NASA VINTAGE PRINTS

NASA Vintage Prints: Capturing the Space Race

The USA and the USSR were locked in a fierce competition known as the Space Race, the defining odyssey of the 20th century. It began on October 4, 1957, with the launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite by the Soviet Union. This was followed the next month by the first animal to orbit Earth, also sent by the USSR. The rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States continued through numerous missions and programs. In this struggle, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) played a pivotal role. Founded on July 29, 1958, this independent U.S. agency was responsible for the civilian space program, aeronautics, and aerospace research.

Three key programs enabled the USA to send the first man to the Moon: Mercury (1958-1963), which sent the first American into space; then, on May 25, 1961, in the midst of the Cold War, President John F. Kennedy launched the Apollo program (1961-1975). During his famous speech, he declared:

“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”

The goal was clear: to counter Soviet advances in the Space Race. Parallel to the Apollo program, the Gemini program (1963-1966) enabled American astronaut Ed White to perform the first American EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity) on June 3, 1965. In this technological and human challenge, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov beat them with the first EVA on March 18, 1965, about three months before the U.S. astronauts. Ed White became the first American to conduct an EVA, remaining outside twice as long as Leonov.

Apollo 11: Buzz Aldrin with the Flag of the United States, 1969

After several space flights during the Gemini missions, NASA aimed to send the first man to the Moon. Success was achieved on July 21, 1969, a historic date when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to accomplish this feat during the Apollo 11 mission. For the occasion, camera equipment was brought on board, and thanks to Hasselblad cameras, the first photographs taken by humans on the Moon were captured. Subsequent Apollo missions, from Apollo 12 to Apollo 17, deployed new scientific devices and collected lunar samples.

The vintage prints of these iconic moments are a specialty of IGWT, a leading photo gallery dedicated to NASA vintage photos. This Parisian gallery, committed to sharing its expertise about this modern odyssey, aims to exhibit its finest findings: vintage photos in pristine condition.

Meeting between Buzz Aldrin and Gad Edery: Buzz congratulated him on his work with NASA photos.

How to Identify an Original NASA Vintage Print

Determining whether a print is an original NASA vintage print can be challenging for the untrained eye. Gad Edery, director of IGWT Gallery, has had a personal interest in NASA photographs for over twenty years, building precious expertise through his experience as a collector. Paper analysis, printing details, and provenance information allow him to verify the origin of each piece. The IGWT Gallery offers only exceptional NASA prints in perfect condition, serving as invaluable historical witnesses, aesthetically powerful images, and their original purpose—scientific and promotional documents.

Explore the exceptional collection of NASA vintage prints at IGWT and immerse yourself in the history of space exploration.