Description
Vintage Soviet cigarette case with cosmos theme
MADE IN USSR!
About This Cigarette Case
A gold-tone Soviet souvenir cigarette case from the Sputnik era. The lid carries a high relief of a rocket bearing the hammer and sickle, lifting off from a globe marked CCCP, with two Sputnik satellites tracing their orbits across a starry sky and a plaque reading «Советские спутники Земли» (Soviet Earth Satellites). The back is stippled with a field of stars and shooting-star trails, the inside of the lid shows the rocket scene in reverse, and an elastic band in each half holds the cigarettes in place.
This one carries a personal story: the rocket has been hand-engraved in Cyrillic script with a gift dedication, «Другу Коле от Валентина» (To my friend Kolya, from Valentin), with a date on the tail fin that ends in ’62.
The Satellites It Celebrates
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite, from Baikonur. Sputnik 2 followed on November 3, 1957, and the large scientific Sputnik 3 on May 15, 1958.
- Sputnik 1: A 58 cm polished metal sphere with four long antennas, whose radio signal could be picked up by amateur listeners around the world.
- Sputnik 2: The first spacecraft to carry a living animal into orbit, the dog Laika.
- Significance: The launches opened the Space Race and led directly to the creation of NASA in 1958.
Read more on Wikipedia – Sputnik 1
Condition Report
Good pre-owned condition. The hinge and clasp work and the case closes securely. Both elastic bands are intact. The gold-tone finish shows honest wear: rubbing along the front edge of the lid, light scratches on the relief, and some toning and a few marks on the back. The engraved dedication is original to the case’s life and is part of its character.
Ships from 🇺🇦 Ukraine with tracking number
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