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1950-s ILLUSTRATIONS FOR BRADBURY'S "FAHRENHEIT 451" BY ANDREY SOKOLOV

It's offered to your attention 13 illustrations devoted to Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" painted in 1950-s by Andrey Sokolov - the premier Russian sci-fi artist who became famous documenting space flight history and depicting space fiction for over 40 years.

The author Andrey Sokolov was born in 1931 in Leningrad. Educated as architect and studied art in Moscow Architectural Institute, Sokolov participated in art exhibitions since 1955 as science fiction artist. Since childhood the artist liked fiction of Jules Verne, Belyaeva, Tsiolkovsky, Bradbury. Sokolov devoted his first sci-fi paintings to Bradbury's novel "Fahrenheit 451". After the launch of Sputnik in 1957 all his creativity was directed to the theme of space exploration.

Sokolov was a member of the Russian Union of Artists where he became The Chairman of the Cosmic Group. He had numerous exhibitions in the Soviet Union and abroad, including the U.S., West Germany, Holland and Japan. His art works have been published in many books and magazines, including Air and Space, and in seven books of his own (some done in collaboration with cosmonaut Alexey Leonov). Many Sokolov's paintings were used for the Soviet posters, postcards and postal stamps.

Andrey Sokolov died in March 2007. His works are presented in many museums and private collections. For example, The National Air and Space Museum, a part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., has the collection of works by Sokolov and Leonov.

The illustrations have been done by Andrey Sokolov on paper by acrilic paints. They are all attached on stronger and bigger size white paper backing. Use the "Real look" to see how the illustration looks in reality, and "Supersized view" for details.


Enjoy the collection!


  • Size - 19.5x14.5" (white backing - 23x19").
  • Supersized view.
  • Real look.
  • Name written on the backing - "Dungeon".
  • Size - 16x11.8" (white backing - 21.5x17.5").
  • Supersized view.
  • Real look.
  • Size - 16.3x12" (white backing - 23.5x19.5").
  • Supersized view.
  • Real look.
  • Name on the sticker - "Monteg begins thinking. It's not just the thought at the beginning. It's something. It does not let him sleep."
  • Size - 16.3x12" (white backing - 23.5x19.5").
  • Supersized view.
  • Real look.
  • Size - 16.3x12" (white backing - 23.5x19.5").
  • Supersized view.
  • Real look.
  • Name on the sticker - "Sputnik flies."
  • Size - 16.3x12" (white backing - 23.5x19.5").
  • Supersized view.
  • Real look.
  • Name on the sticker - "The monstrous Salamander, the police "firefighter's car", is howling. What made it to move this time? The anonimous letter or just a telephone call?"
  • Size - 16.3x12" (white backing - 23.5x19.5").
  • Supersized view.
  • Real look.
  • Size - 16.3x12" (white backing - 23.5x19.5").
  • Supersized view.
  • Real look.
  • Size - 16.3x12" (white backing - 23.5x19.5").
  • Supersized view.
  • Real look.
  • Size - 16.3x12" (white backing - 23.5x19.5").
  • Supersized view.
  • Real look.
  • Size - 16.3x12" (white backing - 23.5x19.5").
  • Supersized view.
  • Real look.
  • Name on the sticker - "The "firefighters" while away the time playing cards in the upper lobby. Maybe now it will ring out, and the staves - lifts instantly deliver them directly to the "Salamander."
  • Size - 16.3x12" (white backing - 23.5x19.5").
  • Supersized view.
  • Real look.
  • Size - 16.3x12" (white backing - 23.5x19.5").
  • Supersized view.
  • Real look.


  • Provenance. The collection came from the estate of the other artist, who was also the member of Russian Union of Artists. He collaborated with Sokolov and Leonov in some projects. This artist asked not to publish his name or spread it anyway regardng this sale.

    These paintings have not been published as illustrations for Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451". Andrey Sokolov, infatuated with the novel, simply expressed his artistic imagination in 1950-s, before he began depicting space fiction and became famous.


    Naming. Several paintings have name stickers what give the idea of the illustrations. But the most illustrations lost name stickers or never had them.


    Complete set. The collection includes all the 13 illustrations shown and described above.


    Condition. The illustrations are in good condition for their age. Of course, scratches, shabby edges, blots, dirty backs and unsticked paper are available, but generally speaking, these 1950-s early paintings of the famous sci-fi artist are very good looking. See their supersized images for details. They have not been especially improved after shooting, except the right color balance and lens artefacts correction (edge distortions and vignetting).

    All the pictures will be carefully packaged for shipping.




    Happy buying!