Moon dust ingested by cockroaches hit the auction block

Record ID: 1676379

  • Title: Moon dust ingested by cockroaches hit the auction block
  • Date: 9th June 2022
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RR AUCTION, BOBBY LIVINGSTON, SAYING: “This is a super rare Henry VIII document on vellum. And you can see this is his signature up here. And you can just imagine you're getting one of these from Henry VIII, telling you, I want some wardrobe delivered to us. So, any document like this is highly collectible. And look how grea
  • Embargoed: 23rd June 2022 19:01
  • Keywords: auction babe ruth bugs cockroaches history moon dust sitting bull war
  • Location: New York City, New York, United States
  • City: New York City, New York, United States
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,United States
  • Reuters ID: LVA005385009062022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Unique items from world history are going up for grabs in Boston at RR Auction on June 23.
    The live and online sale dubbed the Remarkable Rarities sale will feature items from kings, presidents and the moon.
    “The item that I'm most excited about is this Apollo 11 scientific experiment where they fed cockroaches lunar material from Apollo 11,” said executive vice president of RR Auction Bobby Livingston.
    “This is the material, the lunar material that was digested by the cockroaches during destructive testing. This moon dust was eaten by cockroaches. And this is the remnants of it,” he added.
    The early estimate for the dust, cockroaches and memorabilia is set at $400,000.
    Autographed items from Babe Ruth, King Henry VIII and Sitting Bull are expected to fetch top dollar.
    “If it wasn't signed, it's still be very valuable, said Livingston of the photo of the famed leader with his family.
    “But he's applied his signature to the bottom Sitting Bull, and you just don't get photos of him autographed.”
    Other highlights in the 50 item auction include an 1943 German Enigma machine that’s estimated at $275,000 and an Elon Musk signed dollar bill listed at $5,000.
    (Production: Eric Cox, Alicia Powell)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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