Italy, Republic. An Order of the Italian Crown, Commander in Gold, to NASA Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin

(Ordine della Corona d'Italia). Instituted in 1868. In 18K Gold, a white enamel cross with thin Gold Savoy knots in each quadrant, the obverse medallion features a blue enamel field sporting a Lombardy crown with white, red and green details, the reverse with a black enamel eagle, measures 50.0mm (w) x 52.8mm (h – inclusive of integral ring), weighs 19.9 grams including ribbon, enamels are intact, medallions are loose, worn on a full length neck ribbon, remains in near extremely fine condition. Accompanied by a miniature in Gold with white, red, blue and black enamels, measure 12.4mm (w) x 14.2mm (h), worn on original ribbon, enamels intact, in very fine condition. Accompanied by three sections of ribbon, two with rosettes, all in very fine condition and two rosette buttonhole pins, both in near very fine condition.

Contained in its original case of issue, red exterior with the crowned cypher of Victor Emmanuel, the interior lid marked E. GARDINO SUCC. D. CRAVANZOLA GIOIELLIERE ROMA, the base with a black recessed medal bed, measures 115mm (w) x 150mm (l) x 30mm (d), the lid has been detached entirely from the base, in near fine condition.

Accompanied by the Apollo 11 Astronauts visit to Italy and the Vatican schedule comprising nine detailed pages from October 15 to October 18, 1969. An ‘Italy’ document presenting an overview of the country’s characteristic, interest in space, and current issues, etc. Includes the statements made by all three astronauts. Both documents slightly creased in very fine condition.

Footnote: The Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy on July 16 1969, carrying three astronauts: Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin.

Buzz Aldrin was born on January 20, 1930 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. His father, Edwin Eugene Aldrin Sr. was an Army aviator during the First World War, later working at Standard Oil. Aldrin attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating third in his class in 1951.

When the Korean War broke out, he joined the United States Air Force and underwent basic training in Florida. He served as a jet fighter pilot, flying 66 combat missions in a F-86 Sabre and shooting down two MiG-15 aircrafts. For his service in Korea, he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and three Air Medals.

Aldrin later attended MIT, earning a Doctor of Science degree in astronautics. His doctoral thesis entitled “Line-of-Sight Guidance Techniques for Manned Orbital Rendezvous” resulted in the nickname ‘Dr. Rendezvous.’ He was selected as a member of NASA’s Astronaut Group 3, making him one of fourteen individuals chosen for the Gemini and Apollo programs.

His first space flight took place in 1966 on Gemini 12, in which he spent over five hours on extravehicular activity. In 1969, Aldrin was the second person ever to set foot on the moon, 19 minutes after Commander Neil Armstrong. As a Presbyterian elder, he was the first person to hold a religious ceremony on the Moon when he privately took communion. They returned to earth by splashing into the Pacific on July 24th. The total duration of the missing was 195 hours, 18 minutes, and 35 seconds. Each astronaut was honored with a Presidential Medal of Freedom. At the end of September 1969, they embarked on a 38-day world tour, visiting 22 foreign countries.

In 1971, Aldrin left NASA and became the Commandant of the U.S Air Force Test Pilot School. He retired from the Air force in 1972, after 21 years of service. He continued to advocate for space exploration, struggled with alcoholism and depression, and created the Aldrin Cycler, a special spacecraft trajectory. In 2015, Aldrin, along with the Florida Institute of Technology pitched a master plan to NASA in which astronauts would create a colony on Mars before the year 2040. Aldrin is currently 92 and resides in Montclair, New Jersey. He is the only living Apollo 11 astronaut.

Provenance: Sotheby's Auction, Buzz Aldrin: American Icon 26 July 2022, Lot 52