1. Photo of Alexey Tryoshnikov with Ilya Mazuruk (Hero of the Soviet Union, polar pilot who airlifted material and personnel to North Pole 1 drifting ice station in 1937), А. Vasilyev (identity and relationship to Tryoshnikov and polar exploration unclear), and Lt. Gen. Mark Shevelyov (head of aviation department Aviaarktika), at a reception, mid- 1950s to early 1960s.

Measures 8 ½" x 6", b/w, printed on thin glossy photo paper. The names of the four personages in the photo are written on the back in blue ink, complete with the name of the photographer, S. Rossin. Nikita Khrushchev's portrait in the background suggests that this reception could have been in celebration of the second Antarctic Expedition of 1956 - 58, led by Tryoshnikov.

In very good to excellent condition. The emulsion is mostly intact, showing just a couple of tiny hairline cracks and storage wear, visible only if you tilt the photo to reflect a bright light. The inscription on the verso is bright and clear, the ink did not seep through the paper.

2. Photo of A. Tryoshnikov (standing on the left) watching famous Soviet polar explorer Ivan Papanin shake hands during the celebration of Papanin's 70th birthday, 1964.

Measures 6 ¾" x 4 ¼", b/w, printed on thick semi-gloss photo paper. The occasion of the photo is described in pencil on the verso. Despite Otto Schmidt being the scientific force majeure of the North Pole - 1 expedition, the first Arctic drifting ice station, Ivan Papanin was its leader and became the public image of Soviet polar exploration, a symbol of heroism, etc. A parallel can be drawn between the Schmidt-Papanin duo and the Tryoshnikov-Papanin duo, seen in this photo.

In excellent condition. The emulsion is intact, the verso shows minor storage wear (scuffing) and a small faint stain, not detractive in the slightest.

3. Letter of congratulations to A. Tryoshnikov from the Deputy Chief of the North Sea Route Directorate E. Tolstikov on occasion of Tryoshnikov being awarded with the Order of Lenin for outstanding achievements in scientific exploration of Antarctica.

Typed document signed, single page 8" x 11 ¾", front only. On letterhead of the USSR Ministry of the Navy and Merchant Fleet, dated 23 June 1961 and hand-signed by Deputy Chief of the North Sea Route Directorate E. Tolstikov.

In very good condition. The document used to be folded in four at some point but the fold lines have long-since flattened out. There is a bit of creasing at the corners and barely noticeable wrinkles, mostly along the top edge.

4. Large Honorary Certificate of Achievement in hardcover folio, issued by the Soviet Committee for Defense of Peace for activity towards strengthening peace between peoples.

Measures approx. 9" x 12", the cover is wrapped in blue leatherette with the white dove of peace embossed on the front cover in gold. Inside, the certificate's first page features the white dove of peace and the Spasskaya Clock Tower of the Moscow Kremlin against the background of a peaceful blue sky. The text of the certificate states that Alexey Tryoshnikov (Алексей Федорович Трешников) is awarded with the Honorary Certificate of the Soviet Committee for Defense of Peace for his activity aimed at strengthening peace between peoples.

The certificate is hand-signed by the Chairman of the Committee N. Tikhonov, and the Executive Secretary of the Committee M. Kotov. The certificate was issued in Moscow, bears serial number 3024 and is dated 31 January 1964.

In very good condition. The cover has acquired some storage wear from touching other objects, which resulted in mild to moderate scuffing and staining. The paper of the certificate shows mild age toning. The right edge sticks out of the cover for approx. 1 mm, and shows mild fraying, not too intrusive to the eye.

5. Tryoshnikov's Personnel File from the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, last entry dated 1974.

Tryoshnikov was assigned to work at the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute after graduating from the Leningrad University in 1939, and eventually became the Institute's Director in 1961. His career with the Institute is followed in this personnel file. Besides the obvious personal information, It lists his education, mastery of foreign languages (fluent in English), scientific degrees (PhD in Geography). The section "scientific papers and inventions" refers to an attached list of papers, unfortunately not present. The list of jobs and positions Tryoshnikov held starts with "collective farmer" from 1929 to 1931 and end with "Director of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute" from 1960 "till present", the present being September 1974.

The section "Trips Abroad" is overflowing, listing ten such trips. "Elected positions" shows that Tryoshnikov was elected three times, the last of which was delegate to the XXII Congress of the CPSU in 1961.

The Government Awards and Decorations section is very impressive with 10 entries, followed by Levied Party Penalties (none), Military Service status (discharged due to age), married status and children (wife and two daughters) and home address and telephone numbers.

In very good to excellent condition. The paper is mildly and evenly age-toned, very clean and practically wrinkle-free, with the exception of the top ¼ of an inch which must have been sticking out of the file and acquired mild creasing and a couple tiny rips, far from reaching the document and not very intrusive to the eye.

6. Certificate of election Fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America, issued to Alexey Tryoshnikov on 15 November 1976. Accompanied by a letter signed by Yuri Izrael, Director of the Chief Directorate of Hydro-Meteorologic Service at the Council of Ministers of the USSR.

The certificate, issued in Calgary, Canada, and featuring the raised seal of the Arctic Institute of North America and signature of its Executive Director Robert Fayler, took a while to reach if not its recipient, then at least the Soviet counterpart of the Institute. The letter accompanying the certificate is Directive #288 of 14 December 1977, thirteen months after the issuance of the certificate. There is a handwritten note with a resolution addressed to a Boris Andreevich, directing him to hand in the certificate to Tryoshnikov during a public event, - at the meeting of the council or during a public celebration.

The certificate is in excellent condition despite a minor crease at the top left-hand corner. The typographical and handwritten text is crisp and clear, and the raised seal is perfectly legible. The accompanying letter shows mild fraying of the edges but no wrinkles. The text is bright and clear, and so is the signature and seal. The handwritten note shows just a trace of rust from the paper clip, which appears to be original and still in place.

7. Letter of greetings from the Central Committee of VLKSM (Komsomol) on occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Soviet Antarctic Expedition of 1957-58.

In soft cover with the badge of VLKSM (All-Union Lenin's Communist Youth League aka Komsomol) on the front cover. Inside, the communist slogan "Proletarians of all countries, unite" hovers over all six orders with which Komsomol had been awarded during its existence.

The text of the greeting congratulates "Dear Comrade" (yes, Tryoshnikov's name is not stated) with the 25th anniversary of the Antarctic Expedition, and acknowledges the importance of the polar explorers as role models for the Soviet youth.

In excellent condition. The front cover has a couple of faint scuffs and hair-thin scratches, visible only if you tilt the paper to reflect a bright light, otherwise - completely invisible. There are also a few microscopic bumps at the fold line of the cover, barely noticeable and not really detractive.

8. "Special VIP edition" New Year's postcard, with best wishes for 1984 from A. Zaykov, First Secretary of Leningrad Regional Party Committee.

Measures approx. 7" x 4", featuring a view of the colonnade and façade of the Smolny Palace, the symbol and headquarters of the October Revolution of 1917. The text is on a separate insert, possibly hand-signed by Zaykov. Comes in the original envelope with Tryoshnikov's name and address typographically printed.

The postcard and insert are in excellent, superb condition, no wear to report. The envelope was unsealed without too much care, and it shows in a bit of tearing along the edge.

9. "Special VIP edition" New Year's postcard, with best wishes for 1987 from Yuri Solovyov, First Secretary of Leningrad Regional Party Committee.

Measures approx. 7" x 4", featuring a wintery view of the façade of the Smolny Palace, the symbol and headquarters of the October Revolution of 1917. The text is on a separate insert, possibly hand-signed by Solovyov. Comes in the original envelope with Tryoshnikov's name and address typographically printed.

The postcard and insert are in excellent, superb condition, no wear to report. The envelope shows very mild age toning to the paper but is free of any significant wear of damage.

10. Large Map commemorating the round-the-globe 1982-83 Antarctic Expedition of the Black Sea Fleet on the oceanic research vessels Admiral Vladimirskiy and Faddey Bellingzgauzen.

Large format, measuring 27" x 19". The map schematically depicts the expedition's route, marking the most significant milestones, events, and discoveries made along the way.

In excellent condition. The colors and textual captions are crisp and vibrant, the paper show zero to very mild wear along the fold lines but no separations or fraying.

11. Aeroflot certificate of crossing the equator, issued to A. Tryoshnikov on 23 November 1963 during his flight from Moscow to Antarctica. Serial numbered and signed by the pilot.

Aeroflot used to issue these humorous certificates "on authority given by Neptune" on all flights crossing the equator. There weren't all that many such flights, and for a Soviet citizen used to be anchored to his place of residence for most if not all his life, crossing the equator was an exotic and memorable event.

In excellent condition. No significant wear to report.

12. Ink and watercolor caricature about the 1937 expedition of ice-breaking vessel Sadko, artist signed and dated.

This caricature comes from Tryoshnikov's estate. The 1937 expedition of the Sadko took place one year prior to Tryoshnikov's first sea expedition, and was probably a gift from one of the participants of the Sadko expedition. Their original mission was to explore the De Long Islands but the ice breaker was re-routed to assist some ships stuck in the ice in the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea. The rescue attempt was not successful, and the Sadko got mired in the ice as well.

The artist, Lytkin, signed and dated the caricature in the lower left-hand corner. The caption under the image reads "Hey, friend, do you know how to get to Sannikov Land?" (a fictional island in the Artic, described in a popular Soviet adventure book of the same title).

In very good condition. The caricature is glued to a piece of an old maritime navigational chart with depth and other values in imperial units.

Please note that the pen in our last photo is for size reference.