Charles A Knotek (American, 1933 - 2008) "First Man Reaches the Moon" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original painting which was published on the MIPS First Day Cover for the Marshall Islands 80c First Men on Moon stamp issued May 15, 2001. "The 'Eagle' has landed!" Millions of people on Earth thrilled to the joyful words of Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong when the famous Lunar Module landed safely on the surface of the Moon. Guided manually by Armstrong, the "Eagle" touched down on a plain near the southern edge of the Sea of Tranquility. On July 20,1969, at 10:56 p.m., EDT, Armstrong lowered himself from the ladder attached to the "Eagle," becoming the first man to walk on the Moon. Armstrong's first words as he walked on the moon poignantly capture that historic moment -- "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Fellow astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin's soon followed from the LM, and the two men began setting up scientific instruments, taking photographs, and collecting rocks and moon dust. After 2 hours and 36 minutes on the Moon, Armstrong and Aldrin lifted off in the "Eagle" to rendezvous with Michael Collins in the command module Columbia , and began the journey back to Earth. Image Size: 12.75 x 16.25 in. Overall Size: 15 x 20 in. Unframed. (B99055)