Objects typical to the period of the USSR and representing various aspects of Soviet culture and household were scrupulously collected over 20 years. The collection is extremely diverse and includes all kinds of things: stationery, items of hygiene and medicine, phonographs, radios, electric appliances, photo cameras, projectors, tapestries, statues, lamps, clocks, documents, money, books, newspapers, magazines, postcards, kitchenware, samovars, glass holders, toys, pins, souvenirs, banners, pennants, uniforms,... everything that surrounded Soviet people in daily life, up to payphones, mail boxes, street signs and crests from the border poles. For citizens of the USSR most of these things were well familiar and ordinary, but today they are objects of wonder, bringing nostalgic memories. Furthermore, there are many extremely rare and valuable items that even during the Soviet period could only be seen in a museum or in a movie. All objects are authentic and in excellent condition. Overall, the collection contains many thousands of items and is also supplemented by thousands of posters and photographs of that time.
In choosing the artifacts for the museum, preference was given not just to the well recognizable, symbolic objects of the Soviet period, but most of all to the objects of particular importance in the Soviet culture, which can illustrate certain aspects of Soviet life and reveal the spirit of the era.
Adding even more value to the collection, there are over 100 objects available, which have not only became obsolete by design, but completely disappeared from household. All these curious artifacts would undoubtedly draw a lot of attention. Due to the huge number of rare collectible items, such a vast and versatile collection is now practically impossible to recreate even for many years of shopping on auctions, especially since every year artifacts of the USSR are steadily rising in price and are becoming even harder to find.
Besides thousands of miscellaneous items, the main collection also includes
a number of quite independent and significant collections, such as:
Experimental record from 1930s.
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- All types of Soviet phonographs, accessories and over a hundred of unusual types of phonograph records: different colors, materials, sizes, rare labels, records on post cards, photographs and even underground records on x-rays.
- Truly unique collection of more than 19,000 pins with emblems
of cities and regions of former Soviet republics,
including Russian imperial and post-Soviet periods.
- Thousands of pins dedicated to famous events and illustrating different aspects of Soviet life. Medals, awards, insignia, etc.
- Over 7000 matchbox labels telling about Soviet history and culture.
- Hundreds of postcards: Soviet holidays, nations, heroes, leaders,
cities, events, etc.
- Over 200 Soviet banners and rare pennants from 1920s to 1980s.
- About 300 authentic propaganda posters, predominantly from 1970-80s.
- A collection of wall rugs and tapesties dedicated to Lenin, Moscow Olympics, Youth Festival, as well as depicting scenes of fairy tales.
- Over 50 diverse desk and wall clocks.
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- Over 200 commemorative desk medals dedicated to most signifficant
cultural and historical events, anniversaries, work achievments, etc.
- Over 80 glass holders, depicting symbols of significant Soviet events,
famous people, architectural monuments, etc.
- Samovars of various types, shapes and sizes,
tea sets, tea tin boxes and all kinds of accessories.
- Over a thousand labels from Soviet-made canned food,
alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
- Over 60 authentic newspapers and magazines, published on the
dates of signifficant events, such as the victory over fascism,
launch of the world's first sattelite, Gagarin's flight, etc.
- Large collection of coins, banknotes and securities
from the imperial period to the last years of the USSR.
- Complete set of stamps from 1960-1991 and many from earlier years.
- Kitchenware (kerosene stoves, tableware, utensils and accessories).
- Big collection of curious children toys,
including over 100 of toy soldier sets and military cars.
- Over 200 of information plaques and signs of all sorts: typical
street names, signs from post offices, banks, shops, buildings, etc.
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Commemorative award "For valor in the 9th five-year plan", 1976.
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In addition there is an archive of over a thousand of documentary phonograms available to supplement the displays. Voices of Soviet leaders, famous people, memoirs of soldiers, workers and farmers, participants and witnesses of historical events, news broadcasts, reports, excerpts and introductions of the famous radio programs, etc., not to mention a huge number of rare authentic musical masterpieces of that era, undeservingly forgotten. All this will make the museum interactive and intriguing.
