Signed Astronaut First Day Covers

Each measuring 3.5" x 6.5", dates ranging from 1972 to 1976. A group of four First Day Covers featuring signatures from astronauts John Young, Charlie Duke, Ken Mattingly, Gene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, Ron Evans, Joe Engle, Richard Truly, and Vance Brand. Wonderful condition with minor signs of age. From the collection of Anatole Forostenko, Chief Russian Language Instructor-Interpreter for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission. Includes:

1.) "Astronauts get warm welcome home". Houston, TX dated April 29, 1972. Boldy signed by John Young, Charlie Duke, and Ken Mattingly. The cover depicts the astronauts being greeted by their families following the return of the Apollo 16 crew.
2.) Launch of Apollo 17 Official Commemorative Cover. Houston, TX dated December 6, 1972. Signatures include the three members of the crew: Gene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, and Ron Evans. Features ¢8 moon stamp designed by Robert McCall.
3.) "Space Shuttle Test Crews Named". Houston, TX dated February 24, 1976. Boldly signed by Joe Engle and Richard Truly. Features short bios of Engle and Truly as part of NASA's series of Approach and Landing Tests conducted in 1977.
4.) "Astronaut Flies A-7 Digitac" Vance Brand Commemorative Cover. Houston TX, dated August 12, 1976. Features signature from Brand after test flight in order to "familiarize prospective shuttle astronauts with control system similar to space shuttle".

Dr. Anatole Forostenko (b. 1939) was born in the Soviet Union and moved to the U.S. in 1949. He studied at Rutgers University and Indiana University before gaining his PhD from Bryn Mawr. From 1970-1973, Forostenko was an Assistant Professor of Russian Language and Literature at the University of California. He then joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1974 and became involved in the Apollo-Soyuz test project. He became the Chief Russian Language Instructor for the NASA astronauts, preparing them to communicate with cosmonauts during the mission, and he worked closely with both crews as instructor-interpreter. Often, he worked in one-on-one situations with General Thomas P. Stafford and Vance Brand. During the Apollo-Soyuz mission, Forostenko served as one of three U.S. Air-to-Ground interpreters at the Johnson Space Center Mission Control Center. Upon completion of the mission, he traveled with the crew members and their families on the post-flight Soviet Good Will Tour and has remained in close contact with those involved.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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