Soviet Probe Venera-3 Souvenir Presentation Globe & Medallion: Replica Of Original Dropped Over Venus!
Soviet Probe Venera-3
[Soviet Union], ca. 1965
Soviet Probe Venera-3 Souvenir Presentation Globe & Medallion: Replica Of Original Dropped Over Venus!
Relic
Truly a museum-quality Space relic! In fact, the only other example which we were able to locate was a collections piece at Moscow's Cosmonautics Museum.
This presentation piece is a replica of the one that was dropped over the planet Venus by the Soviet unmanned probe Venera-3 on March 1, 1966. Only a few dozen of these presentation pieces is believed to exist, and they were typically gifted to important Soviet scientists and other notables. [Soviet Union.] Ca. 1965. Chief Designer of the Soviet Space Program Sergei Korolev commissioned Boris E. Chertok to design the presentation piece. Expected light surface wear. Lightly scored "30" on the interior of one of the globe halves. Else near fine. An auction sticker is affixed to the underside of the base. The globe alone measures about 2.875" diameter. The globe and stand measure approximately 3.25" h. x 3.125" diameter assembled.
The presentation piece - known as a "pennant" within the highly specific context of the Soviet Space Program - gets its name from its spherical shape. The highly polished globe represents the Earth, and shows the continents. It rests in a leather- and felt-lined white metal four-pronged holder, engraved along one side in Russian as (translated): "Pennant with Shield of the U.S.S.R. Delivered to Venus on 1 March 1966." The globe unscrews along an invisible seam at its equator to reveal a commemorative medallion hidden within. On one side of the medallion is depicted the State Emblem of the U.S.S.R.; the other side, though not visible, is believed to represent the Earth-Venus flight path.
Venera-3 was launched in mid-November 1965 and traveled more than 280 million kilometers to reach the atmosphere of Venus 105 days later, on March 1, 1966. By so doing, it became the first spacecraft to successfully reach another planet. The onboard presentation piece likely crash-landed, and even though it would have been made of highly durable, heat-resistant materials, and encased within a stainless steel container in order to survive impact, it seems unlikely that the precious item survived the landing. The pennant with its medallion was meant not only to commemorate the mission, but also to convey the goodwill of the Soviet Union to whatever inhabitants might exist on Venus!
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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Soviet Probe Venera-3
[Soviet Union], ca. 1965
Soviet Probe Venera-3 Souvenir Presentation Globe & Medallion: Replica Of Original Dropped Over Venus!
Relic
Truly a museum-quality Space relic! In fact, the only other example which we were able to locate was a collections piece at Moscow's Cosmonautics Museum.
This presentation piece is a replica of the one that was dropped over the planet Venus by the Soviet unmanned probe Venera-3 on March 1, 1966. Only a few dozen of these presentation pieces is believed to exist, and they were typically gifted to important Soviet scientists and other notables. [Soviet Union.] Ca. 1965. Chief Designer of the Soviet Space Program Sergei Korolev commissioned Boris E. Chertok to design the presentation piece. Expected light surface wear. Lightly scored "30" on the interior of one of the globe halves. Else near fine. An auction sticker is affixed to the underside of the base. The globe alone measures about 2.875" diameter. The globe and stand measure approximately 3.25" h. x 3.125" diameter assembled.
The presentation piece - known as a "pennant" within the highly specific context of the Soviet Space Program - gets its name from its spherical shape. The highly polished globe represents the Earth, and shows the continents. It rests in a leather- and felt-lined white metal four-pronged holder, engraved along one side in Russian as (translated): "Pennant with Shield of the U.S.S.R. Delivered to Venus on 1 March 1966." The globe unscrews along an invisible seam at its equator to reveal a commemorative medallion hidden within. On one side of the medallion is depicted the State Emblem of the U.S.S.R.; the other side, though not visible, is believed to represent the Earth-Venus flight path.
Venera-3 was launched in mid-November 1965 and traveled more than 280 million kilometers to reach the atmosphere of Venus 105 days later, on March 1, 1966. By so doing, it became the first spacecraft to successfully reach another planet. The onboard presentation piece likely crash-landed, and even though it would have been made of highly durable, heat-resistant materials, and encased within a stainless steel container in order to survive impact, it seems unlikely that the precious item survived the landing. The pennant with its medallion was meant not only to commemorate the mission, but also to convey the goodwill of the Soviet Union to whatever inhabitants might exist on Venus!
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.
WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!
#SpaceAstronaut
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
