The Beauty of Space
Iconic Photographs of Early NASA Missions
Dorotheum online auction
15 to 27 September 2023, 2 am
The only photograph of Neil Armstrong on the Moon,
20.3 x 25.4 cm, estimate € 15,000 - 25,000, starting bid € 12,000
© Dorotheum
The first selfie in outer space, 20.3 x 25.5 cm,
estimate € 7,000 - 10,000, starting bid € 6,000
© Dorotheum
The first photograph taken by humans from the surface of
another world, signed and inscribed by the crew of Apollo 17
and last men on the Moon, 20.3 x 25.4 cm,
estimate € 6,000 - 8,000, starting bid € 3,000
© Dorotheum
Prepare to be "Moonstruck" as the "Beauty of Space" collection takes you on a mesmerizing journey through time and space. This remarkable single-owner collection of 229 vintage photographs, curated from NASA's early space missions, encapsulates the profound significance of our giant leap into the cosmos. These extraordinary visual treasures will be available for auction in the Dorotheum online event titled "The Beauty of Space - Iconic Photographs of Early NASA Missions," taking place between September 15 and 27, 2023.
Starting mostly at just 100 euros with no reserve, these photographs invite collectors and enthusiasts to participate in a cosmic and artistic journey. Parts of the Martin-Malburet-Collection have previously graced the walls of prestigious museums worldwide, including the Grand Palais in Paris, the Kunsthaus in Zürich, the Museum der Moderne in Salzburg, and the Louisiana Museum of Art in Denmark.
Auction Highlights: Iconic Moments in Space History
The "Beauty of Space" collection includes iconic and rare photographs from the Victor Martin-Malburet Collection, featuring historic moments that defined the golden age of astronautics and graced the covers of LIFE or National Geographic magazines at the time.
• Neil Armstrong (Apollo 11, 16-24.7.1969): The iconic image of Buzz Aldrin on the Moon with Neil Armstrong and the Lunar Module Eagle reflected in his gold-plated visor. Estimated at € 4,000–6,000, starting bid € 2,000.
• Crew of the Mercury Seven (July 1960): A captivating portrait of NASA's first astronauts in their silver space suits, extremely rare in color. The legendary Mercury Seven were the inspiration for "The Right Stuff." Estimated at € 1,200–1,800, starting bid € 600.
• Buzz Aldrin (Gemini XII, 11-15 November 1966): The first space selfie, a historic moment when humanity captured its own history in the making, thanks to Buzz Aldrin. Estimated at € 7,000 - 10,000, starting bid € 6,000.
• William Anders (Apollo 8, 21-27 December 1968): The first human-taken photograph of Planet Earth, a major milestone of photography, when humans were contemplating for the first time their home planet as a celestial body like any other. Estimated at € 3,000-5,000, starting bid € 1,500.
Buzz Aldrin's gold plated sun visor reflects the photographer
(Neil Armstrong) and the LM Eagle, 20.3 x 25.4 cm,
estimate € 4,000 – 6,000, starting bid € 2,000
© Dorotheum
The first human-taken photograph of the whole Planet Earth,
20.3 x 25.4 cm, estimate € 3,000 – 5,000, starting bid € 1,500
© Dorotheum
in their silver spacesuits, iconic color portrait, July 1960,
20.3 x 25.4 cm, Photo Ralph Morse,
estimate € 1,200 - 1,800, starting bid € 600
© Dorotheum
Space and Photography: A Pioneering Visual Legacy
In 1969, humanity achieved a monumental milestone by setting foot on the Moon. This historic moment also marked a significant chapter in the history of photography.
While the primary objective of the astronauts was to scientifically record their activities, they were inspired by vistas never seen before, as well as a new understanding of what it is to be human. Each and every shot was a historic treasure, a once in a lifetime opportunity that would never be able to be captured again. Equipped with the most advanced camera technology, they recorded, with skill and daring, images which immediately transcended documentation, inspiring awe and wonder. It is not just the splendor of what is portrayed; or the significance of humanity's giant leap into the cosmos; there is also the sheer aesthetic appeal of these images. Today, they have achieved iconic status, standing alongside the earliest cave paintings as powerful symbols of human curiosity, ingenuity, and the unending quest for discovery.
The "Beauty of Space" collection, carefully curated by the French collector Victor Martin-Malburet, is a testament to this extraordinary convergence of science and art and to the dedication and pioneering spirit of NASA's early astronauts.
In today's digital age, it is easy to forget that this golden age of space coincided with the era of analog photography, which relied on light-sensitive chemistry, film, and photographic papers. These vintage prints, final products of the analog technology, were developed, both in color and black-and-white, primarily for scientific purpose, in the same year the photographs were taken, just after the missions returned to Earth. Historic and aesthetic artifacts bearing negative numbers, legends, logos from NASA, manufacturer watermarks, quality control stamps and print marks from its photographic laboratories, these photographic treasures are now appreciated for their artistic value as well as their historical and scientific significance.
While some of the images were released to the press, the vast majority was largely hidden from the public eye. They will now be made available for space enthusiasts and collectors alike. The online auction offers approximately 200 NASA photographs, spanning from the early 1960s to the early 1970s, capturing the genesis of manned spaceflight, including the Mercury Program (1958 - 1963), the Gemini Program (1965 - 1966), and the Apollo Missions (1961 - 1972).
A Spectacle of Never Seen Before Moments in Space and on another world
Starting in his teenage years Victor Martin-Malburet's journey into the cosmos began when his father gifted him his first space photograph at auction. Over the course of 25 years, Victor Martin-Malburet assembled an unparalleled collection comprising thousands of vintage photographs, originating mostly from NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, the vast majority unreleased and hidden from public view during decades until they were progressively made available through the internet. His early dedication and access to NASA's unreleased photographs and mission transcripts allow us to step back in time and experience these pivotal moments in human history through the astronauts’ eyes.
Among the exceptional unreleased photographs, space enthusiasts can bid on:
One of the first human-taken photographs from space by John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth. Estimated at 2,500 to 4,000 euros, starting bid € 1,200.
The first photograph of the Moon rising over the Earth, as seen from space taken during Gemini VII, which broke the record for spaceflight duration at the time. Estimated at 1,200 to 1,800 euros, starting bid € 600.
A legendary rarity: Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the Moon, captured the only photograph of the first man on the Moon, Neil Armstrong, during the historic Apollo 11 mission. Estimated at 15,000 to 25,000 euros, starting bid € 12,000.
The first human-taken photograph of the Moon's surface, immortalized by Neil Armstrong during Apollo 11. Estimated between 6,000 and 8,000 euros, and signed and inscribed by the Apollo 17 crew, the last humans to walk on the Moon (starting bid € 3,000).
The first Earthrise photographed after transearth injection, over the curved Moon, on Apollo 11. Estimated at 3,000 to 5,000 euros, starting bid € 1,500.
An extraordinary original panorama from Apollo 15 of the Valley of Hadley-Apennine. Initially made so that scientists on Earth could reconstruct the location of the station visited on the Moon, this panoramic mosaic reveals the surreal beauty of the lunar scenery. Estimated at 2,500 to 3,500 euros, starting bid € 1,200.
And incredible photographs taken during the trouble plagued journey of Apollo 13, ghostly views of the Moon from orbit, unbelievable views of the Earth as seen as a small island of life hanging in the void of space or rising over the lunar horizon, and of course fascinating views from the Moon's surface.
As space travel continues to captivate imaginations, the "Beauty of Space" collection offers an unprecedented opportunity to own a piece of history.
DOROTHEUM
Palais Dorotheum, Dorotheergasse 17 I 1010 Wien
Online auction on www.dorotheum.com
