Carl Bert Albert (1908-2000), 46th Speaker of the United States ☂House of Representatives from 1971-1977, Representative, Oklahoma’s 3rd congressional district from 1947 to 1977; by descent.

THE END OF THE SPACE RACE  

Conducted 50 years ago this month, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) signaled the symbolic end of the Space Race that started with th🦂e launch of Sputnik in 1957. It was the first joint US-Soviet space flight, during which the US Apollo Command/Service Module docked with the Soviet Soyuz 19 capsule, and the two crews: US astronauts Tom Stafford, Vance Brand, and Deke Slayton; and Russian Cosmonauts Alexey Leonov and Valeri Kubasov, visited each other’s ships, shared meals, and conduc﷽ted experiments together. ASTP was the last crewed US space mission until the first Space Shuttle flight in 1981. 

Carl Albert served as the 46th Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1971 – 1977. He represented Oklahoma’s 3rd District from 1947-1977. As dated on the desk presentation,✨ the present lot was signed in the White House on Septemb๊er 4, 1975.  

This elab✅orate presentation includes ASTP-FLOWN US and USSR flags in addition to a framed photograph SIGNED BY BOTH CREWS; a desk model of the ASTP spacecraft with two pen holders; and a commemorative cigarette box in English and in Russian signed by US PRESIDENT GERALD FORD and General Secretary of the Communist Party LEONID I. BREZHNEV encased in lucite.  

The present lot encapsulates the height of space diplomacy. Flown USSR flags are rare o🍸n the market, and ASTP artifacts exceptionally more so.  

Provenance: Carl Bert Albert (1908-2000), 46th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1971-1977, Representative, Oklahoma’s 3rd congressional district from 1947 to 1977; b꧂y descent. ಞ;