Gemini 7

An embroidered patch based on the Gemini 7 mission emblem artwork (shown below left) can be seen on the sleeve of Lovell's lightweight space suit and on the jacket of the suit tech in a photo (S65-61756) taken during the suiting-up for the flight. The patch is also visible in a black and white photo of Lovell prior to entering the spacecraft.

In addition to this version, patches with an enlarged design. incorporating the mission and crew names. were carried on the flight as mementos. This version is recognized today as the Crew Souvenir patch.

The Crew Patches

Gemini 7 Crew Patch

Worn by crew?

Yes. The crew wore these patches on their space suits during the mission.

Flown?

Yes. Worn on their space suits.

Manufacturer:

Unknown.

Distribution:

Likely limited to the crew and NASA.

Dimensions:

Approx. 3" / 76mm

Type:

Fully embroidered. Merrowed edge?

Scarcity:

Extremely rare. Only one unflown example sold in last few years.

Value:

The only unflown example sold in recent years fetched $1652^[1]

The original crew patch is actually slightly oval in shape, being slightly wider than it is tall. The execution of the design is rather poor on this patch, with the torch in particular having a mis-aligned handle and a misshapen top that makes the whole thing look more like a burning hairdryer than a flaming torch.

Gemini 7 Crew Souvenir Patch

Worn by crew?

Yes, but some time after the mission.

Flown?

Yes. Examples were carried as souvenirs on the flight^[2].

Manufacturer:

Unknown.

Distribution:

Likely limited to the crew and NASA.

Dimensions:

3¾" / 96mm

Type:

Partially embroidered on blue twill. Stitched border with cut edge.

Scarcity:

Extremely rare. Only three unflown examples sold in the last few years.

Value:

The only examples sold in recent years fetched $619, $810 and $1045^[3].

This distinctive design was the one carried by the crew on the flight as souvenirs. Unflown examples were also sometimes mounted alongside flown flags and heatshield fragments in official NASA presentations, and Borman wore one on his blue flight suit in 1967 during training for the Apollo 8 mission, as visible in S67-15466.

The center of the patch is a very good representation of the mission insignia artwork, with the handle of the torch running straight through the hand (unlike in the crew version). The mission name and crew names were added around the central artwork.

The distinctive appearance of the reverse of the backing cloth of this patch indicates that it was likely produced by the same manufacturer as the Gemini 5 Crew Souvenir patch, the GTA-6 Crew Patch, and the Gemini 11 Crew patch.

Other Embroidered Mission Patches

Crew Souvenir patch replica

Worn by crew?

No.

Flown?

No.

Manufacturer:

A-B Emblem

Distribution:

Available commercially.

Dimensions:

3¾" / 96mm

Type:

Partially embroidered on blue twill. Stitched border with cut edge.

Scarcity:

Limited production run.

Value:

On sale at $15.

This is a high quality replica of the exceptionally rare Gemini 7 Crew Souvenir patch, produced for me by AB Emblem in late 2010. They are now available from A-B Emblem directly here.

AB Emblem 2010 Replica patch

Worn by crew?

No.

Flown?

No.

Manufacturer:

A-B Emblem

Distribution:

Available commercially.

Dimensions:

Approx 3" / 75mm

Type:

Partially embroidered on dark blue twill. Stitched border with cut edge.

Scarcity:

Limited production run.

Value:

On sale at approx $7.

A high quality modern replica of the Gemini 7 crew patch, produced by AB Emblem in 2010 in collaboration with Gene Dorr.

Eagle One Aerospace Replica patch

Worn by crew?

No.

Flown?

No.

Manufacturer:

Eagle One Aerospace / Cargo Bay Emblems.

Distribution:

Was available commercially.

Dimensions:

3⅓" / 84mm

Type:

Partially embroidered on blue twill. Stitched border with cut edge.

Scarcity:

Uncommon.

Value:

Unknown.

A fair replica of the Crew Patch with markedly different details.

AB Emblem souvenir patch

Worn by crew?

No.

Flown?

No.

Manufacturer:

A-B Emblem.

Distribution:

Sold commercially.

Dimensions:

Approx. 3" / 75mm.

Type:

Partially embroidered on black twill. Merrowed edge with 'tail'.

Scarcity:

Common.

Value:

Minimal value.

The AB Emblem souvenir patch for the mission adds the crew names at the top of the patch.

Footnotes

[1] Sales of Crew patches:
Goldberg Space Auction lot no. 1098 Jul 10, 2011 sold at $1652 [ex Al Rochford, suit tech]

[2] Sales of flown Crew Souvenir patches:
      Heritage Auctions Sep 21, 2007 lot 25072 at $4780 (inc buyer's fees) FLOWN (JL)
      Heritage Auctions Apr 21, 2010 lot 41024 at $3585 (inc buyer's fees) FLOWN (JL)
      Heritage Fall 2011 Space sale lot 410022 Nov 30 2011 sold at $2,210.75 FLOWN (JL)
      Heritage Auction lot 40067 May 14 2014 sold at $2750 FLOWN (JL)
      Bonhams Space Auction Apr 21, 2015 Lot 38 at $5,250 FLOWN (TS)
      RRAuction Nov 16, 2017 lot 9149 sold at $6,158 FLOWN (JL)
      Heritage Auction Dec 6, 2024 Lot 50018 sold at $3,125 [FLOWN by JL]

[3] Sales of unflown Crew Souvenir patches:
      eBay item no. 150267888226 sold at $810 Jul 16, 2008.
      Lunar Legacies Space Auction lot no. 72 sold Jul 11, 2009 at $1045 (inc buyer's fees).
      Goldberg Space Auction lot no. 1099 Jul 10, 2011 sold at $619.50 [ex Al Rochford, suit tech]
      RR Auction lot 426 Apr 22, 2014 sold at $437.33 (unflown, mounted with Shepard ISP)