Country of Origin: USSR
Dimensions:
2-D - Unframed (H x W): 6.4 x 3.8cm (2 1/2 x 1 1/2 in.)
Materials:
paper, ink and glue
This two-part stamp commemorates the flight of Yuri Gagarin who became the first man in space in April 1961. The top part of the hinged stamp shows a stylized image of the rocket that carried Gagarin into space pictured flying over Red Square. The lower portion quotes Soviet Party Secretary, Nikita Khruchshev, on the significance of Gagarin's mission. This was a six kopek stamp, sufficient for first-class, domestic mail. This is one of the first three stamps that the Soviet Union issued to commemorate Gagarin's flight.
A member of the staff of the USSR Embassy in Washington, D.C. presented this stamp to the museum in 1978.
Gift of USSR Embassy
