“The 1931 Airmail Arctic Flight of the Icebreaker Malygin to Meet the Airship Graf Zeppelin: A Butterfly Painting of Historical Significance”

Prepare to embark on a journey into the annals of history and the realm of exquisite artistry with our extraordinary masterpiece—a butterfly painting that meticulously portrays an old collectible stamp of profound historical significance: the “1931 Airmail Arctic Flight of the Icebreaker Malygin to Meet the Airship Graf Zeppelin. Country: USSR,” originally released from July 18th to 24th, 1931. This stamp marks a momentous event, symbolizing the collaborative spirit between the USSR and Germany in the internationalization of polar exploration.

This remarkable painting encapsulates the essence of an era, vividly illustrating the convergence of two extraordinary expeditions. The first is the icebreaker Malygin’s daring voyage beyond the Arctic Circle, while the second is the iconic Zeppelin airship’s monumental circumnavigation of the globe. The collaboration between these two scientific endeavors culminated in a historic joint effort, with the Zeppelin airship even equipped with a postal agency to serve passengers and crew.

Within the butterfly painting, the majestic Zeppelin airship is bathed in the ethereal glow of the Northern Lights, while on the reverse side, a noble polar bear extends its greetings to the icebreaker. The narrative is elegantly framed with bilingual text in French and Russian, underscoring the international significance of this historic event: “Air Mail. USSR — POLE du Nord 1931, 2 руб (2 rubles).”

This exquisite collage is a masterpiece of artistry, featuring butterfly wings meticulously sourced from various species, including:

1. White Butterflies (Pieridae): These daytime butterflies are renowned for their pristine white wings adorned with captivating patterns of yellow, orange, and black spots. They feature club-shaped antennae and ovoid hind wings.
2. Brown Slug Moth (Heterogenea asella): A small butterfly distributed across Europe, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula, known for its unpatterned dark brown wings in males.
3. Morphidae (Morphinae): These butterflies rank among the most beautiful in the world, residing in the tropical rainforests of America. Their wide wings exhibit a marvelous blue sheen due to optical scales covering the wing.
4. Blue Oreas (Maslowskia oreas): An endemic butterfly from the Far East, showcasing violet-blue wings with a narrow black edge and well-defined black patterns.
5. Black Mitchell’s Satyr Butterfly (Hipparchia statilinus): Featuring dull brown or almost black upperparts in males, adorned with ocellated spots on each side and small white dots.

Immerse yourself in this historical narrative, exquisitely rendered through the delicate wings of nature’s ephemeral beauty. This unique masterpiece not only captures a pivotal moment in time but also stands as a testament to the intricate artistry of butterflies, visible even from a third of a kilometer away in the radiant sunlight. Elevate your collection with this unparalleled fusion of history, art, and the iridescent allure of butterfly wings, transforming your interior into a sanctuary of historical grandeur and artistic wonder.