RARE CREW SIGNED APOLLO II TYPE TWO INSURANCE COVER CREATED TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILIES IF THEY DIDN’T RETURN FROM THE MOON
Apollo 11 Crew-Signed “Type Two” Insurance Cover (Dow-Unicover). Originally from the Personal Collection of a former NASA high ranking official with special marking ‘Apollo 11 Insurance Cover’ on inside of flap. A philatelic cover with the “Apollo 11” 6¢ stamp (Scott #1371) affixed, bearing a pictorial machine cancellation from Kennedy Space Center dated July 16, 1969, the day that Apollo 11 was launched. The cachet is a color mission engraving featuring the moon landing and images of all three astronauts with the added text, ” APOLLO II THE FIRST STEP”. To the right are the signatures: “Neil Armstrong”, “Michael Collins” and “Buzz Aldrin” vertically in bold blue felt tip. Very attractive printed cachet, stamp and postmark, everything in absolutely excellent to pristine condition.
These covers were produced for the crew to sign together in pre-flight quarantine, shortly before launch to the Moon, and then leave behind with their families as a form of insurance that could be sold should they fail to return. These covers played an integral role in the flight, giving the crew confidence they had left behind a tangible asset that could be sold, if needed, to raise money for their families. This permitted them to focus completely on their mission, which culminated in mankind’s first historic lunar landing on July 20, 1969.