Sequential Newspaper Set (The Peninsula Times Tribune) - The 1991 Soviet August Coup, Aug 19–22, 1991 🇷🇺📰❌
This is an extremely rare, sequential four-day set of front pages from The Peninsula Times Tribune, documenting the full life cycle of the 1991 Soviet August Coup.
The collection is a primary source historical asset that captures the failure of Communist hardliners to overthrow Mikhail Gorbachev and the subsequent rise to power of Boris Yeltsin.
Its value is secured by the verifiable day-to-day narrative of the event that directly led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨ This set comprises four front pages spanning August 19–22, 1991, detailing the immediate global crisis and resolution:
-
Aug 19 (CHAOS IN USSR): Reporting the initial military takeover and Gorbachev's removal.
-
Aug 20 (TANKS NEAR YELTSIN): Documenting the civilian resistance and the confrontation between Yeltsin and the military.
-
Aug 21 (COUP COLLAPSES): Confirming the coup’s failure and Gorbachev Returning To Moscow.
-
Aug 22 (THE PURGE IS ON): Detailing the consolidation of power under Yeltsin and the "long 48 hours for Bush".
3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️ The Peninsula Times Tribune was a major metropolitan newspaper serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley. Its reporting reflects the perspective of a major American political and technological hub.
The coverage required the mobilization of foreign correspondents to capture the immediate events in Moscow, juxtaposing the high-stakes global politics with local Bay Area concerns, such as the "Valley-speak, Silicon style" article. This set is a documented record of how a major U.S. regional press corps covered the sudden end of the Cold War.
4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜 This collection documents the defining moment of the Post-Cold War era. The Soviet August Coup, lasting just 72 hours, shattered the authority of the Communist Party and accelerated the breakup of the Soviet Union into independent states.
The sequential headlines capture the global uncertainty of the period, moving from "CHAOS IN USSR" to the final consolidation of power under democratic forces. The reporting on President Bush's cautious statements and the military crackdowns in the republics underscore the delicate and dangerous geopolitical situation that was resolved over those four days. This set is an irreplaceable time capsule of the end of the 20th century's dominant political conflict.
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 (e.g., the image of tanks in the street). The set serves as a tangible asset 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 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 Soviet collapse as it unfolded, page by page.
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 Peninsula Times Tribune.
-
Condition: Exhibits significant wear and patina fading typical of newsprint.
-
Integrity: All four front pages are present and legible, confirming the sequential narrative.
-
Photography: Includes the iconic image of tanks and the photo of Yeltsin supporters celebrating.
8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩
-
The Power of the Tank: The cover image on August 19, showing Soviet tanks in the streets, became an iconic visual for the initial chaos and military threat.
-
The Purge: The headline "THE PURGE IS ON" on August 22 refers to the immediate investigation and removal of hardline Communist Party and KGB officials who backed the coup.
-
Yeltsin's Peace Sign: The August 22 photo of Boris Yeltsin raising a victory sign underscores his role as the leader of the anti-coup resistance.
-
Local News Integration: The paper reported on Hurricane Bob hitting the East Coast alongside the international crisis, showing how global events were filtered into local American life.
9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰
-
Object Type: Historical Newspaper Front Page Set (Sequential Periodical)
-
Title: Soviet August Coup (Chaos, Tanks Near Yeltsin, Coup Collapses, The Purge Is On)
-
Editor: The Peninsula Times Tribune
-
Year/Period: August 19–22, 1991 (Post-Cold War Era)
-
Publisher/Foundry: The Peninsula Times Tribune
-
Place of Origin: Palo Alto, California, USA
-
Format/Binding: Four Original Sequential Front Pages
-
Key Subjects: Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, Failed Communist Coup, Dissolution of the USSR.