Epic and Prescient Soviet "Science Fiction" Art and Propaganda (1972)

Leonov, Alexei (author / cosmonaut). A.K. Sokolov (illustrator)

[RUSSIAN FUTURIST SPACE FANTASIES 1972]. Kosmicheskie Dali ("Space in the Future" or "Space Distances")

Moscow: Izobrazitel'noe iskusstvo, 1972. Folio (380 x 285 mm). Complete with 34 plates (of which 16 are double page), each of which has descriptive text in Russian on verso. TOGETHER WITH: 36-page booklet in Russian (cover with light brown offsetting from cardboard inside portfolio pocket). Original publisher's blue vinyl portfolio with a mounted enameled metal medallion on the front (short split at the top of the pocket). SEE THE NUMEROUS IMAGES ON OUR WEBSITE. Very good. Item #4575

SOVIET "SCIENCE FICTION" SPACE ART OF THE HIGHEST ORDER. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST GLORIOUS EXPRESSIONS OF THE SPACE RACE, A STRANGE AND WONDERFUL PORTFOLIO WHICH CONTAINS 34 SOVIET COSMONAUT FANTASIES, RENDERING IN SILVER AND COLOR THE FUTURE OF SOVIET SPACE TRAVEL AND COMMUNIST INHABITATION OF THE GALAXY. OUR COPY IS ABSOLUTELY COMPLETE AND IS PRESERVED IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION.

Included are fabulous imaginary spacewalks, wild satellite constructions, curious spacecraft, dreamy constellations, and unexplored planets and moons. This is a masterpiece of Soviet propaganda of the 1970s in which is depicted in full color a sense of unbridled ambition, optimism, technology, and limitless resources. Whereas the first man on the Moon was obviously American, it is clear from the present portfolio that nothing could or would prevent the Russian government from leading mankind deep into the galaxy.

On the verso of each plate are long descriptions of the illustrations and the hopes and dreams of the compilers. One of our favorites is Plate no. 5 (Cosmonauts); loosely translated, a portion of the text reads: "Man went out into outer space! A man is swimming in space, hovering over the planet! The significance of this event can hardly be overestimated. To create large orbital stations in open space it will be necessary to carry out extensive assembly and installation work. [In the future] there will be professions of "space installers" and "space assemblers." The daughters of the Earth will master them and create entire settlements in near-Earth orbits, which Konstantin Tsiolkovsky dreamed about. This is the meaning of the first step into space, which was taken by one of the authors of this picture. [Signed] Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov." NB: Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935) is considered the founding father of rocketry and cosmonautics. Although he never built a functional rocket, his theoretical work provided the foundation for the entire Soviet space program.

The author was the pioneering cosmonaut who made the first spacewalk, exiting the capsule during the Voskhod 2 mission for 12 minutes and 9 seconds. He was selected to be the first Soviet person to land on the Moon although as is well known the project was cancelled. Arthur C. Clarke dedicated "2010: Odyssey Two" to Leonov and Soviet physicist Andrei Sakharov. Leonov worked closely with Russian space artist Andrei Sokolov (1931-2007) on this and similar Galleries of the Future. The work was issued on the 15th Anniversary of the launching of the Sputnkik. One of the images is Sokolov’s painting entitled "Manned Orbital Station” and consists of two parts. On the left is depicted is the Soyuz 11 in full color, and on the right a future orbital station printed black and silver, indicating a connection between the real and the possible. The color / silver and black motif is expressed in all 16 double-page plates, with remarkable effect. For other equally fantastic paintings by Sokolov, see "Soviet Space Art: Soviet Space Program by Andrei Sokolov" and "Space Art: The Space Fantasy of Andrei Sokolov" (DrewExMachina website).

¶ Scarce: Worldcat lists only four copies in America (LC, Smithsonian, Univ. Georgia, and Northwestern (through our agency).

PROVENANCE: Onscription inside front cover of the portfolio (in Russian): "Dina Pakharova on her 20th Birthday [the gift of] Olga & Sergey 27.09.74"

MUST BE SEEN TO BE FULLY APPRECIATED.

Price: $3,500.00