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Apollo 1 |
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Unlike all the subsequent Apollo missions,
for Apollo 1 an embroidered patch was actually used on the space suits of the crew. It was only after the fatal fire
that beta cloth patches were introduced in the place of embroidered designs for the space suits and in-flight garments.
Details on the right from various photos show the Crew Patch sewn in place on the crew's Apollo spacesuits.
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The Crew Patch |
| Patch id: | Apollo 1 Crew Patch | |
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| Worn by crew? | This patch design was worn by the crew on their
white space suits. |
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| Flown? | Examples were intended to be carried on the flight as souvenirs. |
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| Manufacturer: | Stylized Emblem Co. of Hollywood, CA. |
| Distribution: | Apparently distributed to the crew and a few NASA workers only. |
| Dimensions: | 3½" / 89mm |
| Type: | Fully embroidered. Merrowed edge with 'tail'. |
| Scarcity: | Very rare. Maybe 3 sold per year. |
| Value: | Examples have sold for $132 to $1912 in recent years[1]. |
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| Notes: |
Although it closely resembles the AB Emblem version, the grey moon, fuller stars, and distinctive angle and style of the fill
thread in the seas on the Crew Patch helps differentiate it.
Nearly all the examples coming to market in the last few years have originated from astronaut estates,
with most from Deke Slayton's estate, a couple from Gordon Cooper's estate, and
one recent example from Ed White's estate.
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Other Embroidered Mission Patches |
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| Patch id: | AB Emblem patch |
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| Worn by crew? | No. |
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| Flown? | No. |
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| Manufacturer: | AB Emblem |
| Distribution: | Sold as souvenirs. |
| Dimensions: | 3½" / 88mm |
| Type: | Fully embroidered. Merrowed edge with 'tail'. |
| Scarcity: | Scarce in bare cloth back form. |
| Value: | Bare cloth back examples sell for maybe $5-22. |
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| Notes: |
The vintage AB Emblem Apollo 1 patch is very close in design to the Crew Patch (see notes
on the Crew Patch above for differences).
A sales pamphlet dating to around 1974 from Conrad Industries (the parent company of AB Emblem)
says this in reference to their Apollo 1 patch:
"In deference to the tragic deaths of Grissom, White, and Chaffee in the
space capsule fiew, we were reluctant to offer their Apollo 1 emblem for sale. But,
because of so many requests for this Apollo emblem, we now feel making these
historic emblems available in limited quantity would honor these men."
Although this section of text can't be explicitly dated the
implication is that they only began producing this patch in around 1973 or 1974
which would explain why their bare cloth back Apollo 1 patches are so scarce.
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| Patch id: | Lion Brothers patch |
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| Worn by crew? | No. |
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| Flown? | No. |
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| Manufacturer: | Lion Brothers |
| Distribution: | Was available commercially. |
| Dimensions: | 3½" / 89mm |
| Type: | Partially embroidered on yellow twill. Merrowed edge without 'tail' (selvedged). |
| Scarcity: | Scarce. |
| Value: | Examples sell for around $15-30. |
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| Notes: |
The Lion Brothers Apollo 1 patch is easily recognized by the yellow outer border.
Note that a rare
plastic backed prototype version of this patch exists.
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| Patch id: | [AS1UNK1] |
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| Worn by crew? | No. |
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| Flown? | No. |
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| Manufacturer: | Likely Universal Commmemorative |
| Distribution: | Unknown. |
| Dimensions: | 3½" / 90mm |
| Type: | Fully embroidered. Merrowed edge with 'tail'. |
| Scarcity: | Very scarce. |
| Value: | Examples have sold for $33 to $130[2] |
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| Notes: |
This patch from an unknown manufacturer looks similar in some ways to the crew patch (e.g. a grey moon)
but the stitching is more crude overall. In particular the detail on the 'snub-nose' CSM is lacking.
I believe this patch was likely produced by Universal Commemorative of Los Angeles, CA, since I've seen it sold with their Apollo 11 and 12 patches several times. In addition the detail of the stitching on the reverse of the border matches their other patches perfectly.
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3" Embroidered Mission Patches
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| Patch id: | AB Emblem 3" souvenir patch |
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| Worn by crew? | No. |
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| Flown? | No. |
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| Manufacturer: | AB Emblem |
| Distribution: | Sold as souvenirs |
| Dimensions: | 3" / 76mm |
| Type: | Partially embroidered on orange-yellow twill. Merrowed edge with tail. |
| Scarcity: | Common |
| Value: | Minimal |
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| Notes: |
This is the AB Emblem small souvenir (3") version of the mission patch.
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| Patch id: | Dallas Cap & Emblem 3" souvenir patch |
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| Worn by crew? | No. |
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| Flown? | No. |
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| Manufacturer: | Dallas Cap & Emblem |
| Distribution: | Sold as souvenirs |
| Dimensions: | 3" / 76mm |
| Type: | Partially embroidered on yellow twill. Merrowed edge with tail. |
| Scarcity: | Uncommon |
| Value: | Unknown |
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| Notes: |
This is the Dallas Cap & Emblem small souvenir (3") version of the mission patch. It is similar in style
to the AB 3" patch but with significantly bolder lettering.
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