Unique SPACE COLLECTION consisting of the two highest ranking astrophilatelic collections formed by Walter Hopferwieser and Adolf Maier, along with a large selection of space memorabilia ranging from flown to the moon artifacts up to early documents of space history. An outstanding and fabulous collection, more than 150 years of collecting.

The collection consists of space covers, documents, stamps, autographs and artifacts from the entire space history: starting with early rocket mail, V2 development in World War II, the space race to the moon up between USA / CCCP to the latest development with China's manned spaceflight program. In addtion to the covers are is also a nice range of memorabilia, an expensive painting, over 50.000 (!) proofs to this topic (mostly in printing sheets - most are unique), ...

More than 10 flown Apollo covers from different flights carrying officially covers clearly show the quality of the collection.
A total of approximately 40.000 signatures on far more than 45.000 covers in about 1000 (!) albums includign the collections Hopferwieser and Ado Maier. The buyer can dominate and controll the "chilatelic universe"

The combination of these collections and unique items of very prominent sources have never been offered before and probably will be never offered again in this large variety. Many covers and items will be offered for the first time in history and have only been known to insiders.
By far the largest and voluminous holding on the theme "Conquest of the Space".

The present collection is in our opinion a suitable basis to establish a MUSEUM, with worldwide recognition and international reputation.
Regarding a prospectiv INVESTMENT we recommend this lot. An irretrievable documentation of the different eras and steps of the conquest of the space, despicted from the viewpoint of philately.
See also our extensive seperate catalogue and see thousands of pictures online. ÷ Generalsammlung WELTRAUM bestehend aus den beiden höchst-prämierten Astrophilatelie Sammlungen der Philatelie-Geschichte von Walter Hopferwieser und Adolf Maier, ergänzt durch eine Vielzahl von Weltraummemorabilien nicht-philatelistischer Natur aus erstklassiger Provenienz, mit tatsächlich zum Mond geflogenen Artefakten und frühen Dokumenten aus der Raumfahrt. Geschätzte 150 Lebensjahre stecken in dem Aufbau dieser Sammlungen. Der Käufer beherrscht mit dem Kauf diese Loses sozusagen den "philatelistischen Weltall".

Diese einmalige und nicht zu duplizierende Sammlung von Belegen, Dokumenten, Briefmarken, Autographen und Artefakten deckt die komplette Raumfahrtgeschichte von den frühesten Raketenversuchen, V2 Entwicklung über das Wettrennen zum Mond der USA / UdSSR bis zur neuesten Raumfahrtgeschichte mit China's Einstieg in die Weltraumforschung ab. Zudem ein schöner Teil Momorabilia, ein teures Bild, über 50.000 (!)Probedrucke (meist in kompletten Bögen - viele einmalig!),...

Die Anzahl von mehr als 10 geflogenen Apollo Mondbriefen aller Apollo Missionen, bei denen Belege nachweislich befördert wurden, beweist die Qualität dieser Sammlung. Insgesamt rund 35000 Unterschriften von Astronauten und Kosmonauten, weit über 10000 Belege aus allen Epochen, rund 1000 (!) Alben umfasst dieses einmalige Objekt inclusive der Sammlungen Hopferwieser und Maier.

Die Kombination dieser beiden Sammlungen und den nicht in den Ausstellungssammlungen enthaltenen Belegen und Stücken ist noch nie angeboten worden und wird es wohl in dieser Form nie wieder geben. Viele Belege werden zum ersten Mal überhaupt in einer Auktion angeboten und waren bisher nur absoluten Insidern bekannt. Der Umfang und die Qualität des angebotenen Materials sind ein einzigartiger Fundus zum Thema "Eroberung des Weltraums".

Die vorliegende Sammlung ist unserer Meinung nach eine ideale Basis zur Gründung eines MUSEUMS von historischer Weltgeltung und internationaler Reputation. Auch hinsichtlich eines weitsic (Image)

1870, Switzerland/France. Folding letter from a mother in Evian-les-Bains dated 19.11.1870 to her son, a prisoner of war, via 'AGENCE INTERNATIONALE + BALE' from Basel 20.11.70. The lieutenant belonged to the fortress of Metz, which surrendered only on 27.10.; hence the address 'Prisonnier de guerre Armée de Metz'. The letter was forwarded several times with stops in Berlin, Braunschweig, Mainz and Wiesbaden. In Mainz, the letter received the fortress seal and the postage paid cancel 'POST FREI / L.VERF. 7/8 70'. On the reverse postmark of Mainz 30.11. and issue 15.12. (Image)

1983, Burundi. World conservation: ANIMALS. Complete set (13 values) in IMPERFORATE CORNER BLOCKS of 4 (top left). Showing Panthera leo, Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata, Diceros bicornis, Syncerus caffer, Loxodonta africana, Hippopotamus amphibius, Burchell's zebra, Equus burchelli, Phacochoerus aethiopicus, Taurotragus oryx, Canis mesomelas, Acinonyx jubatus, Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus, and Crocuta crocuta. Each stamp bears the silver WWF emblem. Mint, never hinged. EXTREMELY RARE! (Image)

2012, B.A.T. Glaciers and ice formations. IMPERFORATE se-tenant block of 10 contains twice the 5 different 65p values of the set. MNH. In all 10 imperforate stamps. Very rare! (Image)

2012, B.A.T. Glaciers and ice formations. IMPERFORATE se-tenant block of 10 contains twice the 5 different 75p values of the set. MNH. In all 10 imperforate stamps. Very rare! (Image)

1957, France 8fr. "Nicolaus Copernicus", two epreuve d'artiste in "grey-black" and in "red-brown", each with designer's/engraver's signature "J.Piel", in addition an epreuve de luxe in issued colour. (Image)

1900, German Reich. Private postcard 5pf Crown over digit with illustrations on the reverse inter alia 'Some trees (small forest) in front of mountain with Emperor Wilhem monument'. Used from 'Minden 23.6.00' to Hannover-Hainholz. (Image)

2011, San Marino. Europe: The forest. Horizontal se-tenant pair of 2 IMPERFORATE miniature sheets of 12 stamps each showing 'Teso forest near San Marcello Pistoiese', and 'Stacked tree trunks'. MNH. In all 24 imperforate stamps. UNIQUE. (Image)

1978, Aitutaki. Christmas; 450th anniversary of the death of Albrecht Dürer. Collective, progressive proof (9 phases) for the complete set (4 values) and for the stamps of the souvenir sheet. (=stamps of the set surcharged). Special feature: GOLDEN FRAMED instead of issued silver framed. Some printer's notes. Colour bar. MNH. In all 72 proof stamps. In this form UNIQUE. (Image)

1981, Penrhyn. Christmas: Copper engravings by Albrecht Dürer. Collective, progressive proof (5 phases) for the 3 single stamp blocks of the issue. Showing 'St. Virgin in radiant wreath', 'St. Virgin in the palisade', and 'St. Virgin with child'. Colour bars. Paper wrinkles. MNH. In all 15 proof single stamp blocks. Extremely rare! (Image)

1898, Honduras. Set of 9 proofs prints in issued colours for the complete definitive set 'LOCOMOTIVE' on imperforate, ungummed thin paper, including 2 pieces for the 5c value in different colours. Pretty nice! (Image)

1925, Denmark. Ekspres Post Lykönskning 40 øre. Large format illustrated cover showing on front a STEAM TRAIN in full swing, a steamer, a lion, a flock of birds, and some more. Unused. (Image)

2005, Bahamas. 50th Anniversary of the First Europa Stamp 1956-2006. Lot of a complete IMPERFORATE set (4 values) and an IMPERFORATE souvenir sheet. Showing flags of the European Union and the Bahamas, and outline map of Europe. MNH. Rare! (Image)

2011, San Marino. Flower cultivars. Horizontal pair of 2 IMPERFORATE souvenir sheets of 3 showing Delphinium Verissimo, Dianthus Sant' Agata, and Rosa Republica di San Marino. MNH. Extremely rare! (Image)

2005, Cayman Islands. Orchids. Complete set (5 values) in 3 IMPERFORATE cross gutter pairs showing Myrmecophila albopurpurea, Prosthechea boothiana, Tolumnia calochila, Encyclia phoenicia, Prosthechea cochleata, and Encyclia kingsii. MNH. Slightly creased in gutter. In all 12 imperforate stamps. UNIQUE. (Image)

2005, Kiribati. 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Complete set (10 values) in 5 vertical IMPERFORATE gutter pairs. Each gutter bears twice the inscription 'The route to victory'. Plus the souvenir sheet for this issue, IMPERFORATE in a vertical pair. MNH. All items UNIQUE. (Image)

1929, schweizer SST "ZIONISTENKONGRESS" auf 40 C.Bundesfeierkarte P137/1 mit Luftpost von Zürich über Berlin nach Danzig mit interessantem Text: "... hoffentlich verhalten sich die Kommunisten ruhig..." (Image)

2003, QUEEN ELIZABETH II. Joint release of the countries British Indian Ocean Territory (Michel #315), Falkland Islands (869), British Antarctic Territory (352), St Helena (873), British Virgin Islands (1086), Tristan da Cunha (799), Ascension (903), and South Georgia (361) in 2 IMPERFORATE cross gutter blocks of 4. With colour dots in gutter. MNH. In all 8 imperforate stamps. UNIQUE. (Image)

1987, Niue. Christmas: Albrecht Dürer paintings. Progressive proof (11 phases) for both souvenir sheets printing together on one sheet each (as vertical pairs, so to speak). MNH. In all 20 proof s/s. Very rare! (Image)

2001, Micronesia. Philanippon '01 International Stamp Exhibition, Tokyo: Japanese Paintings and Woodblock Prints. Set of 2 IMPERFORATE souvenir sheets showing various paintings. MNH. Very rare! (Image)

2001, Zambia. Philanippon '01 International Stamp Exhibition, Tokyo: Japanese Art. Set of 2 IMPERFORATE souvenir sheets showing Japanese paintings. MNH. In all 2 imperforate s/s. Extremely rare!. (Image)

2001, Micronesia. Philanippon '01 International Stamp Exhibition, Tokyo: Japanese Paintings and Woodblock Prints. Complete set (6 values) in 3 IMPERFORATE horizontal gutter pairs showing various paintings. MNH. In all 6 imperforate stamps. Very rare! (Image)

2001, Micronesia. Philanippon '01 International Stamp Exhibition, Tokyo: Japanese Paintings and Woodblock Prints. IMPERFORATE miniature sheet of 6 stamps showing various paintings. MNH. Very rare! (Image)

2001, The Gambia. Philanippon '01 International Stamp Exhibition, Tokyo: Japanese Painting. IMPERFORATE miniature sheet for complete set of 4 showing works by Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), Japanese painter and lacquer master. MNH. Very rare! (Image)

1890/1893, German Reich. Lot of 3 private postcards 5pf Crown over digit 'Fabrique de Chocolat Ph. Suchard, Neuchatel'. Each with a different illustration reverse left: 'Two children scrape out a tipped cup', 'Two children carry a candy bar', and 'Two children saw a candy bar up'. All postcards used by order. (Image)