Confirmed varieties of Flight of Luna 3 around the Moon
In 1959, the Soviet postal administration issued a commemorative stamp dedicated to the third Soviet space rocket carrying the automatic interplanetary station Luna-3, which performed a historic flyby of the Moon and took the first ever photographs of its far side, hidden from view on Earth. Launched in early October 1959, this mission became one of the key milestones of the space race and gained wide recognition both domestically and internationally.
The stamp’s design reflects the spirit of technological progress and scientific triumph. It depicts the Luna-3 spacecraft traveling through space against the backdrop of a partially lit lunar disc. Many such issues also include a schematic of the flight path or noted mission dates, highlighting the engineering aspects of the achievement. The artwork is attributed to Vasily Zavyalov, a designer who contributed to several space-themed philatelic releases.
This stamp, along with associated materials, was used not only for mailing correspondence but also as a symbol of national pride, reinforcing the prestige of the Soviet space program. Releases like this were part of a broader propaganda effort to showcase the USSR’s technical capabilities and inspire the public.
From a collector’s perspective, the series is an interesting example of combining documentary content with the aesthetics of an era when space was becoming an increasingly significant part of 20th-century cultural heritage.
Confirmed varieties of stamp of Flight of Luna 3 around the Moon
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white dot after date
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whie spot on left party of picture, to the right of arrow specifying the Moon
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broken internal left frame
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white dot under "мл" in "Земля"
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dot under the rocket
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dot next to the orbit
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spot to the left of "1959"
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spot over "ни" in "Положение"
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dot next to "й" in "станцией"
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spot next to the star of Kremlin
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broken frame over technical devices