Skylab- oversized photo signed by 8 of the 9 astronauts who flew on Skylab

Description

Oversize skylab photo signed by 8 of the 9 astronauts, including two moon walkers.   Between May, 1973 and February,1974 the orbital laboratory was used by nine crew members who logged six months of combined time aboard the stations.   The nine included Alan Bean and Charles Conrad who both walked on the moon on the Apollo 12 mission.
Eight of the 9 Skylab astronauts signed this oversized photo of Skylab orbiting the earth.  A careful reading of the signatures illustrates some of the confusion over the numbering of Skylab flights.  The space station itself was launched as an unmanned mission and designated Skylab 1. The three manned flights to the station were Skylab 2, 3 and 4 but often numbered as 1, 2 and 3 sequenced as the crewed flights.  As seen in the photo, even the crew members numbered them differently. The Skylab 2 crew was Conrad, Weitz and Joseph Kerwin.  Skylab 3 was Bean, Lousma and Garriott.  Skylab 4 was Carr, Gibson and Pogue.
Only Conrad used the official launch sequencing number, six used the manned flight sequencing, one chose not to number the flight and amazingly Alan Bean appears to have created his own sequence by writing his flight “I”.  He was actually aboard the 3
rd
launch flight and 2
nd
manned launch. He walked on the moon and was generous in responding to autograph requests, so we’ll give him a pass on a minor error!
“This is where we belong  Paul Wietz  Plt [pilot] SL-1”,  “Those were the days, my friends!!  Jack Lousma Plt – SL-II”, “Our Country’s first (and only!) space station, placed on orbit just over 20 years ago. Owen Garriott 7/93”, Our home away from home” Jerry Carr  Cdr [commander] Skylab III”, “One of our first settlements in ‘new earth’-many to follow!  Ed Gibson  SPT [science pilot] Skylab III”   Bill Pogue  Plt, SL III”  “A wonderful moment in space history  Alan Bean CDR Skylab mission 1”, and  “Charles Conrad  Cdr. Skylab II”
The piece is double matted in acid-free matting and signed on the matting for strong contrast of the signatures.
The
color photo with bright blue views of earth measure 11.75 x 9 at sight of the double matted window cut view of the photo.
The overall measurement of the matting is 18 x 20
In generally fine condition with some corner bumping due to repeated mailing.
Ready to be framed for a stunning display.
This item is offered by Custodians of History, Inc.
I deal primarily in historic autographs.
All material comes with a five day return policy and a written lifetime refund guarantee for authenticity, offered to the original buyer.
I am a member of the Professional Autograph Dealers Association and Manuscript Society.
Listings on eBay are run occasionally but enough to justify saving as a "favorite seller" on your eBay page.
Please see my other listings of historic autographs and some ephemera running on eBay.