Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 52

Manuscript, Collectibles and Aerospace Auction

Mercury Program

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 551		Mercury Program, 1961, USN Mk IV, Mod 2, Type 1 Full Pressure Suit, Survival Vest and Helmet. This green USN Mk IV high altitude, full pressure suit was made by B. F. Goodrich. It includes the full neck ring, cables, hoses, detachable gloves and a pressure guage on the thigh, in addition to a gold USN patch on the chest and right shoulder. The integrated cloth shoes are included, but the seperate boots are omitted. Some zipper and rubber faults as would be expected, but the suit is in overall excellent condition. ALSO included is a seperate "Mk IV Vest-Type Life Preserver Full Pressure Suit" with Specification No. MIL-L-22208A (WEP) / Serial No. 9184 / Date Mfg July 1965 / Bureau of Naval Weapons". The vest looks to be in new condition and includes all webbing, orange inflation vest and a signal flashlight. By the early 1960s, the US Navy had progressed through a series of developmental models of the full pressure suit that would ultimately take final form in the Mark IV, Model 3, Type 1, a production suit which US Navy aircrew wore on high altitude flights during its cold weather operations. Regardless of the success of the A/P22S-2 suit and its modifications in Air Force use, it remained to the US Navy's cooperative program with the B. F. Goodrich Company and pioneer suit designer Russell Colley to solve some important problems concerning mobility and full pressurization. One of the most important developments was an aneroid suit controller that maintained suit internal pressurization at precisely 0.24 bar. The Mark series of US Navy full pressure suits which followed culminated in three models of the final Mark IV suit, which went into production in 1958 as standard high altitude issue for US Navy squadrons. The Mark IV, Model 3, Type 1 suit featured various enhancements in fit and ease of donning, as well as substantially improved pressurization control. It would go on to be selected as the basic foundation for modification into NASA's early earth-orbital suit (the original Mercury prototype suits were specially reworked Mark IV suits). Included with the suit is its matching gold helmet, complete with clear and sun visors, US Navy decal, communication and oxygen hoses, external oxygen regulator, earphones and throat microphone. There is a soft pad at the top, inside the helmet, that reads: "3579 / Headpiece, Mk IV, MOD 2 / Full Pressure Suit / Type 1 / Stock No. RG8475-736-4394-LF 50 / Mfg by the B. F. Goodrich Co. / Date Mfg'd 9-61 / Contract No. N. 383-70891 A / U. S. Navy". There is a NASA meatball decal (original ?) on the back of the helmet alongside the white "Rescue" label and over where the B. F. Goodrich and USN decals would have been. Other than that, the helmet appears to be in pristine condition and even includes its original plastic carry/storage container. This is an opportunity for the astute collector to acquire one of the iconic space suits of the US space program. Estimated Value $7,500 - 10,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $7,188
Lot 552		Mercury Program Replica Mercury Space Suit. This high quality replica space suit by the "Global Effects" Co. consists of 1) the the aluminized silver cover layer complete with orange collar, neck ring, cables, pressure guage, zippers, buckles, etc, 2) the white helmet with moveable clear visor, neck ring, interior pads and simulated earphones with communications cable, 3) a pair of boots with crepe soles, snaps, buckles and adjustable laces and 5) a pair of gloves with zipper connectors, leather palms and orange interiors. This suit is a replica of Wally' Schirra's Mercury suit simulating the improved shoulder evolution of the suit. According to U.S. Spacesuits by Thomas and McMann,"…the function of the B. F. Goodrich Mercury suits was to provide reasonable unpressurized comfort…there were no hard details or unfriendly shapes to cause uncomfortable contact points. The outer layer was aluminized and provided bladder protection and structural restraint. The suits were tight fitting and custom made to minimize ressurized volume to be overcome by movement and to fit better in the cramped cabin of the Mercury capsule…" There are virtually no original Mercury spacesuits (or any other US spacesuits) in private hands as ownrship of them is claimed by NASA. A high quality replica such as this one will make an important addition to any collection. Estimated Value $10,000 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $4,485
Lot 553		MA-9, 1963, "Foil Skin" Presentation Desk Display (1.5x.5") The foil is mounted inside a clear block of lucite (2x1") which is, in turn, mounted o a bias-cut, wooden presentation block (3.25x3.25x1.5") with an engraved plaque that reads: Actual skin from "Faith 7" / MA-9, May 15-16, 1963 / Astronaut Gordon Cooper / NASA / Manned Spacecraft Center / Houston, Texas". This is an official presentation piece and is extremely rare. Estimated Value $350 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $264
Lot 554		GT-10, 1966, Launch Cover. With a Cape Canaveral machine cancel and a violet cachet. The cover is boldly signed by JSC Director Robert Gilruth, Flight Director, Chris Kraft and Charles W. Matthews, Gemini Program Director. Attractive and unusual. Estimated Value $150 - 250. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold