Neil Armstrong in one of 2,400 NASA photographs sold at Christie’s auction

Space fans can get a single photo of Neil Armstrong’s famous steps on the moon and a selfie of Buzz Aldrin – the first selfie in the universe.

The rare photos are part of 2,400 vintage photo collections called Voyage To Another World that is up for sale at an online auction hosted by Christie through November 19, 2020.

The auction house said in a statement that the original 700-piece photos show “the artistic heritage of the golden age of space exploration when NASA and its astronaut photographers captured their first voyages into space and on the surface of another world.” Joint press release last week.

Buzz Aldrin Portrait, First Self Portrait in Space, November 11-15, 1966

Described as “the most comprehensive private collection of NASA images ever shown” at auction, these images cover many of the huge moments in the space program – from spaceflight programs like Mercury and Gemini to the historic Apollo flight.

While the iconic images were included among the images, NASA did not post many images in the collections at mission time.

The photos are in the price range, with a rare photo of Armstrong taken by Aldrin during Apollo 1 that is expected to sell the fir between £ 30,000 and £ 50,000 ($ 39,000 to $ 66,000).

Aldrin’s flagship selfie is expected to sell between £ 6,000 and 8,000 ($ 8,000 to $ 10,600), according to the auction house.

Other higher-priced selections from the auction include a panoramic view of Harrison Schmidt and the Lunar Module in Shorty Crater, the first human-taken photograph of “Earthrise” and “Blue Marble” – the first human shot of the entire Earth. By Harrison Schmidt.

The first human photograph of planet Earth, December 21-27, 1968

First spacewalk in the United States, Eva Ed White over Texas, June 3-7, 1965

The first human-taken photograph of the Earth’s sunrise, December 21-27, 1968

The press release states that photography was still analog at the time, “requiring chemistry papers, films and photosensitive images.”

Astronauts have been taught the best way to take photos by NASA, Hasselblad, Kodak, Zeiss specialist, and photographers from Life and National Georgraphic.

The release continues: “Through their cameras, the astronauts-turned-artists were able to transfer the beauty and depth of their experience into space to humanity, and forever change the way we see ourselves and our place in the universe.”

While some photos will become defining moments in pop culture, for many decades the general public was unaware of the abundance of photos taken by astronauts.

Images were only available for certified research at the Manned Spacecraft Center archive in Houston, Texas.

Panoramic View of Harrison Schmidt, Tracy’s Rock and the LunarRover, Station 6, December 7-19, 1972

Crescent Earth rising beyond the barren horizon of the Moon, July 26 – August 7, 1971

The entire collection was brought together by Victor Martin-Malburet over a period of 15 years, says the statement.

The collection includes important texts from NASA that help restore “humanity’s first journey to another world, step-by-step”.

“Astronauts are often portrayed as great scientists and heroes, but they are rarely hailed as among the most important photographers of all time,” Martin Malborett said in the statement. The first pioneers of Mercury and Gemini were given cloth space and Earth; Apollo astronauts are an alien scientist.

“From the subtle protection of their space capsules and EVA units, they, with skill and daring, captured images that instantly embrace the iconography of luxury, inspiration and awe.”

During the fiftieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon in 2019, the collection has been exhibited around the world in museums including the Grand Palais in Paris, the Kunsthaus in Zurich, the Der Moderne in Salzburg, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen and the Henie Center Onstad Kunstsenter in Oslo.

LM Eagle and EarthRise, July 16-24, 1969

360 ° Panoramic Sequence in the Sea of ​​Tranquility, July 16-24, 1969