This retro model is a commemorative piece, issued by the former USSR, celebrating the first flight in orbit by a human. Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin went into Space and circled Earth successfully on April 12th, 1961. It was a highly political event, accelerating the Space race to the Moon between the two World Powers of the Cold War Era, the former Soviet Union and the US. Globe and Base are made of bakelite. The Globe itself has a metal finish. The base has the date of the flight embossed in Cyrillic. Attached to the Globe is a wire which circles the Earth and has a silver rocket on its tip. Total height of this model is c 2.75” with a diameter of c 2”. Petite in size yet grand in political history, this imported Russian Artifact is a original piece of the Space Race Era! $199 — Item : KS511SPRUSS61