James Irwin (American, 1930-1991)

Lot 327

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274 Cedar Hill Street
Marlborough, MA 01752
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The Beauty of Space: Vintage NASA Photos by Bonhams Skinner

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The Beauty of Space: Vintage NASA Photos

By Bonhams Skinner

Nov 2, 2017 - Nov 3, 2017

Set Reminder 2017-11-02 10:00:00 2017-11-03 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Beauty of Space: Vintage NASA Photos https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/skinner/the-beauty-of-space-vintage-nasa-photos-2743 Bonhams Skinner bidsquare@bonhamsskinner.com

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Lot Description

James Irwin (American, 1930-1991)
Panoramic view of David Scott and the rover on the edge of Hadley Rille lunar canyon, Station 2, EVA 1, Apollo 15, August 1971. Numbered 'NASA AS15-85-11448' and 'NASA AS15-85-11452' (NASA MSC) in black along upper margins. Mosaic of three vintage gelatin silver prints, overall size 8 3/4 x 18 1/2 in. (22.0 x 46.8 cm), unmatted.
Condition: Minor silvering in blacks in print at left.

N.B. 'That's beautiful...That's spectacular!' exclaimed Irwin and Scott as they stood at Station 2, near the edge of Hadley Rille, whose East Wall is blackened by shadow. Thanks to the rover-mounted TV camera, Scott and Irwin could share the view with watchers back on Earth, exulting over scenery long characterized as barren and drab (National Geographic, February 1972, 'The Mountains of the Moon,' pp. 242-43). Hill 305 (left) and the left flank of Mount Hadley (right) are in the background. Tiny dots visible on the floor of the winding almost 1 mile-wide canyon are actually house-sized boulders (Chaikin, Space, p. 121). "Well, the drive...up toward St. George [crater], on the first day... You don't have a big peripheral vision. Stop the rover, and get off, and turn around and look, and the goddamn Grand Canyon, Hadley Rille! I mean, that's an absolute mind-blower,' remembered Scott. 'Even though you know it's there, but you can't see it, 'cause you're driving this little rover next to the ground. Hadley Rille's over there, you can't see Hadley Rille. You can't see craters. All of a sudden you get off and you turn around, and there it is! In all its glory. The Grand Canyon of the Moon! That's mind-boggling! I mean, that'll blow you out" (Chaikin, Voices, p. 89). The NASA negative for the middle image is AS15-85-11449.

Literature: NASA SP-289, appendix D, figure D-5-C; 'The Mountains of the Moon,' National Geographic, February 1972, pp. 242-43; Chaikin, Voices, pp. 88-89.
Estimate $2,500-3,500

The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.
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