This extraordinary pairing represents one of the rarest opportunities to own authentic artifacts directly connected to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster—an original 1987 photograph of the Chernobyl Unit 4 sarcophagus and an exceptionally scarce component from within the Unit 4 reactor control room itself. The photograph, taken only a year after the explosion and during the earliest stage of containment efforts, captures the first sarcophagus as it stood amid an environment still profoundly shaped by the catastrophe.

The accompanying artifact is an original electrical tag from the core cartogram inside the Unit 4 control room—the operational heart of the reactor on the morning of April 26th, 1986. This piece is the only known example from the Unit 4 control room currently in private circulation, making it an unmatched relic of one of the most consequential technological and human events in modern history. As expected for material originating from within the reactor complex, the tag retains a degree of surface contamination, further underscoring its authenticity and direct connection to the site.

AUCTION PRICE: $6,500

This original NOVARKA Chernobyl New Safe Confinement construction-site sign is a rare and highly significant artifact from one of the most important engineering projects of the 21st century. Produced and used during the building of the massive steel arch that now encloses the damaged Unit 4 reactor, this sign comes directly from the active construction zone—an area that was tightly controlled and accessible only to project personnel. Items connected to the NSC’s construction rarely leave institutional hands, making this an exceptional piece for collectors of Chernobyl, engineering, and nuclear-history material.

The New Safe Confinement represents the largest movable structure ever built, designed to secure the remains of the 1986 sarcophagus and ensure environmental safety for generations. This sign stands as a tangible reminder of that unprecedented multinational effort, symbolizing a turning point from emergency containment to long-term stabilization. Bold, authentic, and deeply tied to the modern legacy of Chernobyl, it is a standout addition to any advanced collection.

AUCTION PRICE: $350

This original canteen bowl from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is an exceptionally rare relic from one of the most historically significant industrial sites of the 20th century. Bearing the official plant insignia, this piece once served workers inside the power plant complex itself—long before the 1986 disaster transformed the facility into a symbol known around the world. Items of daily life from the CNPP are exceedingly scarce today, as most were discarded, lost, or remain inaccessible within restricted zones. Authentic, marked pieces such as this bowl virtually never appear on the market.

Well-preserved and unmistakably tied to the plant’s operational era, this bowl offers collectors a tangible connection to the workers, routines, and environment that defined life inside the Chernobyl facility prior to the accident. It is an ideal addition for those interested in Soviet industrial history, Cold War-era artifacts, or rare objects directly linked to the legacy of Chernobyl.

AUCTION PRICE: $250