2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the first time man set foot on the moon. Three years after the landing, Nike released what it dubbed its Moon Shoe. Though the shoe wasn’t a part of the Apollo 11’s endeavor, it got its name from the waffle-like pattern that the NASA moonwalk shoe left imprinted on the moon’s surface way back in 1969.
The original Nike Moon Shoe is a track shoe that serves as an archetype for the modern sneaker. Its rubber sole was designed to fit tightly against the foot for increased athletic performance. The lightweight yet durable design became a staple of Nike’s, serving served as the template for many different sneakers in the years to come, propelling the brand toward its iconic status.
In celebration of the giant leap mankind took fifty years ago, Sotheby’s will be auctioning off the original Nike Moon Shoe. The event marks the very first all-shoe auction hosted by the auction house. Nike’s size 12.5 Moon Shoe is being billed as a chance to own a piece of history. Despite its heavily worn condition, the historical significance of this item is expected to fetch bids between $110,000 and $160,000.
Other Shoes to be auctioned off include a number of classic Air Jordans, plus several variations of the Nike MAG Back To The Future: Part II Shoe. While Sotheby’s catalog of rare shoes will make for an exciting auction, the Nike Moon Shoe is sure to be its most sought after item.