Schirra Notebook. A red spiral bound notebook, 3 x 5 in. with over 30 pages of hand-written notes. On 3 April 1959, Wally Schirra had an operation to remove a benign polyp from his vocal cords with medical orders not to talk until April 7. The first page begins with: "Can't talk, vocal cord operation, Stand-by - I can write." Other pages include details on the operation: "...the day NASA called me about my throat - Dr. Taylor was at Annapolis and an Admiral called him and said operate on Schirra tonight! He said they must be in a hurry to shoot you to the moon!" Offers a rare insight to the life of an astronaut just days before the public announcement of the selection of the seven Mercury astronauts on April 9, 1959. INSCRIBED AND SIGNED BY SCHIRRA on front cover with: "My non speaking days!". [With:] Typed letter signed by Schirra. (2)