Soviet agitprop poster

This poster was issued in 1961 to commemorate the flight of Yuri Gagarin. The text in the upper left-hand corner states: "For Soviet Science--Glory!" The lower right-hand corner says "Glory to the Soviet People--and the First Cosmonaut!" Behind the cosmonaut is the " Soviet space road"--the first achievement was in 1959 where Lunik 2 impacted the Moon; the second achievement was Gagarin's mission in 1961. The Rocket behind Gagarin says "Vostok" and "12 April 1961." Of special note is that Yuri is holding the metal ball delivered to the lunar surface by Lunik 2 in 1959. Already the propaganda disseminated by the Russian authorities was connecting the Soviet manned space achievement with the "lunar idea."

CREDIT: Courtesy Rebecca Weiss / Swann Auction Galleries, New York..