Vladimir Beilin (20th C.) "Apollo-Soyuz Docking"

Vladimir Beilin (Russian, 20th C.) "Apollo-Soyuz Docking in Space" Original First Day Cover Watercolor painting.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Russia Soyuz-Apollo stamp issued May 29, 1992.

Its announced goal was to test a docking system designed for use in space rescue missions. But to the people of the United States and Soviet Union, the Soyuz-Apollo joint mission meant much more. First small warming in the Cold War, the mission began on July 15, 1975, with the launches of Soyuz and Apollo spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and Cape Canaveral just a few hours apart. The two crafts took two days to maneuver into position for docking 140 miles above the surface of the Earth. Then, in an intricate series of rocket thrusts, the Apollo docking module successfully latched onto the Soyuz. In awkward Russian, astronaut Tom Stafford exulted "We have succeeded!" His Soviet counterpart Alexei Leonov responded in English "Good show!" In the festive atmosphere that followed, astronauts Stafford, Vance Brand and Donald Slayton greeted cosmonauts Leonov and Valery Kubasov with the first "handshake in space." The five men remained together for approximately two days in the joined spacecraft, making space history in the process. Philatelic history was made as well, as both nations honored the event with their historic, first-ever postal Joint Issue. This final Apollo mission marked the end of a long series of U.S. successes in space. And it also signalled a new beginning for the American space program. For the next U.S. manned space flight wouldn't take place until six years later, when, on April 12, 1981, the Space Shuttle Columbia again took Americans closer to man's final frontier.

Image Size: 14 x 12 in.
Overall Size: 17.75 x 14 in.
Unframed.
(B13805)
Condition Report: - By registering to bid for this auction either in-house or online and/or placing a bid in this auction the BIDDER/BUYER agrees to all the terms and conditions of Helmuth Stone Gallery Auctions.
- All silver, gold and/or jewelry lots or invoices containing said lots MUST be paid for via wire transfer or cashier’s check, no other forms of payment will be accepted.
- All sales are final; no refunds will be given under any circumstances.
- Helmuth Stone Gallery provides condition reports as a courtesy to our clients and assumes no liability for any error or omission. Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client and is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Descriptions are our opinions and should in no way be construed as a guarantee of any kind as to age, condition, mater. The bidder assumes responsibility for ensuring that the condition of the item(s) meets with their satisfaction prior to bidding. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging.
- Online images can sometimes be low quality due to the uploading process, original high-resolution images can be requested via email at HelmuthStone@gmail.com
- We recommend looking into shipping quotes prior to bidding, shipping quotes can take up to a week or more post-sale as we host our auctions through 6 online platforms and shipping can become backlogged, if you would like a list of local shippers please email us directly.
- Our auction catalogs are hosted through multiple online platforms along with phone and in-house bidding. Bids placed on other platforms are not shown through this catalog. Because of this, even if it appears you are the only absentee bid or bidder on a lot, you may already be out bid or may have placed a bid equal to another bidder. Therefore, we always recommend bidding live.