Wernher von Braun – notarized testimonial for Rudolf Nebel

Wernher von Braun – Signed Testimonial on Rudolf Nebel (1973)

Offered here is an original notarized 8x10'' testimonial hand-signed by Wernher von Braun, one of the most influential rocket engineers and space visionaries of the 20th century. Written in German and dated January 20, 1973, the document serves as an official statement on behalf of fellow rocket pioneer Rudolf Nebel.

In this testimonial, von Braun reflects on the early days of German rocketry in the 1930s, specifically referencing pioneering work with liquid-fuel rockets. He affirms Nebel’s role and contributions, noting that without Nebel’s efforts, subsequent rocket developments would never have been as successful. This acknowledgement from von Braun—himself the driving force behind the V-2 program and later NASA’s Apollo-era Saturn V—underscores Nebel’s place in the foundations of astronautics.

Rudolf Nebel, a contemporary of von Braun and a member of the early Berlin rocket scene, directed the Raketenflugplatz (Rocket Airfield) and was instrumental in popularizing spaceflight ideas during the interwar years. Though often overshadowed by von Braun, Nebel’s work laid important groundwork for the era of modern rocketry.

This notarized document is both a rare autograph of Wernher von Braun and a historically significant statement linking two of the earliest rocket pioneers. Its provenance and content make it an exceptional acquisition for advanced collectors of space history, German rocketry, or Cold War–era space exploration artifacts.