Lunar soil retrieved by Luna-24 probe with its desktop scale model |
A most memorable gift for the Soviet First Secretary Leonid Brezhnev on his 70th birthday |
The scale model of the Soviet automatic lunar lander probe Luna-24 with the metal container holding three tiny lunar soil regolith particles retrieved by this last successful lunar probe in the Soviet series. These three regolith particles were returned to the Earth together with the portion of 170 grams (approx. 6 ounces US) of the lunar soil that was drilled out in August 1976 near “Mare Crisium” from the depth of 2 meters (approx. 6.5 feet US). Luna-24 was the last probe launched by the USSR to the Moon, and it was the last probe that made a soft landing on the lunar surface – not only of the 20th century, but currently as well. The soil samples included are the only known Luna-24 return material to come into private hands.
Model description.
This scale model is standing on a proper hemispheric base representing the lunar surface. The model is made of metal, that is also very precisely engineered and detailed. A metal cylindrical container holding the regolith particles of the lunar soil is attached to the base in a corner at the front of the model. The engraving on the container says “Luna-24. Soil particles.” The container is covered with a magnifying glass inserted into its top. The three small particles of lunar regolith are placed at the base of the container and covered with the magnifying glass, so, viewers can see them enlarged very clearly. There is a metal plate with an engraved dedicatory inscription to the First Secretary of the USSR Communist Party Leonid Brezhnev. It’s attached to the base at the opposite corner, beside the scale model of the Luna-24 spacecraft. The dimensions of this unmatched composition are about 30x30x25 cm (12x12x10 inches US).
Provenance.
This unique model was presented to Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in 1976 as a gift for his 70th birthday, and has a nameplate with its dedicatory inscription saying: “To dear Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev from the Obschemash collective. Dec 19, 1976”. Obschemash is the Russian abbreviation of the Ministry of General Machine Building, that actually administered the entire space industry in the USSR, and was enthusiastically as well as staunchly supported by Brezhnev. He had been the head of this Soviet Ministry and supervised all its space industry activities in the former USSR before becoming the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR after Khruschev. After Brezhnev’s death in 1982, nearly all of the memorial and commemoration presents as well as private collections of the “General Secretary” were solicitously kept by his widow Victoriya P. Brezhneva. Upon her death in 1995, a large number of personal items — including souvenirs and memorial presents were passed into the prop erty of Brezhnev’s daughter Galina. One year before her death, Galina Brezhneva sold this unique Luna-24 model, together with some other items of the family heritage.
Proof of genuineness.
The scale model of Luna-24 with the lunar soil samples container comes with the invaluable Certificate of Authenticity in Russian language from the Institute of Geochemistry and Analytic Chemistry named after Vernadsky (signed by Dr. A. Ivanov), Moscow, Russia. This is the same Institute that conducted research with the Luna-24 soil following its retrieval from the Moon’s surface. The Certificate of Authenticity confirms the genuineness of the lunar soil’s contents.
Besides the above, the other Certificate of Authenticity in both Russian and English languages is applied – it’s been issued by the Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry (signed by Professor Dr. E. Sharkov), Moscow, Russia.
SIZE – about 12x12x10″.
CONDITION – excellent (please see the pictures).
Made in USSR to be presented as a valuable gift for its leader.
What is included:
the scale model of Luna-24 on the stand with the metal container with three tiny lunar soil sample particles; the Certificate of Authenticity in Russian language from the Institute of Geochemistry and Analytic Chemistry named after Vernadsky (signed by Dr. A. Ivanov), Moscow, Russia; the Certificate of Authenticity in both Russian and English languages from the the Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry (signed by Professor Dr. E. Sharkov), Moscow, Russia.
