lunar surface artifact with a complex history.
This is one of the postal covers not reported to NASA by the crew as flown on the mission, thus not authorized by NASA. A group of these covers was postmarked the morning of 26 July 1971, vacuumed packed, stored a in fire-proof Beta bag, then presented to Commander David Scott and stored in one of his space suit pockets.
A corner is stamped: "This envelope was carried to the moon aboard the Apollo 15. # 109 (in ink) of 300 to the lunar surface in L.M. 'Falcon.'" Some of the population of these flown covers has the "3" in 300 changed to "4" (400) by an ink notation.
Part of the unauthorized group of covers were sent to a European dealer and unexpectedly sold just after the Apollo 15 mission. During the summer of 1972 the story finally came to the attention of the world press. NASA launched an investigation and confiscated the remaining covers. NASA stated at the time: "The Apollo 15 crew exercised poor judgment in their actions. Therefore, Astronauts Scott, Worden and Irwin will be reprimanded and their actions given due consideration in their selection for future assignment." This effectively ended both their NASA and Air Force careers.
In the early 1980s, the Apollo 15 crew was able to regain ownership from NASA. The crew then signed a notarized affidavit dated 19 July 1983 telling the story and certifying that this cover was indeed flown to the lunar surface, is serial number 109, and has the NASA confiscated serial number 289 on the reverse. signed by scott, worden, and irwin.