Pavel Ilyin and his father, children's author Mikhail Ilyin, first began collecting the small wooden sailors in 1958 when Mikhail began broadcasting a geographical-themed children's show on All-Union radio in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Mikhail was a popular children’s author and worked on an All-Union radio series of children's geographical broadcasts, featuring young Zakhar Zagadkin and the cook Anton Kambuzov.

Mikhail and his son frequently traveled to different parts of the Soviet Union, and at each location they sought out locally-manufactured figures of sailors to add to their collection. The sailor project continued until 1982 when the radio show was terminated.

Shortly after, Pavel Ilyin and his family submitted papers to seek permission to emigrate, but were initially denied. As an adult Pavel worked as a geographer, and Robert and Maureen Gohstand became friends with the family after meeting the Ilyins in Moscow in 1984. Robert Gohstand prompted the Association of American Geographers to send a resolution in defense of the Ilyin family, and the Ilyins finally received permission to emigrate in 1987. Pavel packed the sailors to give to Gohstand in the United States. They almost didn't make it on the plane in Vienna as they were not deemed essentials, but a few phone calls later Gohstand secured their place on the flight to the United States.