posted 11-06-2011 10:46 PM               

Overall, the Kniga covers are a nice way to get a nearly complete set of authentic signatures (with the exception of two of the three of the Soyuz 11 cosmonauts) for the first 15 years of the Soviet space program. And overall, they are much cheaper than collecting a comparable set of autographs for the US space program.

posted 03-13-2016 09:48 PM               

Everybody knows the early narrow covers printed using metallography technique and bearing the "first day" sign, reminding third satellite. Then comes the mess — KNIGA started to produce colored covers that resembled very much the western prints. From this point, many covers that appear on the market are "KNIGA-like."

Some dealers listed their own covers as KNIGA, though they only had postmarks arranged by KNIGA. Even experienced Russian collectors sometimes find it very hard to differentiate the original KNIGA covers from those made abroad.

Note that KNIGA was a commercial enterprise that tasked by trading books, audio and video products as well as postal goods and services like printing covers, providing postmarks, special cancellations, certification of VIP signatures, and more. So when talking about "KNIGA covers," need to understand what exactly is required.

In my opinion, if you just want to get some, go for the early covers of 60s, you cannot miss them. Want some fancy ones, there are a couple of flown or "nearly" flown covers, but it will take some budget.

posted 03-13-2016 09:58 PM               

Autographed:

• Vostok 1, Vostok 2, Vostok 3, Vostok 4, Vostok 5, Vostok 6

• Voskhod 1, Voskhod 2

• Soyuz 3, Soyuz 4/5 (four autographs on the same cover), Soyuz 6, Soyuz 7, Soyuz 8, Soyuz 9, Soyuz 12, Soyuz 13, Soyuz 14, Soyuz 15, Soyuz 16, Soyuz 17, Soyuz 18, Soyuz 19, Soyuz 21, Soyuz 22, Soyuz 23, Soyuz 24