Soviet space dog that made one orbit on board Korabl-Sputnik-4 (Sputnik 9) on March 9, 1961. Unique and very interesting 1966 U.S. FDC honoring the humane treatment of animals, tied to a U. N. Space stamp and the Soviet stamp picturing Chernoushka, ‘signed’ with an ink paw print of Chernoushka. In fine condition, with a bit of scattered light soiling and missing top left corner of one of the postage stamps. Noted dealer Charles Hamilton wrote about the paw prints on pages 69–71 of Big Name Hunting, recalling a story told to him by Herman Darvick about the “strangest autographs in his collection.” Darvick had written to the dogs’ care of the Russian Space Center asking them for their autographs and receiving several paw prints back in the mail. Accompanied by photocopies of the pages of Big Name Hunting with Darvick’s story. An ALS to Mr. Darvick from Vasily V. Parin (1903-1971), founder and first Secretary General of the USSR Academy of Medicine, certified this paw print. This letter is reproduced on page 70 of Big Name Hunting. RRAuction COA.
