Next month, Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris will present a truly extraordinary collection at its online For All Mankind: The Artistic Legacy of Early Space Exploration auction. The sale, featuring some 450 vintage NASA photographs from the esteemed collection of space historian Victor Martin-Malburet, offers collectors a rare chance to acquire historic images of legendary moments, such as Neil Armstrong’s first-ever snap of the lunar surface in 1969 and William Anders’ iconic Earthrise photo from 1968.
In the early age of space exploration, NASA’s base in Houston, Texas, operated the world’s most advanced photo laboratory. Working in collaboration with leading brands of the era, such as Hasselblad, Zeiss and Kodak, the laboratory processed thousands of spectacular images, primarily intended for scientific use to aid future missions. Many ultimately made their way into the public eye to great excitement and fanfare.
Victor Martin-Malburet, who first encountered space photography at the age of 15, was one of many people instantly captivated by these images and spent years tracking down other photographs that had been “buried in scientific archives and the collections of former NASA engineers”.
“I was awestruck by the famous photograph of Buzz Aldrin on the Moon, with the Lunar Module reflected in his visor,” recalls Martin-Malburet. “What could be more disruptive than the moment when humans left their planet for the first time and set foot on another world? At a time when photography was still analogue, the prints produced by NASA were the treasures brought back from the unknown by the astronauts—for all mankind.”
Now, 450 vintage NASA photographs from his prestigious collection are set to go under the gavel at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr’s online auction, For All Mankind: The Artistic Legacy of Early Space Exploration, running from 14th to 28th April. Price estimates start as low as €300.
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Among the highlights is Earthrise, captured by Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders (€12,000 to €18,000), who passed away in 2024. This image became one of the most influential in history, profoundly shaping humanity’s view of Earth.
Another striking lot is the only known photograph of Neil Armstrong standing next to the Lunar Module on the Moon, taken by Buzz Aldrin and expected to fetch between €18,000 and €25,000. Rediscovered 17 years after NASA initially denied its existence, this image remains a historical rarity.
The auction also features Neil Armstrong’s first photograph on the lunar surface, estimated at €7,000 to €10,000. The image went unpublished by NASA after Apollo 11, the spaceflight that made history as the moment when humans first landed on the Moon.
Another remarkable image is the first-ever space selfie, taken by Buzz Aldrin during Gemini 12 (€8,000 to €10,000), now recognised as a defining moment in space photography after being nearly forgotten in official records. Other historic offerings include John Glenn’s first photograph taken by a human in space during Friendship 7 (€4,000 to €6,000) and the first still image of a human in space: Ed White’s pioneering spacewalk during Gemini 4 (€4,000 to €6,000), which is pictured above.
“The Apollo astronauts captured humanity’s greatest dreams through their cameras,” said Sabine Cornette de Saint Cyr, who is leading the sale. “Their photographs will forever symbolise the beginning of our expansion into the universe. Today, space exploration is once again a burning topic. It was only natural for Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr to present these undisputed masterpieces of the 20th century to collectors, as they continue to fascinate and enrich our imagination.”
For more information about the auction and the lots in For All Mankind: The Artistic Legacy of Early Space Exploration, click here.
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Main photo of Ed White’s Gemini 4 spacewalk in 1965. Photo courtesy of Bonhams