William Anders

First human-taken photograph of the planet Earth

Apollo 8, December 21-27, 1968, 004:36:00 GET

Vintage photograph with “This Paper Manufactured By Kodak” watermarks on the verso.
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

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Lot Essay

William Anders and his crewmates James Lovell and Frank Borman became the first humans to see the Earth as a sphere hanging in space. The photograph was taken with the 80mm lens from about 27,000 km out in space.

“A striking view from the Apollo 8 spacecraft showing nearly the entire Western Hemisphere, from the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, including nearby Newfoundland, extending to Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America. Central America is clearly outlined. Nearly all of South America is covered by clouds, except the high Andes Mountain chain along the west coast. A small portion of the bulge of West Africa shows along the sunset terminator” (original NASA caption for AS8-16-2593).