posted 08-09-2008 04:17 PM
Can anyone help identify the autographs on this Russian Space Cover? Is it a flown cover? Value? Thanks!
gliderpilotuk Member
Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002
posted 08-09-2008 04:34 PM
Green one is Kovalyonok and the one below is Savinykh - both Soyuz T-4/Salyut 6 - 1981. Not sure about the one bottom left, which doesn't look Cyrillic.
As for whether it was flown, I'm not sure. It has the Salyut 6 frank-stamp on it (with the names of the cosmonauts) but that could mean anything. It is also twice franked from Baikonur.
spaceflori Member
Posts: 1499 From: Germany Registered: May 2000
posted 08-10-2008 12:11 AM
It is my understanding that this is a souvenir spacemail cover which means the cover is NOT flown but was cancelled with the bordpostmarker from Salyut. Unfortunately these bordpostmarkers were often brought back after the flight (in the Salyut days) and used for souvenir cancellations back on earth.
I wouldn't consider any cover a flown cover unless it's specifically certified by a cosmonaut as such or checked carefully by an expert such as Walter Hopferwieser.
cosmos-walter Member
Posts: 691 From: Salzburg, Austria Registered: Jun 2003
posted 08-12-2008 01:30 PM
Florian, I fully agree with you that it is a souvenir cover which was not flown to Salyut-6.
There are also covers around which have some or all on-board cancellation made by copiers.
alec Member
Posts: 37 From: Romania Registered: Apr 2008
posted 11-05-2012 08:47 AM
I have a similar cover in my collection for some time now but till this day I was unable to identify the signature from left. I have asked even the Soyuz 40 crew, Mr. Prunariu and Mr. Popov in person without any success... Anyone?