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First man in outer space: in a Soviet Union newspaper...
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First man in outer space: in a Soviet Union newspaper...

Item # 715908 ·

KOMCOMONBCKAR NPABAA,  Soviet Union newspaper, April 13, 1961

  • Yuri Gagarin - Vostok 1 - Soviet cosmonaut
  • 1st human into outer space (1st report)
  • Best publication to be had ? (very rare)

Yuri Gagarin was the first person to travel into outer space, which he did on his historic flight the day previous.
Heralded as a major achievement in the rush to space (America lagged behind at this point: Alan Shepard's achievement was on May 5), it made headlines around the world.
But this is a newspaper from the Soviet Union on this notable event, featuring a large photo of Gagarin on the front page. 
Given their use of the Cyrillic alphabet, translation is difficult online. We believe this to be complete in 4 pages, but cannot confirm. It is likely an "extra" edition as the focus of all 4 pages seems to focus on this event. In great condition.

Background: The April 13, 1961 issue of Komsomolskaya Pravda stands as a monumental artifact of Cold War history, capturing the exact moment humanity crossed the threshold into the Space Age with Yuri Gagarin’s 108-minute orbit aboard Vostok 1 on April 12. Dominated by a striking portrait of the 27-year-old cosmonaut and bold Cyrillic headlines declaring "ЧЕЛОВЕК В КОСМОСЕ!" ("MAN IN SPACE!") and "12 апреля 1961 года — ТОВАРИЩ, ЗАПОМНИ ЭТОТ ДЕНЬ!" ("Comrade, remember this day!"), the front page frames the flight not merely as a technological triumph, but as an ideological masterpiece for the Soviet Union. Beyond its immediate reporting of the TASS news agency statements and Gagarin’s mid-flight promotion from Senior Lieutenant to Major by Nikita Khrushchev, the newspaper's significance lies in its raw, unfiltered capture of Soviet soft-power dominance—striking a decisive blow in the Space Race nearly a month before the United States launched Alan Shepard into space.

Category: The 20th Century
Price
$298
100% Authentic: Original printing, never a reproduction.