Crew Patch reference guide

NASA

GT3

GT4

GT5

GT6

GT7

GT8

GT9

GT10

GT11

GT12

AS1

AS7

AS8

AS9

AS10

AS11

AS12

AS13

AS14

AS15

AS16

AS17

ASTP

STS-1

Apollo 1

Unlike all the subsequent Apollo missions, for Apollo 1 an embroidered patch was actually used on the spacesuits. It was only after the fatal fire that betaloth patches were introduced in the place of embroidered designs for the spacesuits and in-flight garments.

Details on the right from various photos show the patch in place on the crews' Apollo spacesuits.

The Crew Patch

Although it closely resembles the AB Emblem version, the patch used by the Apollo 1 crew (shown on the right) was actually manufactured by Stylized Emblem Co of Hollywood, California, as evidenced by manufacturer's stickers on the backs of some examples of the patch.

This patch is extremely scarce, with most of the examples that have come to market in the last few years being sold through specialised auctions from Deke Slayton's estate.

Examples from this source (which benefit from impeccable provenance) sold for between $780 at $1200 in 2007, but the two examples from this source sold this year have fetched $1470 and $1792.50^[1].

Apollo 1 Mission Patch Gallery

Crew Patch	AB Emblem	Lion Brothers	Other Manufacturers

This patch, produced by Stylized Emblem Co., is the design worn by the Apollo 1 crew on their space suits. [3½" / 90mm]	The AB Emblem patch is very close to the design worn by the crew but subtle differences such as the thread angle on the Earth and the silver color of the moon help differentiate it. [3½" / 89mm]	The Lion Brothers Apollo 1 patch is easily distinguished from the crew version by its yellow border. [3½" / 90mm]	[AS1UNK1] This patch from an unknown manufacturer looks similar in some ways to the crew patch but the stitching is more crude overall. In particular the detail on the 'snub-nose' CSM is lacking. I believe this patch was produced by Universal Commemorative of Los Angeles, CA, since I've seen it sold with their Apollo 11 and 12 patches several times. In addition the detail of the stitching on the reverse of the border matches their other patches perfectly.


[1] Prices fetched by Apollo 1 crew patches at auction: Heritage Fall 2008 Space Auction lot 41162 sold at $1792.50 Swann Spring 2008 Space Auction lot 96 sold at $1470 eBay item no. 150183106593 Nov 21, 2007 sold at $895.95 Regency/Superior Fall 2007 Space Auction lot 318 sold at $1150 Regency/Superior Fall 2007 Space Auction lot 319 sold at $1200 Regency/Superior Spring 2007 Space Auction lot 317 sold at $780 Regency/Superior Spring 2007 Space Auction lot 321 sold at $1035 Regency/Superior Spring 2006 Space Auction lot 737 sold at $805 Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot no. 163 sold Jul 11, 2009 at $4485 15 patches sealed in packet.(inc buyer's fees). Bonhams Space Auction Jul 16, 2009 lot 126 sold at $1037 (GC collection). eBay item no. 170387303861 Oct 2, 2009 sold at $1247.22


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