Rare 1980 Moscow Olympics Vintage Poster – Misha & Matryoshka Dolls by artist Garegin Bucrnuchyan

This is an original 1980 Soviet Olympic poster, created for the Moscow Summer Games by Garegin Bucrnuchyan, an artist from the Armenian SSR. Titled “Misha and Russian Dolls”, the composition unfolds diagonally — a procession of classic red and floral matryoshka (nesting) dolls, each opening to reveal the next, until Misha the Bear himself emerges from the smallest, proudly wearing his signature Olympic ring belt. Misha was designed by children’s illustrator Viktor Chizhikov and remains one of the most beloved mascots in Olympic history.

The image is warm, folkloric, and unmistakably Soviet — a piece of soft-power diplomacy at a politically charged moment. The 1980 Moscow Games were overshadowed by a major international boycott, yet Misha endured as one of the most commercially successful and fondly remembered mascots of any Games. This is a rare original from that era, not a reproduction.

Authenticity

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

Artist: Garegin Bucrnuchyan (Armenian SSR)
Year: 1980
Event: XXII Summer Olympic Games, Moscow
Style: Late Soviet-era illustration, warm nostalgic palette
Size: 36 x 56 cm (14.2 x 22.0 in)
Medium: Offset lithograph on paper

Condition

Overall: Very Good (Vintage Grade)

Wear: Minor handling wear along the edges, including a soft vertical crease near the bottom-left corner and slight curl from rolled storage. Natural light age-toning consistent with 40+ years. Light ink bleed-through on the reverse — typical of Soviet-era medium-weight printing. Faint spots of foxing on the reverse only, not visible from the front.

Details: Paper remains sturdy and not brittle. No tears, pinholes, or tape residue.

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.