conrad

This reproduction was made by A-B Emblem in conjunction with Gene Dorr as a series of historically accurate crew patch reproductions. 

This edition of the A-B Emblem Gemini XI patch was produced on the 40th anniversary of the mission by A-B Emblem. While it accurately reproduces the original artwork, it varies slightly from the patches as flown by the crew. 

The wider, taller typeface for the names gives this patch away.

This Apollo 12 patch is part of a set of modern reproduction Apollo patches produced by Cape Kennedy Medals.

Unknown maker, distinct ship trail.

Slightly different than another Swissartex Apollo 12 patch.

Fully-embroidered Apollo 12 patch that lacks much detail. Bare cloth back.

Fully-embroidered, bare cloth back.

Can be sometimes found in a commemorative envelope.

Skylab 1 (also SL-2 and SLM-1) was the first manned mission to Skylab, the first U.S. orbital space station. The mission was launched on a Saturn IB rocket and carried a three-person crew to the station. The name Skylab 2 also refers to the vehicle used for that mission. The Skylab 2 mission established a record for human spaceflight duration. 

Is is possible that the Wolf-Brown patches are repackacked A-B Emblem patches.

Skylab 2 (also SL-2 and SLM-1) was the first manned mission to Skylab, the first U.S. orbital space station. The mission was launched on a Saturn IB rocket and carried a three-person crew to the station. The name Skylab 2 also refers to the vehicle used for that mission. The Skylab 2 mission established a record for human spaceflight duration. 

The A-B Emblem version is available with both cloth and plastic-coated backs.

I have never seen this particular line of Lion Brothers' Apollo emblems before. Marketed under their "Put-Ons" emblems line, Lion Brothers produced these Apollo 11, Apollo 12, Apollo 13 and Apollo 14 patches. There may be others, but these are the only one's I have seen. Had these not been in their original packaging, they would probably have not been able to be associated with Lion Brothers.

The real tell here is the use of "+" stitching to create the trail of the Intrepid and the distinct, lizard-skin like lunar surface.

This patch appared on eBay and was allegedly purchased at the Smithsonian. Distinct stitching and border colors set this patch apart. Only uses 4 colors. 4"

This Apollo 12 has a distinct, "flat" apperance with very little, only stylistic craters on the moon. Modern style stitching.

This Apollo 12 patch features crude stitching and a particularly distinct lunar surface. 

This is the Apollo 12 patch featured in the Willabee and Ward space emblem collection. It closely resembles the "quarantine crew patch", however, the crew patch was not made by A-B Emblem, but Dallas Cap and Emblem. The back anchor threads differs widely from the standard A-B Emblem souvenir version.  

This is an uncommon Swissartex produced version of the Apollo 12 patch.

It has a plastic coated back. 

Worn by the crew on their recovery suits. Very rare. 

Also feature a unique star pattern. 4"

Worn by the crew on board the Mobile Quarantine Facility. Identified by the unique star pattern.

Produced by Dallas Cap & Emblem.

This version is what is alegedly called the "All Navy" version by Pete Conrad. There is no white border along the outer blue edge, but another gold border. 

Very scarce. Unknown maker.

This is the common 4" souvenir version from A-B Emblems. Some color variations on the lunar stitching may be present between patches, but not as bad as the 3" version.

This Apollo 12 patch is the most commonly seen 3" version from A-B Emblem. They seemed to have been a bit loose over time with the colors of threads used on the lunar surface as great variations between issues can be seen, often directly inversing the colors from one to the other. 

Twill background. 

Part of a set of 3" souvenir patches that are embroidered with the date of the milestone. 

Cheesecloth back, unknown maker.

The agena on this patch is particularly elongated and the stars are stitched very distinctively.

Collected as a set with other 3" Mercury and Gemini patches. This set of patches, while at first glance appear to be regular A-B Emblem 3" souvenir versions, actually have some distinct oddities that set them apart. They all have cheesecloth backs.

Collected as a set with other 3" Mercury and Gemini patches. This set of patches, while at first glance appear to be regular A-B Emblem 3" souvenir versions, actually have some distinct oddities that set them apart. They all have cheesecloth backs.

Fully embroidered with radial stiching, which is unique for a 3" version of this patch. Stars resemble the 4" A-B Emblem version. Very rough stitching for the sail shadows.

This patch was collected in a set of other 3" patches, also dissimilar from "original" A-B Emblem issues. 

I am going to tag this collection with the "apollounk2" tag. Leading candidate is Cape Kennedy Medals based on the Apollo 17 patch in this set being a CKM patch.

This patch is a member of a set of Apollo patches that, while closely resemble A-B Emblem's 3" set, have several identifiable differences that set them apart. The packaging is plain and says "Swiss Embroidered Emblem" and sold for $0.98.

This Lion Brother's version of their Apollo 12 lacks the hallmark "12" in the Intrepid's path. It also features horizonal gold border instead of the radial of the hallmarked version.

Produced in both cloth-backed and plastic backed form by Cape Kennedy Medals. Prior to 2014 they were pretty hard to find, but the explosion of Cape Kennedy Medals patches onto the market in bulk form has made them more readily available. 

Similar to the A-B Emblem 40th Gemini XI anniversery version (with the yellow outline on the Agena and Gemini capsule) but differs in many other ways.

This Gemini XI patch is designed like the actual patch which the astronauts wore into space. Souvenir versions lack the detail or the star between the astronaut's names. The patch is readily distinguished by the star on the astronaut's chest and jaggy appearance of the Agena unit.
Reproduction by Eagle One Aerospace