Apollo 14
When they stepped out of the recovery helicopter onto the deck of the U.S.S. New Orleans the Apollo 14 crew were wearing dark blue jumpsuits with an embroidered mission patch attached.
The black and white photo KSC-71P-168 shows the patches fairly well (see detail above) and proves that the patch worn by the crew on their post-flight jump suits is the regular AB Emblem mission patch.
Since the regular AB Emblem patch worn by the crew is not rare it is not considered by collectors to be a 'Crew Patch'. Instead collectors tend to focus on the patch that was produced specially for the backup crew which showed the Roadrunner representing the backup crew already standing on the moon as the gray-bearded Coyote representing Alan Shepard and his crew arrives. Examples of this patch were hidden all over the spacecraft by the backup crew before the mission.
Later replica versions with the Road Runner outlined in red thread are not valuable. A modern replica of the original backup patch, complete with gold border, has recently appeared so collectors need to be wary of this.
The Crew Souvenir Patch & Backup Crew Patch
Crew Souvenir Patch
Note that a color variant has been found with an orange border, but it's not possible to know whether this was a pre-production prototype or a simple production error.
In 2024 a framed presentation of this patch was discovered by Liem Bahneman which identified it as having been manufactured by AB Emblem. This would therefore seem to be another example of AB Emblem having produced an early version of a mission patch in relatively small numbers before switching to the final commercial version. In this case, as with Apollo 13, the design is quite different from the regular commercial version.
Apollo 11 Crew Patch
The rare patch used by the backup crew has a gold border. A silver border souvenir version was also produced by AB Emblem in limited numbers, and various replicas
of the backup crew patch have been produced over the years (some of which are identified below).
Note that the blue text below the Roadrunner is supposed to read "© 1971" "AB Emblem Corp".
Other Embroidered Mission Patches
AB Emblem Patch
The regular commercial AB Emblem patch has a light gold colored border area with horizontal stitching.
Lion Brothers Patch
The Lion Brothers patch is slightly larger than the AB Emblem version and has much larger text. The outer gold area has distinctive radial threading and the astronaut pin symbol has white highlighting. It also has the number "14" embroidered in white thread upside down on the moon to the left of the star as a hallmark. Note that a rare plastic backed prototype version of this patch exists.
Unknown manufacturer patch [AS14UNK1]
At first glance this looks like an AB Emblem patch but in fact it is quite distinct. The border is selvedged (tail-less). The outer area is dark gold with vertical threading. The inner white border is thicker than the AB version. The inner area is richer blue and vertically-threaded and the 'rocket' trail is quite different on this version.
The detail of the border stitching implies this is very likely from the same manufacturer as AS15UNK1.
Unknown manufacturer patch [AS14UNK2]
An odd looking vintage patch of unknown origin. Recently an example was seen in packaging marked "SWISS EMBROIDERED EMBLEM".
Unknown manufacturer patch [AS14UNK3]
This recently identified patch has a distinctive orange coloration. It looks somewhat similar to AS14UNK1 but has thicker trails behind the Astronaut symbol and lacks the round black craters on the moon.
Space Spin-Off Ltd. patch
This patch was offered to readers of Look-in magazine and Countdown magazine in the UK in January 1972, and was part of a set manufactured by Space Spin-Off Ltd. The design is executed on thin beige cloth (not twill) with a cut edge.
GEMSCO oversize patch
This unusual 5" patch was recently discovered on a GEMSCO display card. Apart from the size it is distinctive due to the lack of crew names, a feature shared with the GEMSCO Apollo 16 patch, and the oversize Apollo 15 [AS15UNK4] patch which was likely also produced by GEMSCO.
Other Embroidered Backup Crew Patches
Backup Crew AB Emblem souvenir
Almost identical to the Backup Crew Patch but with a silver border. This was apparently produced as a limited edition of 1000 examples in 1971, most likely using the same pattern as the Crew version with just a change of border thread color.
Backup Crew Patch replica
This is a convincing modern replica version of the gold bordered patch. One easy way to identify the replica is that the "1ST TEAM" lettering in the flag in this version has the "ST" as large as the other letters. In the original version these letters are smaller, elevated and pretty unclear.
Backup Crew Patch modern AB Emblem version
This is the modern AB Emblem silver border souvenir version of the patch. Easily recognisable by the red outline on the Road Runner and the red shadow on the Earth. It has a plastic coated back.
"Beep Beep Your Ass" Patches
The "Beep Beep Your Ass" patches detailed below have often been cited as a reaction by Alan Shepard to the joke "Beep Beep" patch produced by the Apollo 14 backup crew, in which he was depicted as the aging (grey bearded) Coyote arriving at the moon after the speedy backup crew represented by the Roadrunner.
In fact the prominent checkerboard motifs are a pretty big clue as the real origins of this patch, which has nothing to do with the joke patch of the Apollo 14 backup crew. In reality the design is related to the Plymouth Roadrunner muscle car of the late 1960s through 1970s, which adopted the Roadrunner cartoon image for use in promotional material. This particular design was likely produced by fans of the rival Dodge muscle cars.
That said, there is circumstantial evidence that some NASA workers bought these patches and kept them as parts of their own private space patch collections. Most likely this was just because they seemed to make good companion pieces to the Apollo 14 backup crew patches, rather than because of any real link to Shepard or NASA.
The result of all this is that these patches have been actively hunted by space patch collectors over the last few years and due to the relative scarcity of these vintage patches the prices have often reached remarkably high levels.
3" Embroidered Mission Patches
Footnotes
[1] Examples of flown patches:
Heritage Spring 2009 Space sale lot 41014 FLOWN Lion Brothers patch.
Nate D Sanders April 12 2011 auction lot 123 FLOWN Lion Brothers patch [Ed Mitchell]
Heritage Fall 2011 Space sale lot 41052 FLOWN Lion Brothers patch [Ed Mitchell]
Heritage May 12, 2012 Space auction lot 41054 includes FLOWN Lion Brothers patch [Al Shepard]
Heritage May 12, 2012 Space auction lot 41058 FLOWN Lion Brothers patch [Ed Mitchell]
RRAuction Lot 558 May 23, 2013 at $2,404.80 FLOWN Lion Brothers patch [Shepard]
RRAuction Lot 241 Apr 28, 2015 at $1303.4 FLOWN AB Emblem patch [Mitchell]
Lunar Legacies Auction lot no. 308 Nov 14, 2015 unsold FLOWN AB Emblem patch [Mitchell]
Lunar Legacies auction lot no. 360 sold Mar 11, 2017 at $1190 FLOWN AB Emblem patch [Mitchell]
RRAuction Lot 8321 Apr 20, 2017 at $1,549.63 FLOWN AB Emblem patch [Mitchell]
RRAuction lot 9172 Nov 16, 2017 sold at $2,230.73 FLOWN AB Emblem patch [Mitchell]
Heritage Auction lot 50433 Nov 14, 2019 sold at $1,250 FLOWN Lion Brothers patch [Mitchell]
Heritage Auction lot 50384 Nov 12, 2021 sold at $3,500 (Lion Brothers patch FLOWN by Shepard)
Heritage Auction Dec 6, 2024 Lot 50068 sold at $3,750 [A-B Emblem patch FLOWN from Cooper]
RR Auction lot 7296 Apr 17, 2025 sold at $1,516 [A-B Emblem patch FLOWN by Mitchell].
[2] Examples of crew souvenir patch sales:
FLOWN examples:
Swann April 2008 sale lot 147 [FLOWN Example].
Regency/Superior April 2009 sale lot 284 [FLOWN Example].
Bonhams Space Auction Jul 16, 2009 lot 277 unsold [FLOWN Example from Gordon Cooper].
UN-FLOWN examples:
2010: 2 examples sold at $46.67 & $30
2011: 4 examples sold at $58.67, $70.78, $72 (with another patch) & $80 (with other patches)
2012: 12 examples sold at $32.33, ? [with many other patches], $39.99, $34.33, $34, $34.77, $45, $26, $27.76, $16.76, $49.95 & $29.02
2013: 11 examples sold at $29.26, $9.99, $8, $202.50, $152.50, $152.50, $50.99, $9.99 [Buy-it-now], $45.50, $26 [with other patches] & $32
2014: 8 examples sold at $31.40, $129.99, $47.50 [buy-it-now], $72.22, $28.00, $69.95 [buy-it-now], $22.11 & $24.99
2015: 5 examples sold at $29, $56.00, $27.52, $15 & $18.60
2016: 3 examples sold at $12.49, $32.00 & $14.90
2017: 3 examples sold at $59.95, $15.99 & $59.95
2018: 7 examples sold on eBay at $59.95, $45, $59.95, $39.99, $45, $59.95 & $59.95
Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 360 Oct 13, 2018 sold at $24.40
eBay item no. 283331291022 Jan 7, 2019 sold at $5.70 (with other patches)
eBay item no. 323932777143 Sep 29, 2019 sold at $9.99
[3] Examples of vintage backup crew patch sales:
Astro-Auction item no. 1222042485 sold Sep 21 2008 at $350.01.
Astro-Auction item no. 1222647806 sold Sep 28 2008 at $395.
Astro-Auction item no. 1223267482 sold Oct 5 2008 at $580.
Regency/Superior December 2008 space auction lot no. 197, December 19, 2008 sold at $305 (inc. fees).
eBay item no. 400016690265 Dec 21, 2008 sold at $420.55
eBay item no. 120409843354 Apr 28, 2009 sold at $310
eBay item no. 170464593105 Mar 30, 2010 sold at $628.98 (with Evans COA)
eBay item no. 140394985792 Apr 4, 2010 sold at $287.82
eBay item no. 230459617520 Apr 9, 2010 sold at $350 (with other patches)
eBay item no. 370417869006 Aug 13, 2010 sold at $58.99
Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 351 Feb 19, 2011 sold at $431.25 (inc. fees) [MIP with AB sticker]
eBay item no. 190512306722 Mar 22, 2011 sold at $305
Goldberg Space Auction lot no. 1254 Jul 10, 2011 sold at $649
Lunar Legacies auction lot 344 Jun 2, 2012 sold at $271.40 (inc fees)
eBay item no. 130710814243 Jun 17, 2012 sold at $151.51
Direct private sales via AstroGallery web site Aug-Nov 2012 at $249 [several MIP examples from Al Bishop collection]
eBay item no. 130775745594 Oct 7, 2012 sold at $208.50
eBay item no. 321022534342 Nov 17, 2012 sold at $255 [MIP]
eBay item no. 330835012185 Dec 2, 2012 sold at $199.99 [Buy-it-now]
Regency/Superior Space Auction lot no. 131 Jan 11, 2013 sold at $154.70 (inc fees)
eBay item no. 181075293160 Feb 8, 2013 sold at $345
eBay item no. 251238378618 Mar 10, 2013 sold at $160.29
eBay item no. 121086359433 Mar 31, 2013 sold at $153.25
eBay item no. 111048256688 Apr 12, 2013 sold at $62.76
eBay item no. 261211632751 May 12, 2013 sold at $255
Regency/Superior Space Auction lot no. 239 May 24, 2013 sold at $505.75
eBay item no. 190932442541 Oct 15, 2013 sold at $99.99 [buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 190932968929 Oct 18, 2013 sold at $93 [some condition issues]
eBay item no. 251379949439 Nov 19, 2013 sold at $115 [buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 111292912184 Mar 10, 2014 sold at $139.50
eBay item no. 221401231404 Aug 2, 2014 sold at $210.95
eBay item no. 361101539599 Nov 9, 2014 sold at $149
Astro-Auction item no. 1422733621 Jan 31, 2015 sold at $99
eBay item no. 151550465612 Feb 1, 2015 sold with multiple crew patches
eBay item no. 361350250315 Aug 20, 2015 sold at $185 [best offer accepted]
RRAuction Lot 9398 Oct 23, 2015 UNSOLD
eBay item no. 121858458791 Feb 1, 2016 sold at $179 [best offer accepted]
eBay item no. 262972027889 Jun 2, 2017 sold at $195 [buy-it-now]
Space Walk Hall of Fame Charity Auction lot no. 190 Jun 17, 2017 sold at $270 (with other patches)
eBay item no. 252986257093 Jun 24, 2017 sold at $149 [buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 122683039087 Sep 4, 2017 sold at $175 [best offer accepted]
RRAuction Lot 6496 Apr 19, 2018 sold at $5,017.60 FLOWN patch ex-Cernan
Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 365 Oct 13, 2018 sold at $170.80 [MIP]
eBay item no. 254778407895 Nov 14, 2020 sold at $95
eBay item no. 274600070640 Dec 8, 2020 sold at $81 [MIP]
American Space Museum & Space Walk of Fame Auction lot 314 Feb 20, 2021 sold at $300
eBay item no. 363626594738 Dec 16, 2021 sold at $125- (unknown offer accepted)
American Space Museum & Space Walk of Fame Auction lot 192A Jun 25, 2022 sold at $5,400 [FLOWN, gifted by Stu Roosa to Al Bishop]
Heritage Auction Dec 6, 2024 Lot 50067 sold at $10,625 [LM FLOWN from Cernan]
eBay item no. 127001274420 Mar 23, 2025 sold at $165.50
[4] Examples of vintage silver border backup crew patch sales:
2010: 6 examples sold at $66, $46.67 (with other vintage patches), $11.05, $10.55, $96, & $104.97
2011: 6 examples sold at $19.95, $34, ? in batch of patches, ? in batch of AB patches, $37.01 & $96.52
2012: 12 examples sold at $52.98, $64, $41.99 [with other patches], $50, ? [with many other patches], $72, $34, $43.99, $33.99, $51, $47.99 & $59.95
2013: 17 examples sold at $59.95, $48.75, $35.07, $30.98, $8, $63, $22.38, $102.50, $33.50, $94.95, $34, $10 [buy-it-now], $32 [buy-it-now], $19.99 (with other patches), $30.38, $140.45 [with many other patches] & $27.76
2014: 7 examples sold at $45 [buy-it-now], $14.25, $45, $28.58, $58.07 [buy-it-now], $31.01, & $20.50
2015: 8 examples sold at $29, $24.40, ? sold with another patch, $28, $26.01 with another patch, $21.47, $20.00 & $26.70
2016: 21 examples sold at $21, $12.99, $39.95, $9.99, $18.57, $31, $17.80, $21.45, $31.75, $24.90, $25.25, $24.70, $25.99, $29.99, $19.95, $18,
$19.95, $14.80, $17.95 [BiN], $17.49 & $17.95.
eBay item no. 221650928924 Feb 27, 2017 sold at $19.95 [buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 221650928924 Mar 8, 2017 sold at $19.95
eBay item no. 221650928924 Mar 17, 2017 sold at $19.95 [buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 311842065750 Apr 12, 2017 sold at $13.17
eBay item no. 221650928924 May 1, 2017 sold at $19.95 [buy-it-now]
eBay item no. 401340255376 Jun 8, 2017 sold at $18.00
eBay item no. 221650928924 Jul 8, 2017 sold at $22.45
Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 238 Jul 15, 2017 sold at $71.40 (two patches)
eBay item no. 263231656117 Oct 14, 2017 sold at $24.99
Space Walk of Fame Charity Auction lot no. 233 Nov 18, 2017 sold with other patches
eBay item no. 221650928924 Dec 19, 2017 sold at $22.45
eBay item no. 221650928924 Jan 15, 2018 sold at $22.45
eBay item no. 221650928924 Jan 24, 2018 sold at $24.95
eBay item no. 112385690314 May 28, 2018 sold at $13.17
Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 309 Jun 23, 2018 sold at $195.20
eBay item no. 113651506101 Feb 23, 2019 sold at $20.00
eBay item no. 402526523262 Nov 6, 2020 sold at $15
eBay item no. 393236111672 Apr 11, 2021 sold at $25.49
eBay item no. 393340504676 May 25, 2021 sold at $29.99
[5] Examples of AS14UNK1 sales:
eBay item no. 170838849499 May 13, 2012 sold at $18.49
eBay item no. 261387222180 Feb 22, 2014 sold at $35
[6] Examples of AS14UNK2 sales:
eBay item no. 130647337428 Feb 19, 2012 sold at $46.59
eBay item no. 130952262362 Jul 28, 2013 sold at $60.66
eBay item no. 261439573780 Apr 6, 2014 sold at $69.00
eBay item no. 371278554419 Mar 16, 2015 sold at $23.02
eBay item no. 281740119871 Jul 6, 2015 sold at $26.01 with another patch
eBay item no. 123568386599 Dec 28, 2018 sold at $10.99 [buy-it-now]
[7] Examples of AS14UNK3 sales:
eBay item no. 140494432862 Jan 2, 2011 sold at $92.99
eBay item no. 360339268088 Jan 30, 2011 sold at $33
eBay item no. 360340199614 Feb 3, 2011 sold at $5.99
eBay item no. 180789411631 Jan 7, 2012 sold at $49.99
eBay item no. 170829455276 Apr 29, 2012 sold at $21.05
eBay item no. 251061516319 May 14, 2012 sold at $10.00
eBay item no. 251070071894 May 31, 2012 sold at $4.99
eBay item no. 251070071889 May 31, 2012 sold at $7.38
eBay item no. 251070071890 May 31, 2012 sold at $4.99
eBay item no. 251076199349 Jun 8, 2012 sold at $7.66
eBay item no. 310415277909 Jul 24, 2012 sold at $15.49
eBay item no. 280956514628 Sep 9, 2012 sold at $14.08
eBay item no. 140929245693 Mar 17, 2013 sold at $9.95
eBay item no. 261313864051< Oct 27, 2013 sold at $36.00
eBay item no. 360980233910 Jul 9, 2014 sold at $15
eBay item no. 131367564212 Dec 14, 2014 sold at $5.20
eBay item no. 201263764498 Jan 18, 2015 sold at $22.50
eBay item no. 291376218633 Feb 15, 2015 sold at $34.50
[8] Examples of "Beep Beep Your Ass" [BBYAUNK1] patch sales:
eBay item no. ? May 2010 sold at $179.04
eBay item no. 270924409524 Mar 3, 2012 sold at $49.67
eBay item no. 110894418676 Jun 14, 2012 sold at $203.65 with many other patches
eBay item no. 140857303842 Oct 3, 2012 sold at $190.46
eBay item no. 121009005514 Nov 6, 2012 sold at $179.02
eBay item no. 140884093374 Nov 18, 2012 sold at $315
eBay item no. 140894575301 Dec 12, 2012 sold at $143.02
[9] Examples of "Beep Beep Your Ass" [BBYAUNK2] patch sales:
eBay item no. 230840936581 Aug 27, 2012 sold at $9.99
[10] Examples of "Beep Beep Your Ass" blue border [BBYAUNK3] patch sales:
eBay item no. 181023111626 Nov 18, 2012 sold at $26.55
[11] Examples of "Beep Beep Your Ass" 3" red border [BBYAUNK4] patch sales:
eBay item no. 400341454910 Nov 20, 2012 sold at $3.99
[12] Examples of "Beep Beep Your Ass" 3" blue border [BBYAUNK5] patch sales:
eBay item no. 281018976438 Nov 11, 2012 sold at $76 [possibly mistaken for 4" version]
[13] Examples of "Beep Beep Your Ass" 3" blue border [BBYAUNK6] patch sales:
eBay item no. 300806422937 Nov 6, 2012 sold at $11.11
[14] Examples of Space Spinoff patch sales:
eBay item no. 121425148787 Sep 7, 2014 sold at $61.00
eBay item no. 131417354330 Feb 6, 2015 sold at $117.91
eBay item no. 303232571346 Jul 27, 2019 sold at $55
[15] Examples of oversize GEMSCO patch sales:
eBay item no. 111600026716 Feb 22, 2015 sold at $105.09