Three scarce views of planet Mercury taken on the first ever approach by robotic probe Mariner 10, intended for immediate release by NASA Mariner 10, 28-19 Mar 1974Three gelatin silver prints on fibre-based paper, with NASA captions dated and numbered on the verso (P-14460, P-14463 and P-14464)Footnotes:Mariner 10, launched in November 1973, was the first ever spacecraft to visit the innermost planet and make close observations and photograph nearly 50% of its cratero surface. These photographs were taken during the first of three flybys by Mariner 10; therefore these images are among the first views of the planet sent by a probe. Illtrated: Chaikin, Space, p. 147