How much are NASA patches worth?
The most readily-available of the crew patches, such as those of Apollo 12 and 13, used to sell for around $50 but today they tend to fetch anywhere from $100 to $600. However, bargains can still be found from time to time. The rarer crew patches will usually sell for hundreds of dollars as a minumum.
What are mission patches made of?
Following the loss of the Apollo 1 crew in a devastating fire, embroidered patches were restricted from crew clothing. Instead, astronauts in flight wore mission patches of fire-resistant Beta cloth onto which designs were silkscreened.
Are patches collectible?
In fact the value of your collection is often growing over time, simply because of supply and demand. Many of the collectible patches are no longer being produced making them more rare, and thus more valuable.
Why do astronauts create mission patches?
The astronaut crew works with a graphic designer to create a patch that represents the crew and their mission. The mission patch includes all of the crew names and the graphic design depicts aspects of the mission and of the crew’s lives that are most important.
Who makes NASA mission patches?
A-B
Made in America. A-B Emblems was where Gordon Cooper went to produce the first 100 NASA mission patches for Gemini 5. Since 1971, all NASA mission patches have been made by A-B Emblem, a company located in North Carolina that also produces patches for the military, the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts.
How big are NASA mission patches?
The actual embroidered patches used by the astronauts were usually around 4″ in size; only souvenir patches were created in the smaller 3″ size (3″ patches are not treated in these pages).
Are patches worth anything?
Those who’ve held onto their patches and medallions have found those items can become very valuable. Large collections are worth the most. Depending on age and condition, some patches could get bids of around $50 or more, while full merit sashes can go for hundreds of dollars.
How do you collect patches?
Scouting events, county fairs, flea markets, swap meets and other events are all fertile ground for locating patches to collect and trade. Online groups also offer a rich selection of patches, both for sale and trade. Enthusiast groups for patch collectors are a great resource. Antique stores are another good option.