327 a
Neil Armstrong

The first photograph taken by man on the surface of another world

Apollo 11, July 16-24, 1969, 109:30:53 GET

Unreleased photograph, vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso (NASA / North American Rockwell) [NASA AS11- 40-5850]

327 b
Neil Armstrong

Moonscape at Tranquillity Base, Double Crater

Apollo 11, July 16-24, 1969, 109:30:53 GET

Unreleased photograph, vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso (NASA / North American Rockwell) [NASA AS11- 40-5853]

20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

327 a
Reynolds, p. 113.

327 a
Paris, Galeries nationales du Grand Palais, La Lune: Du Voyage Réel aux Voyages Imaginaires, April-July 2019; exhibition catalogue, p. 23, no. 12, illustrated.

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.
Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.

Conditions of Sale
FAQs
This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

Brought to you by

Lot Essay

327 a
This image, the first from a panoramic sequence taken by Armstrong, was captured after his famous first words on the Moon: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
According to the mission plan, Armstrong was supposed to collect in priority a contingency sample of lunar surface material in case of emergency return. But he instead chose to photograph his arrival on the Sea of Tranquillity.

In the photograph, the golden-covered landing leg of the LM and a transfer equipment bag between Eagle and the lunar surface are visible. One of the metallic breakaway probes that penetrated the lunar surface at touchdown can be seen embedded immediately behind the LM leg.

109:30:23 Armstrong: The (Hasselblad) camera is installed on the RCU bracket. (Pause) And I’m storing the LEC (Lunar Equipment Conveyor) on the secondary strut. (Long Pause)
109:30:53 Armstrong: I’ll step out and take some of my first pictures here.
109:31:05 McCandless (Mission Control): Roger. Neil, we’re reading you loud and clear. We see you getting some pictures and the contingency sample.

“I’ll step out and take some of my first pictures here.”
Neil Armstrong

327 b
A frame from the first panoramic sequence taken by Neil Armstrong on the lunar surface, showing the younger, western component of the so-called Double Crater he saw and photographed below his LM window after landing.

From the mission transcript as Aldrin was still inside the LM Eagle:

109:34:54 Aldrin: That looks beautiful from here, Neil.
109:34:56 Armstrong: It has a stark beauty all its own. It’s like much of the high desert of the United States. It’s different, but it’s very pretty out here.

“It has a stark beauty all its own. It’s like much of the high desert of the United States. It’s different, but it’s very pretty out here.”
Neil Armstrong