“First Man on the Moon” Paul Calle and Neil Armstrong Original Signed Artist’s Proof.

CALLE, Paul; Neil Armstrong.

Item Number: 143593

The artist’s proof of Paul Calle’s famous image of Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon which was featured on the 1969 10¢ stamp. Original lithographic print, signed by the artist, “Paul Calle” and numbered by him, “A/P First Man on the Moon” in pencil. Additionally signed by Neil Armstrong. In 1962, Calle was among the first artists selected to participate in the NASA Art Program. While his involvement with NASA began with the Gemini missions, his best-known work remains the present image, which served as the design for the iconic “First Man on the Moon” U.S. postage stamp. Provenance: From the collection of Paul Calle, the artist’s retained original proof. In fine condition. The proof measures 8.25 inches by 12.75 inches. Matted and framed. The entire piece measures 13.5 inches by 18 inches. A unique example.

The first man to walk on the Moon, American astronaut and aeronautical engineer Neil Armstrong joined the NASA Astronaut Corps in 1962. He made his first spaceflight as command pilot of Gemini 8 in March 1966, becoming NASA's first civilian astronaut to fly in space. During this mission with pilot David Scott, he performed the first docking of two spacecraft; the mission was aborted after Armstrong used some of his re-entry control fuel to stabilize a dangerous roll caused by a stuck thruster. During training for Armstrong's second and last spaceflight as commander of Apollo 11, he had to eject from the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle moments before a crash. On July 20, 1969, Armstrong and Apollo 11 Lunar Module pilot Buzz Aldrin became the first people to land on the Moon, and the next day they spent two and a half hours outside the spacecraft while Michael Collins remained in lunar orbit in the mission's command module. Along with Collins and Aldrin, Armstrong was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Richard Nixon. President Jimmy Carter presented Armstrong with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1978, and Armstrong and his former crewmates received a Congressional Gold Medal in 2009.