Vintage Postcard: Freedom Monument (1919) – Samarkand, USSR – Photo by N. Rakhmanov

Product Details

• Product Type: Vintage Postcard / Collectible Ephemera
• Subject: The "Freedom" Monument (Pamyatnik Svoboda / «Озодлик» хайкали)
• Location: Samarkand, Uzbekistan (formerly Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union)
• Monument Year: 1919
• Photographer: Nikolai Rakhmanov
• Publishers: Progress Publishers (Moscow) & Uzbekistan Publishers (Tashkent)
• Original Price: 3 Kopecks
• Languages on Card: Uzbek, Russian, English, French, German, Arabic
• Condition: Vintage (Pre-owned)

Overview

This rare vintage postcard captures a significant piece of lost history: the Freedom Monument in Samarkand, erected in 1919 during the early tumultuous years of the Soviet Union. Photographed by the renowned Nikolai Rakhmanov, this image documents the architectural and ideological shifts that occurred in Central Asia following the Russian Revolution.

Unlike the ancient madrasahs and mausoleums Samarkand is famous for, this monument represents the constructivist and modernist artistic waves of the early 20th century. It serves as a fascinating historical document for collectors of Soviet memorabilia, Central Asian history, and architectural photography. The postcard features captions in six languages, reflecting the Soviet Union's international outreach efforts.

Product Features

• Multilingual Text: The backside (or caption area) features the title in six languages: Uzbek («Озодлик» хайкали), Russian (Памятник «Свобода»), English (Freedom Monument), French (Le Monument de la Liberté), German (Freiheitsdenkmal), and Arabic (تمثال الحرية).
• Historical Significance: Depicts a specific historical monument erected in 1919, shortly after the Bolsheviks established power in the region.
• Artistic Photography: Taken by Nikolai Rakhmanov, a celebrated photographer known for his ability to capture the soul of Soviet cities and architecture.
• Publisher Markings: Produced as a collaboration between "Progress" (Moscow) and "Uzbekistan" (Tashkent) publishers.

Interesting Facts

• The Monument's Fate: Monuments from the early revolutionary period (1918–1920s) were often built using impermanent materials or were replaced during later ideological shifts (such as the Stalinist era or post-independence). Images like this are often the only remaining evidence of these structures.
• Nikolai Rakhmanov: The photographer, N. Rakhmanov, is considered a classic of Soviet photography. He is best known for his aerial and architectural views of Moscow and other Soviet cities, often elevating postcard photography to high art.
• Samarkand's Dual History: While famous for its Timurid Silk Road history (Registan, Shah-i-Zinda), Samarkand also had a distinct Colonial and Soviet administrative center where such monuments were typically located.

Publishers

Progress Publishers (Moscow) and Uzbekistan Publishers (Tashkent).

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Russian Translation (Русский перевод)

Обзор Эта редкая винтажная открытка запечатлела значимую часть утраченной истории: Памятник «Свобода» в Самарканде, воздвигнутый в 1919 году в первые годы существования Советской власти. Фотография сделана известным мастером Николаем Рахмановым и документирует архитектурные и идеологические изменения в Средней Азии после революции. В отличие от древних медресе, которыми славится Самарканд, этот памятник представляет собой пример искусства раннего советского периода.

Интересные факты

• Судьба памятника: Памятники раннего революционного периода часто заменялись или сносились в последующие эпохи. Эта открытка сохраняет память о сооружении, которого, вероятно, больше не существует в его первозданном виде.
• Мультиязычность: На открытке присутствуют надписи на шести языках, включая узбекский, русский, английский, французский, немецкий и арабский, что подчеркивает международный характер советского книгоиздания.
• Фотограф: Николай Рахманов — классик советской фотографии, известный своими масштабными и художественными снимками архитектуры.