First Pole in space. Hermaszewski. Interkosmos ’78

1978

Original Polish socio-political poster “First Pole in space. Hermaszewski. Interkosmos ’78” issued to commemorate the first flight into space involving a Pole. Poster design: ANDRZEJ PĄGOWSKI, 1978.

This is an original 1978 vintage poster from the communist period – the heyday of the Polish poster school. We confirm its authenticity with a certificate

Mirosław Hermaszewski and Zenon Jankowski were selected from among several hundred Polish pilots as candidates for a space flight organised by the USSR. Of the two, Hermaszewski eventually qualified for the flight, with Jankowski as an alternate. The flight began on 27 June and lasted until 5 July 1978. Andrzej Pągowski designed the poster in two versions: one with Hermaszewski and the other with Jankowski. After Hermaszewski’s lucky landing, the entire print run with Jankowski was recycled. The Russian embassy liked the design so much that they decided to order another analogous one – with the face of Piotr Klimuk – Hermaszewski’s co-flyer. All the posters were issued in very high editions, but they are very rare collector’s specimens today.

Condition: very good