Space Exploration Artifacts

Our fascination with space exploration has only increased since the space program slowed to a halt. To coincide with the 48th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing, this collection of artifacts will be available for auction. Items include flown mission artifacts, items from astronauts and cosmonauts personal collections, and beautiful space photography. One of the highlights of the lot is the lunar sample return bag containing remnants of lunar dust used by Neil Armstrong on the Apollo 11 mission that was mistakenly discarded before turning up in a private collection two years ago. The auction starts this week and is the first space exploration lot from Sotheby's since the successful Russian Space History sales in the 1990s.

NES Power Glove

Odds are you wanted one as a kid. It's likely you never got one. Now you have a chance to own an NES Power Glove. Another wonder of Amazon, you can buy this storied Nintendo accessory new for not much more than it cost in 1989. As you can tell from the reviews, it's rather awful as an actual game controller, but as a piece of retro gaming nostalgia, it's hard to beat.

Daft Punk's Roland TR-909

Daft Punk's 1997 album Homework was both groundbreaking and an opening salvo from a band that would influence music for the following decades. Now you can own a piece of the hardware used to make it. This Roland TR-909 is the one Thomas Bangalter used during production, and comes programmed with the original presets for the track "Revolution 909". A rare chance to own a piece of music history, and a working instrument as well.

Dharma Initiative Beer

It's been over seven years since we saw Jack's eyes close in the same way they opened at the beginning of Lost in 2004. The series about the survivors of Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 and the mysterious island they inhabited still holds a place in the minds of those who watched it. These three cans of Dharma Initiative Beer are a perfect way to pay tribute to the show in your own bar. Curiously, two of the cans feature heavy soiling and distress, while the third is opened, slightly crushed, and yet in far better condition, suggesting Sawyer (or one of the other characters, but let's be honest, it was probably him) may have enjoyed it during filming.

Apple Sneakers

Rainbow logo? Check. Garamond type? Check. A questionable sense of style? Check. These Apple Sneakers tick all the boxes of early-'90s Cupertino. Produced exclusively for the company's employees, these shoes are a rare artifact from one of the darkest periods in Apple's history. They're a size 9 1/2 (not that you're going to wear them), arrive with StockX authentication, and are going up for auction on eBay Sunday, Jun 11.

1953 Disneyland Presentation Map

Like many grand ideas, Disneyland needed outside funding to get started. In the '50s, however, you couldn't just render your idea and post it on a website. You needed to make your pitch artwork by hand. Which is exactly what Walt Disney and artist Herb Ryman did, inking a piece of vellum with a vision of what would become The Happiest Place On Earth. Vellum doesn't travel well, however, so they transferred and then hand-colored the drawing onto the piece you see here. This 1953 Disneyland Presentation Map was carried by Roy Disney to New York and used in his pitch that secured the funding for the park. It's visible in the background of several photographs of Walt from that era and was eventually given to his friend Grenade Curran, who kept it out of public view for the last sixty years. It has since re-emerged and will be auctioned off by Van Eaton Galleries on June 25th.

John Lennon Sgt. Pepper's Cover Sketch

The cover of The Beatles' seminal Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is one of the most well-recognized and highly regarded in history. This John Lennon Sgt. Pepper's Cover Sketch gives you a chance to own a piece of history regarding its conception. Discovered by the owners of a home Lennon formerly occupied in Surrey, England, this 4.25-inch square sketch depicts the basic layout for the cover. The four band members are positioned around a central drumhead and the band's name is laid out on the ground before them, appearing with other elements that would eventually make it into the final design. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Perry Cox.

Kurt Cobain's Hagstrom Blue Sparkle Deluxe Guitar

Kurt Cobain would have been 50 years old this month, and to honor the rock legend one of his guitars is going up for a special auction. Kurt Cobain's Hagstrom Blue Sparkle Deluxe Guitar was owned by the Nirvana frontman in 1992, and then gifted to a close friend by Courtney Love in 1994 following his death. It's been unplayed for decades and remains in nearly the same condition as it was while in Cobain's possession. 10 percent of proceeds from the auction will be donated to a Portland-based nonprofit that helps people transition from homelessness to housing in the Pacific Northwest.

1984

Don't listen to the press — they don't know how many books you've read. While George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four is an undisputed literary classic, and also served as the basis for the greatest television ad of all-time, its themes of public manipulation and government surveillance seem especially poignant in recent days. Despite being first released in 1949, it's currently the best-selling book on Amazon, and its publisher just ordered another 75,000 copies. These first-editions are likely to become even more collectible as the years go on, but if they're a little more than you typically spend on dead trees, we'd recommend the recent Penguin Modern Classics edition, with a cover design from David Pearson that's among the best we've ever seen.

Steve McQueen's Racing Helmet

Worn for both racing and filming, Steve McQueen's Racing Helmet is both an iconic piece of memorabilia and perhaps the most personal McQueen collectible available. Painted for McQueen by Von Dutch, the Bell helmet was on McQueen's head as he raced in the Gulf Porsche at Sebring and Holtville in 1970. He then wore it during the filming of Le Mans, preserving the image of McQueen donning it forever in celluloid. The helmet remains in good condition for its age, with its signature stripes, graphics, and "MCQUEEN" lettering still in tact.

1972 Nike Moon Shoe

Named after its signature (and now deteriorating) tread that resembled the footprints left behind by astronauts, this 1972 Nike Moon Shoe is a rare relic. Handmade by Geoff Hollister under the direction of Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, they were worn in that year's Olympic Trials by marathoner Bruce Mortenson, and were one of just a dozen pairs made. The nylon uppers were imported from Japan, the now-iconic Swooshes attached with fishing line, and the outsole cut, glued, and stitched by hand, making these a truly unique piece of sneaker history.

Photos: Unrah/Jones

Nikon 1 Vintage Camera

Offered from the collection of Japanese collector Tad Soto, this Nikon 1 Vintage Camera isn't just "vintage": it's the earliest known surviving production Nikon in the world. Just the third ever made — it dates to April, 1948 — it's in remarkably good condition, arriving with its original Nikkor-H 2/5cm lens and matching cap. It also still has its original shutter, original "Made in Occupied Japan" baseplate, and original double-strap carrying case. An extremely rare piece of still-functional photographic history.

Batpod

It's not quite as recognizable as the Tumbler from which it emerged, but the Batpod is certainly close. Created by The Dark Knight production designer Nathan Crowley and crafted by special-effects supervisor Chris Corbould, this unique motorcycle was one of only six built for use during filming. It has a custom-made chassis, Hoosier racing tires, and a Honda 750 engine, and is outfitted with faux barrels on the front, fiberglass body panels to cover most of the working components, and black foam padding for comfort. It arrives with a metal display stand and Warner Bros. certificate of authenticity, and lest you get any vigilante ideas of your own, it's in "rolling-only" condition, with all its fluids, battery, fuel tank, and throttle controls removed.

James Bond's Pre-Daytona Chronograph Watch

George Lazenby's infamous turn as the world's most famous secret agent nearly tanked the franchise. Yet his timepiece might be the most valuable to have ever graced 007's wrist. James Bond's Pre-Daytona Chronograph Watch was worn by Lazenby in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but that's not its only claim to fame. Eon Productions special ordered it for the film, requesting a red second hand as opposed to the standard stainless steel, as it plays a key role in one of the movie's scenes. As a result, it's the only reference 6238 in the world with this detail, and is made all the more desirable by the fact that it's in excellent condition.

Michael Jordan's Dream Team Sneakers

Finding a pair of original Olympic Air Jordan VIIs is hard enough, with their red, white, blue, and gold color scheme and telltale "9" on the back. Finding a pair that was actual worn by His Airness? Nearly impossible, yet that's exactly what Michael Jordan's Dream Team Sneakers are. Sourced by another member of the Dream Team who wished to remain anonymous, these shoes saw a lot of action during the 1992 games in Barcelona, and have the abrasions to prove it. At the time, the shoes were made specifically for Jordan to wear during the games, and while Nike has since reissued the style, none of those had the privilege of launching through the air on the feet of the GOAT as he and his teammates ran roughshod over the rest of the world.

Lucky Strike Spy Camera

It never did see active duty, but that doesn't make this Lucky Strike Spy Camera any less desirable. Crafted for the U.S. Signal Corps around 1950 and one of only two ever made, it was built to fit inside the wrapper from a pack of Lucky Strikes, and has a f/2.7 17.5mm Sonnar-type lens, set behind a four-speed focal plane shutter. You could take up to 18 exposures per roll of 16mm film, and to get the most out of them, the camera was accompanied by light meter masquerading as an Ohio Safety match box.

The Beatles White Album Pressing No. 0000001

Some regard it among the best albums ever made. Others think it's too disjointed. Regardless, it's one of the most important albums ever recorded, and now you can own the first copy ever pressed. The Beatles White Album Pressing No. 0000001 was given to Ringo Starr upon the album's completion, with the other three band members receiving Nos. 0000002-4. It was pressed from the very first masters (as indicated by the -1 matrix numbers), has "Factory Sample Not For Sale" stickers on both discs, and, since it was stored in a bank vault for 35 years, is in pristine condition, as are the pack-in portrait photos and lyric poster. A piece of rock history that would be the highlight of any collection, with proceeds going to benefit the Lotus Foundation.

James Bond's Rolex Submariner Buzzsaw Watch

On screen, the bezel of James Bond's Rolex Submariner Buzzsaw Watch could cut through rope. In real life it doesn't — but that doesn't make it any less desirable. Starting life as a 1972 Submariner reference 5513, the watch was modified by legendary production designer Syd Cain and worn by Roger Moore in the classic 007 film Live and Let Die. Its caseback is signed "Roger Moore 007", and it comes with three black and white stills and various other memorabilia. Sadly, the movement was taken out, so it can't tell time, the bullet-deflecting, dress-removing magnetic field was just a gag, and it's already sold, so unless you have more than $365,000 to pay the current owner, you probably won't be wearing it to this week's wannabe super spy meeting.

Kurt Cobain's Unplugged Cardigan

The defining performance of an iconic — and tragically short — career, Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York is still considered among the best live performances ever recorded. Now you can own a piece of this historic set with Kurt Cobain's Unplugged Cardigan. Made by the brand Manhattan, it's a vintage green blend of acrylic, mohair and Lycra in medium, with a five-button front closure and two front pockets, one of which has a burn hole and some discoloration that does nearly as much to prove its authenticity as the included certificate.

Eames Splint

FIRST SEEN IN UNCRATE MAGAZINE — During World War II, the U.S. Navy commissioned Charles Eames to create a lightweight leg splint to replace the heavy, unwieldy metal splints of the period. A forerunner for the influential work that Eames would later bring to the furniture industry, this sculptural solution is now regarded as a piece of practical art.

Artifact: Oakley Eyeshades

If you're like most of us, you were probably introduced to Oakley via their casual Frogskins, or perhaps the M-Frame glasses that seemed ubiquitous among MLB players of the '90s. But the Oakley Eyeshades came first. From his garage in 1980, where he was using a new material called Unobtainium to make motocross grips that actually increased grip when exposed to moisture, Oakley founder Jim Jannard decided to make a radical new motorcross goggle design with a later-patented cylindrical-shaped lens. Next on his list? Sunglasses.

Jannard used the same single-lens design from his goggles for the new shades, along with the Unobtainium technology, guaranteeing a secure fit. The lenses themselves were made from an optically-pure synthetic material called Plutonite that was lightweight, boasted stout impact resistance, and filtered out 100% of all UV. If all that sounds familiar, it's because the company still relies on the material today. The Eyeshades also sported innovations like non-slip hydrophilic nosepieces and adjustable earstems.

Launched in 1984, American cyclist Greg LeMond was one of the first to adopt the new Oakley Eyeshades, a fact made more interesting because most Tour de France cyclists shunned eye protection at the time. Following LeMond's second-place finish in the 1985 tour, the glasses became must-have equipment for a host of other riders, cementing Eyeshades as an icon of sport sunglasses. From there, a stampede of other athletes and weekend warriors joined the Oakley bandwagon.

While you can't buy an original pair of Eyeshades — the ones we photographed live at Oakley HQ, inside the metal briefcase of company historian and former motocross rider Mike Bell — you can now pick up a collectors edition of these historic sunglasses, complete with "2014" inside the frame, improved nose pad constructions and two sets of earstems.

Presented by Oakley. Watch Oakley's story of disruptive design, narrated by Kevin Spacey, here.