Description:

Kosygin Alexei 1904 - 1980

Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin sends 1972 holiday wishes to U.N. Chairman U Thant two weeks before the Burmese diplomat's retirement.

Holiday card in Russian Cyrillic with companion envelope, the card within signed "Kosygin - " in blue ball point pen in bottom right corner of right side. The glossy white bifold card is embossed "1972" on the front in gold lettering and spangled with stylized stars. It opens to reveal a multicolored print of the Kremlin on a silk sheath at left, and seasonal greetings at right. At the top of the right side, a gilt embossed globe crowned by an enormous hammer and sickle is encircled with ribbon wrapped laurel leaves. The card is in near fine condition, with a few superficial marks and a staple impression at right. The silk print is near fine, except for an isolated fold along the right side. The card measures 5" x 7.25" closed and 10" x 7.25" opened.

The envelope, postmarked from Moscow on December 15, 1971, features the recipient's in Russian at left, and U Thant's address in English as "New-York, H.E., U Than, UN Secretary General" at right. In near fine condition with minor expected wear including a staple impression and letter-opened top.

In late 1971, Alexei Kosygin (1904-1980) was about halfway through his sixteen-year tenure as Premier of the Soviet Union. Kosygin had a long history with the Communist Party. He fought for the Red Army during the Russian Civil War, gained valuable industrial administration experience in Siberia during the 1920s, and served in the Politburo after World War II. Kosygin's abilities were soon recognized by then Premier Josef Stalin (1878-1953). After Stalin's death, Kosygin supported Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971) and replaced the latter as Premier in 1964. Kosygin focused on stabilizing Soviet and foreign relations during this period; Kosygin signed the Iraqi-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation a year after sending this card to U Thant.

U Thant and Kosygin were roughly the same age and had served about the same length of time in high political office. U Thant (1909-1974), a Burmese diplomat, served as 3rd Secretary General of the United Nations between 1961 and 1971. Even more than Kosygin, U Thant recognized the critical importance of maintaining good relations between countries. U Thant mediated many mid-twentieth-century conflicts, like the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and conflicts in Africa and the Middle East. U Thant officially retired from his post of Chairman of the United Nations on December 31, 1971, just two weeks after receiving this holiday card from Alexei Kosygin. He would die of lung cancer two years later.

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