Apollo 7

When they arrived on the U.S.S. Essex following the recovery operation the Apollo 7 crew were wearing their betacloth flightsuits complete with betacloth mission patches as shown in the first two photos above.

Crew patches worn by Apollo 7 crew post-flight

Some time thereafter, however, they changed into blue jumpsuits which had embroidered mission patches attached.

These embroidered mission patches are shown quite clearly in detail from the photo KSC-68PC-211.

This patch was actually embroidered as a circular design with a white surround, as worn by the suit techs in S68-48789, and clearly visible on suit tech Clyde Teague in 68-H-936. It was trimmed by hand around the central area of the design for use on the blue jumpsuits of the crew.

The Crew Patches

Patch id:	Apollo 7 Crew Patch

Worn by crew?	This patch design was worn by the crew on their blue jump suits at recovery.
Flown?	Unknown.

Manufacturer:	Texas Art Embroidery.
Distribution:	Apparently distributed to the crew and a few NASA/contractor workers only.
Dimensions:	4" / 105mm untrimmed
Type:	Part embroidered on white cloth. Merrowed edge without 'tail' (selvedged).
Scarcity:	Extremely rare. Perhaps 4 sold in the last 4 years.
Value:	Unflown examples have sold for $510 to $725 in recent years^[1].

Notes:	The ribbing visible in the South American landmass on the Crew Patch is particularly distinctive. NB: At least one replica of this patch exists, as detailed in the section below. You need to check very carefully which version of the patch you are looking at before assuming it's a vintage original.

Patch id:	Apollo 7 Crew Souvenir Patch

Worn by crew?	No.
Flown?	Yes. Walt Cunningham stated that he carried a few of these patches in a suit pocket.

Manufacturer:	Unknown.
Distribution:	Apparently distributed only to the crew and within NASA.
Dimensions:	4 3/16 x 3 3/16" / 106 x 81mm
Type:	Fully embroidered. Merrowed edge without 'tail' (selvedged).
Scarcity:	Extremely rare. Perhaps 4 sold in the last 4 years.
Value:	Examples sold recently for $282 to $550^[2].

Notes:	The blue background has a 'knitted' structure (quite visible on the reverse of the patch), the "VII" is in yellow, and the landmasses are much more detailed than on the AB version.

Patch id:	Apollo 7 "New" Crew Patch

Worn by crew?	No.
Flown?	No.

Manufacturer:	Unknown.
Distribution:	Was sold direct by Walt Cunningham in late 2010 - 2013.
Dimensions:	Body 3¼" / 83mm
Type:	Fully embroidered. Merrowed edge with 'tail'.
Scarcity:	300 made.
Value:	Sold at $15 unsigned, or $70 signed.

Notes:	This modern patch, which is very true to the original insignia artwork, was produced by Walt Cunningham as a limited edition of 300 examples in late 2010. The edition sold out in early 2013.

Other Embroidered Mission Patches


Patch id:	AB Emblem patch

Worn by crew?	No.
Flown?	No.

Manufacturer:	AB Emblem
Distribution:	Sold as souvenirs.
Dimensions:	4" / 101mm high
Type:	Fully embroidered. Merrowed edge with 'tail'.
Scarcity:	Uncommon in bare cloth back form.
Value:	Bare cloth back examples sell for maybe $5-15.

Notes:	The AB Emblem patch also has quite different coloration to the crew version and a much skinnier "VII".


Patch id:	Lion Brothers patch

Worn by crew?	No.
Flown?	No.

Manufacturer:	Lion Brothers
Distribution:	Was available commercially.
Dimensions:	4½" x 3½" / 101mm x 89mm
Type:	Part embroidered on blue twill. Stitched border with cut edge.
Scarcity:	Scarce.
Value:	Examples sell for around $15-35. Up to $50 for the rarer purple variant.

Notes:	The Lion Brothers Apollo 7 patch has distinctly different coloration to the crew version. In addition, the orbital trail touches the nose of the CSM in this version. Note also that a rare plastic backed prototype version of this patch exists. Also exists as a variant embroidered on purple twill which is somewhat rarer than the regular blue version.


Patch id:	Space Spin-off Ltd. patch (variant 1)

Worn by crew?	No.
Flown?	No.

Manufacturer:	Space Spin-Off Ltd.
Distribution:	Unknown.
Dimensions:	Body 3½" / 90mm
Type:	Partially embroidered on blue cloth. Stitched border, cut edge.
Scarcity:	Rare.
Value:	An example sold recently for $31^[4].

Notes:	This patch was offered to readers of Look-in magazine and Countdown magazine in the UK in February 1972, and was part of a set manufactured by Space Spin-Off Ltd. The design appears to be based on the AB Emblem patch, but executed on thin blue cloth (not twill) with a cut edge. This particular variant has a bright blue backing cloth center to the design.


Patch id:	Space Spin-off Ltd. patch (variant 2)

Worn by crew?	No.
Flown?	No.

Manufacturer:	Space Spin-Off Ltd.
Distribution:	Unknown.
Dimensions:	Body 3½" / 90mm
Type:	Partially embroidered on blue cloth. Stitched border, cut edge.
Scarcity:	Rare.
Value:	An example sold recently for $36^[4].

Notes:	This patch was offered to readers of Look-in magazine and Countdown magazine in the UK in 1972, and was part of a set manufactured by Space Spin-Off Ltd. The design appears to be based on the AB Emblem patch, but executed on dark blue cloth (not twill) with a cut edge. Unlike variant 1, this version does not have a brighter blue cloth backing in the center.


Patch id:	Space Spin-off Ltd. patch (variant 3)

Worn by crew?	No.
Flown?	No.

Manufacturer:	Space Spin-Off Ltd.
Distribution:	Unknown.
Dimensions:	Body 3½" / 90mm
Type:	Partially embroidered on blue cloth. Stitched border, cut edge.
Scarcity:	Rare.
Value:	An example sold recently for $55^[4].

Notes:	This patch was offered to readers of Look-in magazine and Countdown magazine in the UK in 1972, and was part of a set manufactured by Space Spin-Off Ltd. The design appears to be based on the AB Emblem patch, but executed on dark blue cloth (not twill) with a cut edge. This is a third color variant.


Patch id:	Crew patch replica

Worn by crew?	No.
Flown?	No.

Manufacturer:	Unknown.
Distribution:	Unknown.
Dimensions:	Approx 4" / 104mm

Type:	Part embroidered on white twill. Merrowed edge with 'tail'.
Scarcity:	Unknown.
Value:	As replica.

Notes:	This replica was first seen in 2013 with an example being sold as a 'rare patch'. It is a farily accurate copy of the original crew patch but there are numerous differences that allow it to be identified. For a start it is embroidered on modern twill whilst the original was embroidered on a white cloth. The engine bell on the CSM lacks the dark fill shading at the top and bottom, and the details on the upper left part of the service module are quite different from those of the original. The landmasses lack the angled ribbing visible in the fill pattern used in the original. The outer border of the patch also has a 'tail' on the back which the original did not have.


Patch id:	[AS7UNK2]

Worn by crew?	No.
Flown?	No.

Manufacturer:	Unknown.
Distribution:	Unknown.
Dimensions:	4 5/8 x 3 7/8" (118x98mm)

Type:	Partially embroidered on blue twill. Merrowed edge with 'tail'.
Scarcity:	Scarce.
Value:	Unknown.

Notes:	This newly-identified vintage patch was grouped with AS8UNK2, AS9UNK2, AS10UNK2, and AS11UNK9, indicating they were all likely produced by the same unknown manufacturer.

3" Embroidered Mission Patches


Patch id:	AB Emblem 3" patch

Worn by crew?	No.
Flown?	No.

Manufacturer:	AB Emblem.
Distribution:	Sold as souvenirs.
Dimensions:	3½" x 3" / 90mm x 77mm

Type:	Part embroidered on blue twill. Merrowed edge with 'tail'.
Scarcity:	Common.
Value:	Minimal value.

Notes:	This is the AB Emblem small souvenir (3") version of the mission patch.


Patch id:	Dallas Cap & Emblem 3" patch

Worn by crew?	No.
Flown?	No.

Manufacturer:	Dallas Cap & Emblem.
Distribution:	Sold as souvenirs.
Dimensions:	Body 3" (76mm) high

Type:	Part embroidered on dark blue twill. Merrowed edge with 'tail'.
Scarcity:	Uncommon.
Value:	Unknown

Notes:	This is the Dallas Cap & Emblem small souvenir (3") version of the mission patch.


Patch id:	Cape Kennedy Medals 3" patch [was AS7UNK1]

Worn by crew?	No.
Flown?	No.

Manufacturer:	Cape Kennedy Medals.
Distribution:	Unknown.
Dimensions:	4 1/8" x 3¼" / 105mm x 83mm
Type:	Fully embroidered. Stitched border (trimmed).
Scarcity:	Scarce.
Value:	An example sold recently for $26.50^[3].

Notes:	This is the Cape Kennedy Medals 3" version of the mission patch. The patch is slightly larger than the usual 3" versions and quite similar looking to the crew souvenir patch.

Footnotes
[1] Examples of Crew Patch sales: eBay item no. 110157789207 Aug 9, 2007 sold at $42.50 [Buy-it-now] Lunar Legacies listing Oct 2 2009 sold at $1595 eBay item no. 220483885378 September 28, 2009 sold at $1280 Astro-Auction item no. 61217618918 Jul 25, 2008, sold at $1249.99. eBay item no. 120161318366 September 19, 2007 sold at $1183.98 Goldberg Space Auction lot no. 1145 Jul 10, 2011 sold at $1003 Goldberg Space Auction lot no. 447 Dec 3, 2011 sold at $1020 [Signed by the crew] eBay item no. 310623668215 Mar 17, 2013 sold at $971.51 RR Auction lot 248 Apr 22, 2014 sold at $481.43 (trimmed & mounted) Space Walk Hall of Fame Charity Auction lot no. 63 Apr 2, 2016 sold at $2160 eBay item no. 162483354279 Apr 27, 2017 sold at $535 eBay item no. 152534516672 May 3, 2017 sold at $599.99 [buy-it-now] eBay item no. 152547335853 May 13, 2017 sold at $649.99 [buy-it-now] eBay item no. 362189592724 Jan 2, 2018 sold at $725 [best offer accepted] eBay item no. 153010214972 May 11, 2018 sold at $700 American Space Museum & Space Walk of Fame auction lot 85 Apr 10, 2021 sold at $510 Heritage Space Auction lot 50069 May 22, 2021 sold with multiple crew patches from Chris Kraft collection eBay item no. 163759446200 Apr 12, 2021 sold at $875- [unknown offer accepted] [2] Examples of 'Crew Souvenir Patch' sales: Heritage Sep 19, 2007 auction lot 25090 mounted alongside flown flag Heritage Sep 19, 2007 auction lot 25091 mounted alongside flown flag Heritage Mar 24, 2008 auction lot 58040 FLOWN example from Cunningham's collection eBay item no. 180868561485 May 3, 2012 sold at $760.99 (mounted on wooden shield) eBay item no. 130830871598 Jan 13, 2013 sold at $417 RR Auction lot 245 Apr 22, 2014 sold at $584.33 eBay item no. 151550465612 Feb 1, 2015 sold with multiple crew patches RRAuction Lot 110 Apr 28, 2015 at $1449.18 [FLOWN by Cunningham] Lunar Legacies auction lot 239 Jul 25, 2015 sold at $1785 [FLOWN by Cunningham] eBay item no. 400971721930 Aug 6, 2015 sold at $550 [buy-it-now] eBay item no. 111809594897 Nov 28, 2015 sold at $282 [offer accepted] eBay item no. 114145034509 Mar 10, 2020 sold at $499.99 [possibly flown] Heritage Auction lot 50139 Nov 12, 2021 sold at $625 [from Bill Dana] American Space Museum Auction lot 67 Jul 23, 2023 sold at $300 [3] Examples of AS7UNK1 sales: eBay item no. 130956913664 Aug 4, 2013 sold at $26.50 eBay item no. 161559145008 Jan 18, 2015 sold at $19.95 [4] Examples of Apollo 7 Space Spin Off patch sales: eBay item no. 361037790195 Sep 7, 2014 sold at $36.00 [Dark blue center] eBay item no. 361037789379 Sep 7, 2014 sold at $31.00 [Light blue center] eBay item no. 181549749524 Oct 11, 2014 sold at $49.99 [var 1] eBay item no. 181549748812 Oct 11, 2014 sold at $49.99 [var 2] eBay item no. 131417349631 Feb 6, 2015 sold at $54.90 [var 3]


< Apollo 1	[ Back to Top ]	Apollo 8 >

Apollo 7

The Crew Patches

Apollo 7 Crew Patch

Apollo 7 Crew Souvenir Patch

Apollo 7 "New" Crew Patch

Other Embroidered Mission Patches

AB Emblem patch

Lion Brothers patch

Space Spin-off Ltd. patch (variant 1)

Space Spin-off Ltd. patch (variant 2)

Space Spin-off Ltd. patch (variant 3)

Crew patch replica

[AS7UNK2]

3" Embroidered Mission Patches

AB Emblem 3" patch

Dallas Cap & Emblem 3" patch

Cape Kennedy Medals 3" patch