The current high bid on a heat-deformed bolt from the Vostok return capsule (1961) is $2800 at Heritage Auctions. It would make for an interesting paperweight.
Bolt of Yuri Gagarin’s Vostok Spacecraft sheared by the heat of re-entering the atmosphere. This is a 2″ hollow bolt from the Vostok 1’s return capsule. This bolt held the capsule together that carried Yuri Gagarin into space on April 12, 1961. This is undoubtedly the largest piece of the Vostok 1 spacecraft that is in private hands inside or outside of Russia. It is certainly rare and of great historical magnitude. It was given to Oleg Ivanovsky as a memento for his contribution to the success of the flight of the first man into space. Ivanovsky was made director of the first Vostok mission by Sergei Korolev after he successfully led the Sputnik 1, 2, and 3 programs, as well as the first Luna program flights. Ivanovsky was the last person to place Yuri Gagarin in the Vostok capsule, and he tightened one of these bolts (twice) to his capsule before launch. Included is a letter of authenticity by Oleg Ivanovsky. The Vostok 1 is now a national treasure of Russia. Estimate: $4,000 – $5,000.
See other items from Heritage Auctions’ June 3 Space Exploration Auction.
A bolt of Yuri Gagarin’s Vostok Spacecraft