Continuing a biannual tradition that began in 1993, space memorabilia collectors gathered at the 90210 offices of Superior Galleries to stake their claim on spacesuits, spacecraft and other remnants from humanitys quest for space. During the two-day auction, approximately 150 attendees hailing from all areas of the world (as well as phone and proxy bidders) competed to own over 2,400 lots in 23 different categories of space history.

Every collecting interest was represented, from autographs to philatelic items, flown equipment to antique toys. Hammer prices varied, from a few dollars to tens of thousands.

A few of the more notable highlights included:

• A notebook, used by astronaut Gordon "Gordo" Cooper, closed at $4,887.50 (including a 15-percent buyers commission). The three-ring binder contained handwritten notes and photocopied handouts used during his training for Coopers 22-orbit Mercury flight.
• A framed, silk United States flag accompanied by a sterling silver medallion, both of which were flown by astronaut Edward White reached $14,375. The 6-by-4-inch flag and 25 millimeter coin were carried into open space during Gemini 4s historic spacewalk (White was the first American to leave the confines of his spacecraft).
• Two artifacts from the Apollo 11 first lunar landing mission performed exceptionally. A cover (or envelope) carried to the lunar surface and autographed by Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin fetched a final price of $23,000, while a silk flag (similar to the one described above) carried to the surface by Aldrin, sold for $31,625.
• A miniature replica of the first lunar rovers license plate that rode along with Apollo 15 astronaut David Scott on the Moon was obtained for $18,400. (Scotts Collier Trophy, the highest award an astronaut can win, sold for $17,250.)

• Astronaut John Youngs Apollo training (or backup) Moon suit represented two lots. The internal pressure suit sold for $14,950, while the more familiar white outer layer reached only $3,220. Both layers were missing the left arm, removed during testing by the suits manufacturer. Interestingly, the two did not sell to the same bidder.

• Interest in memorabilia from the space shuttle has always paled in comparison to the earlier programs -- with one notable exception. Artifacts connected with the 1986 Challenger disaster are highly sought by collectors, as represented by an autographed photo of the crew selling for $9,775.

The highest closing was at $86,250 for an original painting by Moonwalker-turned-artist Alan Bean. Selected for the cover of this auctions catalog, the self-portrait "Thats How It Felt to Walk on the Moon" was created by Bean to answer to the question he is most often asked.

Prior to the sale, Superior representative Michael Orenstein stated this was the firms largest auction in over two years. The next auction, already scheduled for May 2001, promises to be just as large.