Strike a match, light a rocket, and travel into the Golden Age of the Soviet space program with these vintage matchbox labels.
It’s important to remember that the USSR was first to most early milestones in space, and they celebrated their accomplishments with some amazing art. Some of that was in the form of classic Eastern bloc propaganda posters, and some was … matches, I guess.
Via an amazing Flickr gallery full of all subject matter of matchboxes, my favorites feature (from top) Laika the space dog, a couple commemorating the three-year anniversary of Sputnik 1, a trio celebrating the Luna 2 moon mission, and finally the museum/home of pioneering rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.
Lots more vintage art, space-age and otherwise, here.
Previously: Want more vintage science goodies? Tour the best pocket protector collection on the web.