Original 1980 Soviet Olympic Poster – "The Rocket" – Artist Martin Kristev (Bulgaria) – Moscow Olympics

This is an original 1980 Soviet Olympic poster, published by Izdatelstvo Plakat (Plakat Publishing House), Moscow, and designed by Martin Kristev (Мартин Кристев) of the People's Republic of Bulgaria — a winning entry from the international "Poster for the Olympics-80" competition held in Moscow in 1979, which drew nearly 5,000 entries from 45 countries. This design was awarded 2nd prize.

Known among collectors as the "Rocket" poster, the design achieves a striking double-read: the official Moscow 1980 emblem — five parallel lines evoking a running track rising into an architectural silhouette crowned with a five-pointed star — is transformed into a rocket taking flight, with vivid orange and yellow exhaust plumes beneath the Olympic rings. It is a direct and confident nod to Soviet space race achievement, fusing athletic ambition with technological supremacy in a single image.

The competition that produced this work was itself a remarkable cultural event — open to artists from across the world, receiving nearly 5,000 submissions from 45 countries. Kristev's design was among the most conceptually ambitious of the selected works, and remains one of the most sought-after posters from the Moscow Games series.

Authenticity

100% Guaranteed Original Vintage Poster — not a modern reprint or reproduction.

Artist: Martin Kristev (Мартин Кристев), People's Republic of Bulgaria
Year: 1980
Publisher: Izdatelstvo Plakat, Moscow
Competition: "Poster for the Olympics-80", Moscow, 1979 — 2nd Prize
Event: XXII Summer Olympic Games, Moscow
Style: Constructivist graphic design / space-age Soviet aesthetic
Size: 40 × 60 cm (15.7 × 23.6 in)
Medium: Offset lithograph on paper

Condition

Overall: Excellent / Near Mint (Vintage Grade)

Wear: Very faint handling undulations along the left and right edges — would flatten completely under framing. No pinholes, no tape marks.

Details: White background remains remarkably bright with minimal age-toning. Paper surface smooth and flat, indicating careful storage. Blue sky gradient and orange/yellow exhaust plumes vivid with no significant fading. Margins crisp and clean.

This is an authentic vintage item. Please review the high-resolution photographs for a full and accurate representation. What you see is what you receive.

Shipping & Packaging

We handle historic paper with the utmost care to ensure it arrives immaculate.

Handling: Dispatched within 1–3 business days from our Sarajevo studio
Packaging: Rolled in acid-free tissue paper and shipped in a heavy-duty reinforced mailing tube — no folding, no creasing, no edge damage
Tracking: Fully tracked from our studio to your door
Standard delivery: Registered post (BH Pošta), arriving in 1–4 weeks
Express delivery: DHL Express available at checkout — delivery in 2–5 business days

International buyers are responsible for any applicable customs fees or import taxes.

Framing

Professional custom framing is available for this piece upon request. Contact us before checkout to discuss options and tailored pricing.

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Wear the archive — ribbed fit: Unisex Organic Ribbed Tee →
Wear the archive — oversized fit: Oversized Tee →
Wear the archive — reversible bucket hat: The Rocket — Reversible Bucket Hat →