[Apollo 11]

Directly from the Personal Collection of Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin

AN INCREDIBLY RARE SOVIET FLAG FLOWN ON APOLLO 11.

The historic Moon landing on July 20, 1969 signified a decisive victory for the United States in the space race. In the spirit of diplomacy, Buzz Aldrin flew a USSR flag in addition to the American flag, the Texas state flag, and the flag from his home state of New Jersey in his personal preference kit (PPK).

Buzz Aldrin's provenance letter reads:

"This provenance letter certifies that the accompanying Apollo 11 Soviet Flag was flown to the Moon aboard the command module Columbia. In July of 1969, I landed on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 crew. As an act of diplomacy and to help commemorate this historic milestone, I chose to personally carry the accompanying 4 by 6 inch Soviet Flag with me in my Personal Preference Kit (PPK). Carrying this flag was a gesture of goodwill between the United States of America and the Soviet Union, as well as a demonstration that Apollo 11 was a human achievement that transcended nations. "