Photography in America's space program of the 1960s and 1970s was an integral part of the scientific purpose of the missions, but also served other purposes such as capturing the public's interest, insuring funding, and above all seizing a moment in our planet's history for all to see.

Introduction:

The photographs produced from NASA missions have only recently found their way to the exhibition schedules of major museums, galleries and auctions.. Prices are erratic but escalating. As in all newly 'discovered' niches within any art market, there lies opportunity for the informed. We will attempt here to briefly discuss our interpretation of the different print 'styles' of photographs produced by NASA since the beginning of the Mercury space program in 1960 through the unmanned missions of Lunar Orbiter, Ranger, and Surveyor and the manned Gemini and Apollo missions ending in 1972. For the purpose of this discussion we will use the following terminology:

Printing categories:

Vintage print: this is a photograph printed around the time that the negative was taken...in the context of NASA photography this will assume within 7 years of the negative date.

Period print: this is a photograph printed between 7 years and 15 years of the negative date.

Modern print (or Printed Later): this is a photograph printed after the aforementioned dates.

With the following provisos:

Mercury Program: Vintage prints are printed between 1960 and approximately 1969. Period prints were printed between 1970 and approximately 1980.

Gemini Program: Vintage prints date from 1964 to around 1973. Period prints date from 1973 to around 1980.

Apollo Program: Vintage prints date from 1966 to around 1975. 1980 is used as a somewhat arbitrary cut-off date.

Ultimately the following criteria need to be considered in determining whether a photograph is a vintage, period, or modern print. This criteria includes:

NASA logos and markings on the front (recto) or backs (verso) of the prints
paper type used (including manufacturers markings [watermarks]) on the verso
the type and style of stamps or other markings on the verso.

In this article we will illustrate several examples

Photographs vs. Lithographs:

It is very common to see a photographic reproduction (even printed on Kodak paper) that is not an original photograph. The simple and easy way to determine this is to look at the photograph under a low power glass, and if you see a small dot pattern then this is classified as a photographic reproduction (in common terminology among space collectors these are called somewhat erroneously 'lithographs'). It is true that some images are quite rare as a 'lithograph'. Any type of reproduction shown, whether photographic or not, will be very clearly marked in the text description.

Black & White vs. Color:

Both black & white (b/w) and color prints were produced. During the Mercury program virtually all NASA produced photographs were b/w. During the Gemini and Apollo programs, b/w was commonly used for training and pre-launch photographs with both color and b/w used for launch and mission photographs. In the case of color prints these were mostly printed on Kodak color paper directly from the negatives. These prints are referred to as Chromogenic prints.

Original Issues and other markings:

Original issue NASA photographs from the Mercury program are mostly 8x10 inch b/w press-type prints with or without press markings on the verso. See the following illustrations for some examples:

Original issue Gemini and Apollo program b/w 8x10 inch photographs will have the following characteristics:

For b/w prints they will sometimes have a blue or black mechanical printing description on the verso which will have NASA logo, negatives number(s), and text narration. For color prints, this may also be found on the verso, as well as a small red, blue, or black NASA mark with negative number found on the front of the photograph in a margin (usually top or side margin).

In the case of Apollo missions, b/w prints may also have these original issue markings on the front:

(detail)

NASA logos:

Different NASA logos were used over the years but the primary ones were the 'meatball' and the 'worm'. The meatball logo was mostly in use between the beginning of the Mercury program and approximately 1976. The worm logo was used almost exclusively after that date. This is a key variable used in determining whether a photograph is vintage or period, versus a later print. In a few examples we have seen a meatball logo was used on a later Kodak paper indicating that this is not a 100% usable determinant. The type of paper and watermark is a more reliable method.

There is an exception where a worm logo is used on the front of a b/w print, along with the notation "Headquarters' Washington, D.C." These prints are on early Kodak b/w paper with no watermark. They are considered period prints.

(detail)

Kodak watermarks:

This may be the most reliable way of determining the printing date of a NASA photograph. During the Mercury and early Gemini program most b/w prints were on a photographic paper with no watermarks. A watermark is a mostly faint type that runs usually diagonally through the verso of the photographs and indicates the paper manufacturer. Any photograph with no watermark on a fiber based (non-RC or plasticized paper) should be considered vintage. An exception may be where there is no watermark, a fiber based paper but a later 'worm' logo. We have seen a few examples of this combination but it is very rare. An easy test to see if a paper is plasticized (resin coated) and thus mostly used after the early 1980s is to take a soft lead pencil and see if you can clearly write on the verso. If you can it is a fiber based paper.

During the Gemini and Apollo missions (1965 to 1972), Kodak used a one-line vertically occurring watermark with the words 'A Kodak Paper'. These photographs are vintage. Photographs that have multi-line watermarks (usually 2 or 3 lines) are printed later.

The Market for Space Exploration Photography:

Space Exploration photography is an emerging market within the field of collecting fine art photography. That the market for fine art photographs is a vibrant, healthy, and expanding market is indisputable. From the major auction houses of Sotheby's and Christies in New York and London to the important international galleries exhibiting and selling fine art photography, it is not unusual for the average selling price of lots at auction to approach $7,500. This figure does not tell the whole story as many photographs sell for over $20,000 and even over $100,000. These same photographs could have been purchased by a connoisseur of photography only one decade ago for one-tenth or less of today's value. At the present time there are two major classifications of space exploration photographs within the fine art photography marketplace:

1. Vintage 8x10 NASA issued photographs used for either internal NASA use or for publicity purposes. This essay ("About NASA Photographs) deals exclusively with this issue.

2. Artifact photographs are photographs printed at the time of the missions for either personal or internal use of the astronauts or NASA personnel, and in rare cases has special uses such as preparation for determining landing sites for future missions, or perhaps presentation photographs to politicians, dignitaries, etc. They are generally larger than 8x10 inches. Also included in this category would be photographs produced for scientific study by Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) or other government agencies involved in the space program and/or the NASA subcontractors. Included in this group are the Lunar Surveyor Moon Mosaics produced by the US Geological Survey and NASA.

Summary:

This analysis is by no means intended to be the definitive investigation and report. It is however a beginning for discussion in this newly emerging field. We encourage critical commentary and discussion. We will gladly include newly discovered information as well as announce any inaccuracies or oversights. Through this we hope to add to the efficiency of otherwise insufficient scholarship. We will not however act as appraisers of collections.

We intend that this will become a valuable tool in educating us all.

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