47th Annual International Astronautical Congress

A letter and signed card from Dr. Frederick Ira Ordway III to Dr. Leslie Robert Shepherd from the 47th Annual Congress of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) which was held in Bejing China in 1996. Both the sender and recipient were noted scientist in their respective fields. Dr. Ordway worked on the production team for 2001: A Space Odyssey as a scientific consultant which is notable as Arthur C. Clarke signed the card which was included as a present to the recipient Dr. Shepherd who did not attend the conference. Clarke is also mentioned in the letter by name. Dr. Shepherd was the former president of the British Interplanetary Society where Clarke served as Chairman. An interesting letter with excellent provenance for the many signatures, most notably that of Sir Arthur C. Clarke.