RR Auction

RR Auction is one of America's premier auction houses for historical autographs, space memorabilia, rare manuscripts, and significant artifacts. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the firm has conducted over 600 auctions since its founding and has established itself as the definitive marketplace for space exploration artifacts, a category that has experienced explosive growth over the past decade. With a client base spanning the globe and a track record of record-breaking sales, RR Auction occupies a unique position at the intersection of history, science, and collecting. The company traces its origins to 1976, when a 19-year-old named Bob Eaton purchased $1,800 worth of sports memorabilia, including a Babe Ruth baseball and Red Sox World Series programs, with help from his grandfather. Eaton proceeded to sell the items for ten times his purchase price, igniting a passion for the collectibles business that would eventually grow into one of America's most successful specialty auction houses. In 1980, Eaton formally launched the company by sending out his first mailing list of items available for sale from Newton Centre, Massachusetts. The transition from retail sales to auctioning came in 1995, and in 2004, RR Auction launched online bidding, opening their sales to a worldwide audience. The pivotal moment in RR Auction's evolution came in 2010 when the firm ventured into space-related memorabilia, beginning with a headset worn by astronaut Charlie Duke. The category proved to be a perfect fit for the firm's expertise and client base, and RR Auction quickly became the dominant player in the space memorabilia market. Since adopting the category, the firm has generated over $60 million in total space-related sales, handling artifacts from every era of the American space program, from the Mercury missions through the Apollo moon landings and the Space Shuttle era. RR Auction's record-breaking space sales include some of the most significant artifacts to reach the market. In 2022, astronaut Wally Schirra's 18K gold Omega Speedmaster Professional 1969 Apollo 11 commemorative watch sold for $1.9 million. Moonwalker Dave Scott's watch achieved $1.625 million, while Edgar Mitchell's Apollo 14 flown Rolex GMT-Master Pepsi watch realized $2.16 million. These results demonstrate the extraordinary values that historically significant space artifacts can achieve when presented by a firm with deep expertise and the right buyer base. Beyond space memorabilia, RR Auction maintains strong departments in historical autographs, rare manuscripts, pop culture artifacts, and fine memorabilia across many categories. The firm has achieved remarkable prices for items spanning American history, science, music, and technology. An Apple II instruction manual signed by Steve Jobs sold for $787,484, setting the world record for a Steve Jobs signed item. Presidential autographs, letters by Einstein, Darwin, and other scientific figures, and signed documents from Civil War generals regularly appear in the firm's sales. RR Auction conducts both live and timed online auctions throughout the year. Their timed auctions typically run for several weeks, allowing bidders ample time to research lots and place their bids. The firm's website provides detailed lot descriptions, high-resolution photography, and provenance information for every item offered. Their authentication process is rigorous, with in-house experts examining every autograph and artifact before it reaches the auction block. For items of particular significance, the firm engages third-party authentication services to provide additional assurance to buyers. The buying process at RR Auction is designed to be straightforward and accessible. Registration is free and can be completed online in minutes. Bidders can participate from anywhere in the world through the firm's website, with real-time bidding updates and automatic notifications. The firm also accepts phone bids and absentee bids for those who prefer not to bid online. RR Auction charges a 25% buyer's premium on all lots sold in both timed and live auctions. An additional 3% processing fee applies to credit and debit card payments through Authorize.net. For sellers, the firm offers free consignment evaluations and competitive commission rates. Their monthly auction schedule and active buyer base ensure that consigned material reaches the market quickly and is seen by the right collectors. The firm's expertise extends to appraisal services for insurance, estate, and donation purposes. Their team of specialists can evaluate autographs, manuscripts, space memorabilia, and historical artifacts, providing written appraisals that meet the requirements of insurance companies, the IRS, and estate attorneys. RR Auction has built its reputation on three pillars: deep subject-matter expertise, particularly in space memorabilia and historical autographs; rigorous authentication standards that give buyers confidence; and a loyal, global collector base that drives strong competitive bidding. For anyone considering buying or selling historically significant autographs, space artifacts, or rare memorabilia, RR Auction represents one of the strongest marketplaces available. Frequently asked questions about RR Auction include whether they offer immediate purchase options outside of auctions (yes, through their private sales division), whether their authentication extends to all categories (yes, with specialized experts for autographs, space items, and historical documents), and whether international shipping is available (yes, with full insurance and secure packaging worldwide).