Description:

Yuri Gagarin
[Warsaw, Poland], ca. April 27, 1961
Yuri Gagarin Signed Polish FDC Dated 2 Weeks After 1st Human Space Flight
Signed FDC

A Polish First Day Cover envelope commemorating the First Human Space Flight on April 12, 1962, boldly signed by cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (1934-1968) in Cyrillic letters near the top center. The postmark is dated April 27, 1961. [Warsaw, Poland.] The envelope features a dramatic cachet of Gagarin shown beaming up into the sky in a stylized space capsule at right, with the Polish heading "Czlowiek w Kosmosie," or, "Man in Space" below. Affixed with two cancelled commemorative Polish stamps, one for 40 groszy and one for 60 groszy, in the postage section. Blank and never used, with the envelope-sealing glue still untouched and intact verso. Expected wear including gentle toning and negligible cropping to the bottom corners, else near fine. 6.25" x 4.375."

Yuri Gagarin was a trained Soviet Air Force pilot and officer who was handpicked in 1960 to test into the new Soviet space program, later becoming one of the program's top candidates, called the Sochi 6. Gagarin's psychological and physical endurance, as well as his small statue (5'2"), made him an ideal candidate for future space missions. Gagarin broke records when he successfully manned the Vostok I space capsule into outer space on April 12, 1961. He made a full orbit around Earth lasting 108 minutes before parachuting into the atmosphere at 23,000 feet.

Gagarin was extensively feted in the Soviet Union and throughout the Eastern Bloc satellite states, including Poland; indeed, his tremendous aeronautical feat was celebrated around the world. The cosmonaut was enlisted to undertake a world tour, or "Peace Mission," in the months following his historic Vostok I mission. Between May and December 1961, Gagarin visited the United Kingdom, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Canada, Egypt, India, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, France, Cuba, Brazil, and Mexico, and received invitations to more than a dozen other nations. Gagarin's official tour of Poland lasted from July 20-22, 1961.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 6.375" x 4.375"
  • Medium: Signed FDC

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