Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌

$225.00
Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌
Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌
Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌
Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌
Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌
Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌
Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌
Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌
Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌
Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌
Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌
Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌
Sequential Newspaper Set (San Francisco Examiner) - Collapse of the Soviet Union & August Coup, Aug 19–25, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌

This is an extremely rare, sequential four-issue set of front pages from the San Francisco Examiner, documenting the full narrative of the 1991 Soviet August Coup and the end of Communism’s 74-year grip on the government.

The collection is a primary source historical asset that captures the failure of the Communist hardliners and the subsequent rise of Boris Yeltsin as a political hero.

Its value is secured by the verifiable sequential documentation of one of the most pivotal geopolitical events of the 20th century.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨ This set comprises four key front pages spanning August 19 through August 25, 1991, documenting the crisis:

  • August 19: Reports the initial "Soviet chaos" and the ousting of Gorbachev.

  • August 20: Highlights the "Showdown" with reports of "Huge crowd masses to battle tanks at Yeltsin HQ".

  • August 21: Confirms the "Coup fails" and Gorbachev's reported return.

  • August 25: Announces the final conclusion with the headline "Gorbachev abandons party," marking the definitive end of the Communist government.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️ The San Francisco Examiner is a major metropolitan newspaper with a long history of covering both local and international events.

The paper captured the immediate response of the West Coast, which featured both local political debates and the massive international crisis. The reporting serves as a critical mirror of the time, documenting the social and political atmosphere of the San Francisco Bay Area during a global crisis.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜 This collection documents the defining moment of the Post-Cold War era in August 1991. The four-day crisis was the final, failed attempt by Communist hardliners to prevent the break-up of the Soviet Union.

The sequential headlines capture the rapid acceleration of history, moving from Gorbachev's ousting to the dissolution of the party. This set is an irreplaceable time capsule of the systemic failure of the Soviet system and the global triumph of democratic reform.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️ This set is an essential acquisition for a curator of 20th-Century Geopolitical History, Post-Cold War Ephemera, and American Journalism.

It is ideally suited for a collector who specializes in sequential historical documentation or the iconography of the Soviet collapse. The asset is a tangible primary source for researchers studying the shift in global power dynamics during the 1990s.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️ This set of four original newspapers is 34 years old, surviving the high discard rate of daily newsprint.

Its Bibliographical Scarcity is extreme because it represents a complete, four-day sequential narrative of a single, world-altering event, which is exceptionally difficult to curate in an intact set. The value is secured by the Historical Context Premium of the date and the verifiable documentation of the collapse of Communism.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨ The physical condition has been assessed directly from the provided high-resolution photography. The objects are deemed to be in Good Vintage Condition, with structural wear appropriate for newsprint.

  • Media: Four original front pages of the San Francisco Examiner.

  • Condition: Exhibits significant wear, creasing, and patina fading typical of newsprint.

  • Integrity: All four front pages are present and legible, confirming the sequential narrative.

  • Photography: Includes the iconic images of the Soviet chaos and the final abandonment of the Communist Party.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

  • The 74-Year Grip: The August 25 headline, "Communism’s 74-Year Grip on Government Ends," refers to the time since the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917.

  • Yeltsin as Hero: The August 21 headline, "Yeltsin stands as hero in fall of coup," reflects the global narrative that emerged from his defiance on the tank.

  • San Francisco Focus: The papers feature local San Francisco content, including reports on "N. Beach changes are sign of the times" and the local impact of the crisis.

  • The Extra Edition: The "EXTRA EDITION" issued on August 21 highlights the frantic nature of the news cycle as the coup collapsed rapidly.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

  • Object Type: Historical Newspaper Front Page Set (Sequential Periodical)

  • Title: Soviet August Coup (Chaos, Showdown, Coup Fails, Gorbachev Abandons Party)

  • Editor: The San Francisco Examiner

  • Year/Period: August 19–25, 1991 (Post-Cold War Era)

  • Publisher/Foundry: The San Francisco Examiner

  • Place of Origin: San Francisco, California, USA

  • Format/Binding: Four Original Sequential Front Pages

  • Key Subjects: Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, Collapse of Communism, 74-Year Grip Ends

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