Zippo Apollo 11 Lighter Got Collectors Fired Up

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By RC Staff

06 April 2023

50 years after the Moon Landing, Zippo has kept the memory alive with their Apollo 11th 50 Year Anniversary Lighter. These commemorative lighters were named Zippo’s Collectible of the Year, and are numbered out of 14,000. Both Zippo collector and fans of space exploration appreciated the lighter, and it sold out in under a week. Since then, prices for secondhand lighters have risen to three or more times over retail.

What is the Zippo Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Lighter?

While Zippo’s 2019 commemorative lighter has drawn considerable buzz, it’s not their first lighter based on the Apollo 11 mission. Actually, Zippo has a very long history with NASA missions. Their first Apollo 11 lighter was released on July 20th, 1969, the very date of the Moon Landing.

Since then, Zippo has traditionally released a new commemorative lighter for every tenth year anniversary of the Moon Landing. These tend to be moderately popular with Zippo collectors. Because of their broad production, however, they usually don’t resell for much.

In 2019, Zippo flipped the script for their 50th anniversary lighter. They used a special “Galaxy” finish to coat the lighters, which is a deep, satin black flecked with pieces of iridescent metal. This combination effectively evokes images of a vast, star-filled sky.

The Astronaut figure cradling the Earth is carved directly into the lighter, while the Moon’s surface was created using Zippo’s newest technique: Texture Printing. The lighter itself is crafted from thicker metal than other Zippos, giving it a noticeable heft and bulk in the hand, as well as greater durability.

Perhaps most importantly for the 50th Anniversary Lighter’s long-term value is its serialization. Every commemorative lighter has its serial number laser engraved on the bottom, numbered out of 14,000.

With so much attention paid to these lighters, they stood out, even from previous Moon Landing Zippos. Unfortunately, the high quality and potential collectability led to them selling out, with online stock running out for U.S. buyers in under a week. It would take several months for overseas stock to deplete, and collectors reported sporadically finding lighters for sale at retail locations.

Did the Zippo 2019 Moon Landing Lighter resell?

Yes, Zippo’s 2019 Moon Landing lighters would resell well. However, if you have experience with reselling, you might be surprised by that, considering they made 14,000. While that is definitely on the high side for collectability, Zippo collecting is quite extensive, and these lighters were extremely desirable.

Zippo produces a significant amount of lighters each year but rarely numbers them. Despite the relatively high production, the unique design and serialization made them highly popular. After selling out online, collectors would turn to resellers for their own Moon Landing lighter.

Additionally, Zippo named the 2019 Moon Landing Lighter their Collectible of the Year to hammer the point home. A tradition that started with Zippo’s 60th anniversary in 1992, the Zippo Collectible of the Year is a way to celebrate a particular model of lighter. Collectibles of the Year do not always resell, but some of the most popular ones can be lucrative.

Just "launched" – Our 2019 Collectible of the Year celebrates the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

🌔👉 https://t.co/ggv3kjqiCx pic.twitter.com/wURdqyx7DT

— Zippo (@Zippo) March 15, 2019

Initial retail prices were around $200, after selling out at retail for $100. Nevertheless, they proved popular with Zippo collectors, who appreciated the craftsmanship behind the lighter and the continued tradition behind the Apollo 11 mission. Space enthusiasts also flocked to the anniversary lighter, with numerous blogs writing about the piece and hyping it up.

This widespread demand led to a gradual price increase, and the aftermarket for the lighters steadily increased. Currently, Zippo’s 2019 Moon Landing Lighters resell for upwards of $300. Recent sales have touched the $500 mark as well.

Remarkably, something with such significant production has managed to appreciate in value to this degree. Generally, we see this kind of increase in value with much more limited production. Think in the 1,000-5,000 range. So for Zippo to turn 14,000 and have them become more expensive over time means two things:

First, a hell of a lot of people want one. Enough that they are willing to pay hundreds of dollars over retail, in large enough numbers to sustain the current resale floor.

Second, many who bought at retail liked the lighter enough to keep it. The issue with large production runs is that people who recognize the potential value of their product will choose to flip it. If enough people do that, the resale price tanks. In the Zippo’s case, many buyers did not want to part with it, which speaks to the high quality and unique appeal of the 2019 Moon Landing Lighter.

What do you think? Is this something you thought would do well, or were you surprised? Check out our other articles if you want more items to resell. You might be surprised by the kinds of products that resell every day.