Need some scifi gift suggestions for an upcoming graduation, Bar Mitzvah, or wedding? I came across a treasure trove of scifi, space, video games and geek memorabilia that you’ll want to dig through. F’rinstance – if you’re into video games, you might be interested in Allan Alcorn’s ‘Pong’ prototype, sold back in 2022 for $270K.
Space Gifts
Or are you a space nerd? Check out Gene Cernan’s Apollo 17 Flown Lunar Surface-Used EVA-1 Cuff Checklist, sold for $375K last September. If you don’t have ~$400K to burn, maybe you’ll want Neil Armstrong’s Signed Rogers Commission (Challenger Disaster Investigation) ID Badge, sold for $20K in October. For the discerning bargain hunter, there’s the STS-41-D Mission Chart – the first mission of Space Shuttle Discovery, launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on August 30, 1984 – yours for only $138.
Geeky Stuff
Maybe you’re into geeky war artifacts. Here’s Paul Tibbets’s Flown Cigarette Case from the Enola Gay. What if you’re into spy tech? You can purchase your very own 1935 Enigma I cipher machine used by the German military in WWII. This piece is a a literal steal, the Germans wouldn’t let one go without a fight – yours for only $212,500. You may also be interested in the SSTR-1, also known as TR-1 – act now, they’re going fast (actual piece was sold in 2023 for $920)!
Scifi Gifts
‘Bah – I came here looking for *real* scifi gift ideas!’ I’m with you friend, that’s why I want to tell you about a hand-written letter by Charles Babbage. Or how about some Ed Wood scifi stuff? Would the the premiere issue of Wired magazine with Bruce Sterling on the cover interest you? Maybe the printers’ proof test sheet of the first Star Wars movie poster? The options are endless!
One of these days, I’ll be rich enough to buy something like this off of my book sales. Until then, a scifi man can dream …
Write on!
