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STS-1 images
Patches worn by the STS-1 crew

During the launch of the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle the crew wore USAF high-altitude escape suits with an embroidered mission patch attached.

The closeup images on the right show the details of the patch taken from a couple of different photos. On the left is the patch on Crippen's suit during suiting-up just before the actual launch. On the right is a clearer image showing the patch on Young's suit during a pre-flight training exercise.

This patch design is known as the STS-1 Crew Patch.

The Crew Patch

Patch id:

STS-1 Crew Patch

Worn by crew? This patch design was worn by the crew on their escape suits during the flight[1]. STS-1 crew patch
Flown? Yes. Examples were carried on the flight as souvenirs.
Manufacturer: AB Emblem.
Distribution: Not offered commercially. Produced for NASA, and distributed with letters of appreciation to "Shuttle Team Members".
Dimensions: 4 x 4" / 104 x 104mm
Type: Fully embroidered. Stitched border with cut edge.
Scarcity: Scarce. Maybe 5 to 15 sold per year.
Value: Examples sell at auction for anywhere between $45 and $280, with most falling in the $115-150 range[2].
Notes: The flames below the Shuttle are embroidered in four distinct colors of thread (yellow, pale orange, then two shades of red).

Other Embroidered Mission Patches

Patch id:

STS-1 AB Emblem patch

Worn by crew? No. AB Emblem STS-1 patch
Flown? No.
Manufacturer: AB Emblem
Distribution: Sold as souvenirs.
Dimensions:
Type: Fully embroidered. Stitched border with cut edge.
Scarcity: Common.
Value: Minimal value.
Notes: The regular commercial AB Emblem patch is the one most commonly seen, and is easily recognisable by the simple two color flames.
Patch id:

STS-1 Lion Brothers bare cloth back patch

Worn by crew? No. Lion Brothers STS-1 bare cloth back patch
Flown? No.
Manufacturer: Lion Brothers
Distribution: Was available commercially.
Dimensions:
Type: Fully embroidered. Stitched border with cut edge.
Scarcity: Scarce.
Value: Examples sell for around $25-40.
Notes: The Lion Brothers patch looks fairly similar to the crew patch but the flames are only in three colors. The US flag on the Shuttle's wing has no red in it on the Lion Brothers design, and the top edge of the mid-ground Shuttle is overlain by the yellow thread of the flames.
Patch id:

STS-1 AB Emblem 'black outline' patch

Worn by crew? No. AB Emblem black outline STS-1 patch
Flown? No.
Manufacturer: AB Emblem
Distribution: Unknown
Dimensions: 4½ x 4¾" / 112 x 120mm
Type: Fully embroidered. Stitched border, cut edge.
Scarcity: Scarce
Value: Examples sold recently for between $59 and $100[3]
Notes: This variant of the AB Emblem patch has a distinctive black outline sewn around the edge of the design. The patch was apparently given to some NASA employees before the flight and may be quite scarce.
Patch id:

STS-1 Lion Brothers plastic backed patch

Worn by crew? No. Lion Brothers plastic backed STS-1 patch
Flown? No.
Manufacturer: Lion Brothers
Distribution: Was available commercially.
Dimensions:
Type: Fully embroidered. Stitched border with cut edge.
Scarcity: Scarce.
Value: Examples sell for around $25-40.
Notes: This is the plastic backed version of the Lion Brothers patch. Apart from the backing, the patch can also be easily differentiated from the bare back version by the black stitching running down right side of shuttle fuselage.
The bare cloth backed version seems to be more common than the plastic backed version by a ratio of around 3 to 1.
Patch id:

STS-1 Swissartex patch

Worn by crew? No. Swissartex STS-1 patch
Flown? No.
Manufacturer: Swissartex Emblem Inc.
Distribution: Sold as souvenirs.
Dimensions: 4½ x 4¾" / 115 x 123mm
Type: Fully embroidered. Merowed border with tail.
Scarcity: Uncommon.
Value: Vintage examples sell for $10-$15.
Notes: The vintage version of the Swissartex STS-1 mission patch exists both with a waxy plastic backing and with a vacuum sealed clear plastic coating on the reverse. The fronts of the two versions are virtually identical.
Patch id:

Crew Patch Replica by Skyforce Space Patches

Worn by crew? No. Skyforce Space Patch STS-1 crew patch replica
Flown? No.
Manufacturer: AB Emblem
Distribution: Available from Skyforce Space Patches
Dimensions: 4½ x 4¾" / 115 x 123mm
Type: Fully embroidered. Merowed border with tail.
Scarcity: n/a
Value: Available at $10.
Notes: This faithful replica of the Crew Patch was produced in late 2013 by Skyforce Space Patches, and is available to purchase here.
Footnotes

[1] Flown STS-1 crew patches:
John Young's actual flown suit patches were sold as lot 11024 of the Heritage Space Auction on March 31, 2009.

[2] Example sales of unflown STS-1 crew patches:
    eBay item no. 320196275255 Dec 20, 2007, sold at $128.05.
    eBay item no. 360011899895 Jan 14, 2008, sold at $256.99.
    eBay item no. 160200693093 Jan 26, 2008, sold at $152.50.
    eBay item no. 230228506156 Mar 9, 2008, sold at $154.49.
    eBay item no. 150224680975 Mar 18, 2008, sold at $113.50.
    eBay item no. 180227589474 Apr 2, 2008, sold at $122.50.
    eBay item no. 150251880946 Jun 2, 2008, sold at $125.
    eBay item no. 150274379245 Jul 29, 2008, sold at $146.51.
    Astro-Auction: item no. 1220817794 Sep 7, 2008 sold at $75.
    eBay item no. 120340722138 Dec 3, 2008, sold at $120.
    eBay item no. 320335643178 Jan 31, 2009, sold at $177.50.
    eBay item no. 120410395597 Apr 23, 2009, sold at $175.
    eBay item no. 320369316489 May 13, 2009, sold at $110.
    Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 458 sold Nov 14 2009 at $231
    eBay item no. 140373436902 Jan 17, 2010, sold at $113.61.
    eBay item no. 200432794899 Jan 31, 2010, sold at $45.99.
    eBay item no. 140393074685 Mar 28, 2010, sold at $53.43.
    eBay item no. 360249165137 Apr 4, 2010, sold at $89.88.
    eBay item no. 140400352797 Apr 25, 2010, sold at $88.65.
    eBay item no. 140406136811 May 16, 2010, sold at $265.
    eBay item no. 360265021639 May 30, 2010, sold at $202.50.
    eBay item no. 140414367155 Jun 13, 2010, sold at $280.
    eBay item no. 360275572769 Jun 27, 2010, sold at $158.49
    eBay item no. 110555780687 Jun 12, 2010, sold at $108.49
    eBay item no. 140426478073 Jul 18, 2010, sold at $178.50
    eBay item no. 150477746762 Aug 15, 2010, sold at $78.95
    eBay item no. 140438121560 Aug 15, 2010, sold at $76.99
    eBay item no. 140449594579 Sep 12, 2010, sold at $140.50
    eBay item no. 130433284049 Sep 26, 2010, sold at $158.49
    eBay item no. 380307322183 Jan 19, 2011, sold at $49.99
    eBay item no. 140520715139 Mar 13, 2011, sold at $207.50
    eBay item no. 360351872827 Mar 20, 2011, sold at $214.50
    eBay item no. 250793500851 Mar 27, 2011, sold at $230.08
    eBay item no. 260767747459 Apr 18, 2011, sold at $127.50
    Lunar Legacies Space Auction Lot 402 May 21, 2011 sold at $258.75
    eBay item no. 250903541912 Oct 11, 2011, sold at $85.99 [with other patches]
    eBay item no. 170716999255 Oct 30, 2011, sold at $63.26
    eBay item no. 170732655784 Nov 20, 2011, sold at $178.50
    eBay item no. 130615891876 Dec 18, 2011, sold at $250.21
    eBay item no. 220934459323 Jan 23, 2012, sold at $91
    eBay item no. 170782600251 Feb 19, 2012, sold at $92
    eBay item no. 290679865444 Mar 12, 2012, sold at $86
    eBay item no. 150773223563 Mar 12, 2012, sold at $186.05 [with many other items]
    eBay item no. 370593633041 Mar 17, 2012, sold at $36.50
    eBay item no. 320881019292 Apr 8, 2012, sold at $154.06
    eBay item no. 140737109406 Apr 15, 2012, sold at $154.07
    eBay item no. 160781970753 Apr 18, 2012, sold at $52
    eBay item no. 320897638256 May 6, 2012, sold at $89
    Lunar Legacies auction lot 450 Jun 2, 2012 sold at $100.30
    Direct private sales via AstroGallery web site Jun-Jul 2012 at $89 [several examples from Al Bishop collection]
    eBay item no. 360468543429 Jul 1, 2012, sold at $67.56 [with other patches]
    eBay item no. 180961023884 Sep 2, 2012, sold at $155.97
    eBay item no. 271050329792 Sep 9, 2012, sold at $155.77
    eBay item no. 271050329792 Oct 7, 2012, sold at $125.59
    eBay item no. 2511658911 Oct 17, 2012, sold at $112.50
    eBay item no. 251172792107 Oct 28, 2012, sold at $71.26 [with other patches]
    eBay item no. 321015267735 Nov 6, 2012, sold at $126.50
    eBay item no. 271099483181 Nov 11, 2012, sold at $74.69
    eBay item no. 271101780474 Nov 13, 2012, sold at $75
    eBay item no. 321020078387 Nov 15, 2012, sold at $65.99
    eBay item no. 321021833895 Nov 16, 2012, sold at $71
    eBay item no. 181004822032 Nov 19, 2012, sold at $110
    eBay item no. 321023261136 Nov 20, 2012, sold at $64
    eBay item no. 271111288472 Nov 30, 2012, sold at $65 [Buy-it-now]
    eBay item no. 360521392097 Dec 2, 2012, sold at $52.51
    eBay item no. 130824413026 Dec 30, 2012, sold at $58.75
    eBay item no. 170960774729 Jan 1, 2013, sold at $45
    eBay item no. 350713211372 Feb 17, 2013, sold at $69.99
    eBay item no. 200893500198 Feb 17, 2013, sold at $58.10
    eBay item no. 140920704979 Feb 27, 2013, sold at $40
    eBay item no. 200908926882 Mar 27, 2013, sold at $44.17
    eBay item no. 181116197876 Apr 11, 2013, sold at $33.76
    eBay item no. 130889685890 Apr 21, 2013, sold at $58.26
    eBay item no. 130929729781 Jun 23, 2013, sold at $55.70
    eBay item no. 200950241217Aug 5, 2013, sold at $40 [Buy-it-now]
    eBay item no. 360682675908 Jul 7, 2013, sold at $? [best offer]
    eBay item no. 281099604366 Aug 11, 2013, sold at $? [best offer]
    eBay item no. 181199469757 Aug 19, 2013, sold at $54.99 [best offer]
    eBay item no. 400559648017 Nov 20, 2013, sold at $79.95
    eBay item no. 251383336819 Dec 1, 2013, sold at $79 [buy-it-now] with replica patch
    eBay item no. 221267013900 Feb 9, 2014, sold at $89
    eBay item no. 141225403488 Mar 23, 2014, sold at $86
    eBay item no. 310914464989 Apr 5, 2014, sold at $21.51 [with other patches]
    eBay item no. 331199201971 May 16, 2014, sold at $7.74
    eBay item no. 281263111990 Aug 20, 2014, sold at $74
    eBay item no. 281419076890 Oct 22, 2014, sold at $69 [buy-it-now]
    eBay item no. 281475101064 Nov 14, 2014, sold at $77
    eBay item no. 261650524921 Nov 16, 2014, sold at $79
    eBay item no. 321618055482 Dec 15, 2014, sold at $50
    eBay item no. 111561116122 Jan 4, 2015, sold at $60.40 [with presentation letter]
    eBay item no. 181646305905 Jan 24, 2015, sold at $44.99
    eBay item no. 261741154802 Jan 26, 2015, sold at $46.50
    eBay item no. 121549879744 Jan 28, 2015, sold at $128.19 [with presentation letter]
    eBay item no. 281592325832 Feb 10, 2015, sold at $44.99
    eBay item no. 281595626564 Feb 11, 2015, sold at $44.99
    eBay item no. 281596343472 Feb 11, 2015, sold at $44.99
    eBay item no. 281597415960 Feb 12, 2015, sold at $49.99
    eBay item no. 281602542849 Feb 22, 2015, sold at $40.55
    eBay item no. 361220889172 Feb 22, 2015, sold at $49.95 [buy-it-now]
    eBay item no. 331486738250 Feb 22, 2015, sold at $9.99 [buy-it-now]
    eBay item no. 351368402221 Apr 9, 2015, sold at $5.95 [buy-it-now]
    eBay item no. 221735059387 Apr 11, 2015, sold at $37.77
    eBay item no. 221750445158 Apr 27, 2015, sold at $36.00
    eBay item no. 131497246447 May 3, 2015, sold at $9.95 [buy-it-now]
    Goldberg Space Auction lot no. 1144 Jun 27, 2015 sold at $192
    eBay item no. 371443556499 Sep 25, 2015, sold at $48.00
    eBay item no. 371587380015 Apr 3, 2016, sold at $49.99
    RR Auction lot 6112 Apr 21, 2016 sold at $245 (unflown, ex-Guenter Wendt, presented by crew)
    eBay item no. 231931527137 May 9, 2016 sold at $31
    Space Walk of Fame auction lot no. 62 Oct 29, 2016 sold at $180 (with other items)
    Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot no. 593 Mar 11, 2017 sold at $119 for 5 examples
    eBay item no. 262895199117 Apr 12, 2017, sold at $65 [buy-it-now]
    Space Walk Hall of Fame Charity Auction lot no. 221 Jun 17, 2017 sold as part of crew patch collection (STS-1, 3 & 4)
    Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 448 Jul 15, 2017 sold at $107.10 (5 patches from Bobko)
    eBay item no. 352118725373 Jul 30, 2017, sold at $32.02
    eBay item no. 122661510205 Aug 21, 2017, sold at $109.95 (with other material)
    Lunar Legacies Space Auction Lot 611 Oct 28, 2017 sold at $166.60 for 5 examples
    eBay item no. 292390572965 Dec 31, 2017, sold at $5.26 (with STS-3 & STS-4 crew patches)
    eBay item no. 362213446924 Jan 14, 2018, sold at $45
    eBay item no. 162860724099 Jan 26, 2018, sold at $31
    eBay item no. 391983385576 Feb 20, 2018, sold at $40
    eBay item no. 282498557438 Mar 18, 2018, sold at $49.95
    eBay item no. 282498557438 Mar 24, 2018, sold at $49.95
    eBay item no. 222925450876 Apr 22, 2018, sold at $17.49
    eBay item no. 372311153343 May 27, 2018, sold at $17.77 (with other patches)
    eBay item no. 401513872386 May 27, 2018, sold at $45.00 (buy-it-now)
    eBay item no. 401513872386 Jul 12, 2018, sold at $45.00 (buy-it-now)
    eBay item no. 292626676851 Jul 12, 2018, sold at $5 (buy-it-now)
    eBay item no. 223087509062 Aug 3, 2018, sold at $10
    eBay item no. 392127808056 Sep 20, 2018, sold at $29.99
    eBay item no. 362392707522 Oct 8, 2018, sold at $45.00
    eBay item no. 264099509037 Jan 13, 2019, sold at $42.95
    eBay item no. 264208423300 Mar 15, 2019, sold at $39.95 (buy-it-now)
    eBay item no. 282498557438 May 4, 2019, sold at $39.95 (buy-it-now)
    eBay item no. 283484019009 Jul 5, 2019, sold at $30 (buy-it-now)
    eBay item no. 254295731496 Jul 15, 2019, sold at $39.95 (buy-it-now)
    eBay item no. 283484019009 Jul 28, 2019, sold at $30
    eBay item no. 283484019009 Jul 30, 2019, sold at $30
    eBay item no. 283484019009 Aug 1, 2019, sold at $30
    eBay item no. 282498557438 Aug 7, 2019, sold at $39.95
    eBay item no. 254295731496 Aug 10, 2019, sold at $39.95
    eBay item no. 282498557438 Sep 24, 2019, sold at $44.95
    eBay item no. 164010720495 jan 5, 2020, sold at $22
    eBay item no. 133267199228 Jan 9, 2020, sold at $17.50 (with other patches)
    eBay item no. 114210649985 May 3, 2020, sold at $4
    eBay item no. 114307537608 Jul 23, 2020, sold at $6.50
    eBay item no. 303647901141 Aug 13, 2020, sold at $132.12 with STS-3 and STS-4 crew patches
    eBay item no. ? Nov 24, 2020, sold at $85 (ex-Karol Bobko)
    Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 451 Jan 23, 2021 sold at $268.40
    Space Walk of Fame Auction lot 318 Feb 20, 2021 sold at $210 with 3 other patches
    American Space Museum & Space Walk of Fame auction lot 311 Apr 10, 2021 Sealed pack of 25 patches sold at $28.80 per patch
    eBay item no. 293913311852 Dec 27, 2021, sold at $53
    eBay item no. 293940855350 Jan 4, 2021, sold at $9.41
    eBay item no. 224318662523 Jan 17, 2021, sold at $45
    eBay item no. 224327359574 Jan 24, 2021, sold at $45
    eBay item no. 2243273752895 Jan 24, 2021, sold at $45- (offer accepted)
    eBay item no. 124619248414 Mar 15, 2021, sold at $152.50
    eBay item no. 363337423447 Mar 28, 2021, sold at $4.99
    Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 600 Sep 24, 2022 sold at $244
    Lunar Legacies Space Auction Lot 804 Sep 24, 2023 UNSOLD

[3] Example sales of STS-1 black outline patches:
    eBay item no. 140816354162 Aug 10, 2012, sold at $7.75
    eBay item no. 310454576030 Oct 3, 2012, sold at $6.05 [with other patches]
    eBay item no. 130775811323 Oct 6, 2012, sold at $33.55
    eBay item no. 251152632477 Oct 11, 2012, sold at $10.98 [Buy-it-now]
    eBay item no. 190813837543 Mar 31, 2013, sold at $58.78
    eBay item no. 190831439576 May 5, 2013, sold at $97.95
    eBay item no. 190835488171 May 12, 2013, sold at $63.78
    eBay item no. 130912093222 May 26, 2013, sold at $99.98
    eBay item no. 190886401272 Aug 15, 2013, sold at $23 [Buy-it-now]
    eBay item no. 141598156136 Mar 15, 2015, sold at $25.02
    eBay item no. 311380774754 Jun 23, 2015, sold at $42.95
    eBay item no. 351487931336 Aug 21, 2015, sold at $13.99 [buy-it-now]
    eBay item no. 131602760286 Sep 20, 2015, sold at $23.01
    eBay item no. 191709854934 Oct 13, 2015, sold at $28.00 [with other patches]
    eBay item no. 272040414922 Nov 18, 2015, sold at $35.40
    eBay item no. 162079703682 May 23, 2016, sold at $8.97
    eBay item no. 201683196348 Oct 9, 2016, sold at $114.50 in lot with LB ALT patch
    eBay item no. 182346801658 Nov 7, 2016, sold at $60.00 [with other patches]
    eBay item no. 391784590768 May 15, 2017, sold at $14.99
    eBay item no. 162539505864 Jun 2, 2017, sold at $6.98 [buy-it-now] two sold at this price
    Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot 451 Jul 15, 2017 sold at $107.10
    eBay item no. 263385031125 Jan 8, 2018, sold at $39.95
    eBay item no. 263412016013 Jan 28, 2018, sold at $34.95
    eBay item no. 254416057677 Nov 9, 2019, sold at $12.99 [buy-it-now]
    eBay item no. 293490099595 Feb 23, 2020, sold at $4.99
    eBay item no. 324126712820 Apr 12, 2020, sold at $12.99

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