in Space,” likely means that her order was for twenty Teacher-in-Space souvenir patches for her back-up, Barbara Morgan, to distribute to certain people attending the Challenger launch. Morgan eventually went on to become a full-time NASA mission specialist astronaut and did fly in space many years later.) These checks very well may be the last known written bank drafts by the astronaut crew members. Pre-certified Scott Cornish and RRAuction COA.
This item is Pre-Certified by STEVE ZARELLI
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$100.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
We use cookies on this site to improve your experience. By using this site, you accept our use of cookies. To learn more, please see our Privacy Policy.
