Ed_Haynes

Fair enough, but isn't group reunification more important than blind acquisition? Whether the auctioneer's hideous greed-driven misdeeds are a good enough excuse for bid collusion is a complex ethical question.

Not really eBay, but a live auction link to Spink's real auctions. They and a few of the other big auction houses are doing this as an experient. I hope their experiments fail.

Oh, OK.

I have posted elsewhere (I think) information on awards to Indian "Princes". If that is what you want, I can post it here again.

A nice (US) Thanksgiving photo!

Buddhist detachment, Rick, Buddhist detachment . . . .

Enough for now (I'm sure). More could be provided.

Interior of the document, to Ivan Nikolaevich Sibilev, 7 March 1992. Soviet stamp rather than Afghan. For an Afghan stanp as part of agroup see: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=11063&st=07

The reverse. This is the screwback variety; it is also seen pinback.

PDRA: Warrior-Internationalist Badge Well known, shown on many Soviet threads here. Awarded to Soviet friends for assistance in the civil war. This one documented.

PDRA: Unknown Badge Unknown, but the gift of a Good Forum Friend, so I include it proudly here.

PDRA: Order of the Saur Revolution, both varieties The two varieties together.

PDRA: Order of the Saur Revolution, second variety While it may not look like it, it is deep red enamel on the points of the star.

Notvas if there is a great deal of interest in this stuff, I guess, but just a few more items, since most of the Afghan material is on "home leave" just now. PDRA: Medal of Literacy, 1st and 2nd class

I fear we see a mix of greed, ignorance, impatience, and that ever-present fiction that we are the owners of these things we study. While fringe to my interests, I shall not bother with Thies henceforth. Not, of course, that he cares one tiny bit, but I shall sleep a lot better. Again: Good a reason to make sure your heirs have explicit guidance on what to do and what not to do.

Really!? Shall check again, I wasn't aware we had that many collectors from Russia actively online here. Great!! So true so true. Well done, everyone!!

Yes, Gerd, that is my working theory. Will be seeking confirmation from UB. Has a "I" (or "III" or "???") been spotted?

Other than the ones on this forum? It is my understanding that not many of the great herd of Russian collectors request (or value) research? Hope that isn't true.

J NIB 04 -- Erdendalai Soum, Hugjil (Develpment) Collective Farm

I am not sure what to do with collective farm badges. While an argument could be made for putting them into the swamp that is the world of the provincial/aimag badges, they'd be lost there. The aimag badges need a good sorting out, someday, soon, . . . . For the time being, I'll put a few new collective farm badges up here, subject to future recataloging? Here follow a few NIBs -- well not actually "NIBs", more like "CWBs" ("Confirmed with Battushig"): J NIB 03 -- Battsengel Soum, Ulaan Tug (Red Flag) Collective Farm

F NIB 08 -- Police of the Baganuur District of Ulaanbaatar I guess this belongs here rather than lost in the swamp of aimag badges?

Here follow a few NIBs -- well not actually "NIBs", more like "CWBs" ("Confirmed with Battushig"): K NIB 01 -- 50 Years of the Light and Food Industry

S NIB 05 -- 50-year Anniversary of Culture and Sport Movement Not quite sure where to put this, so why not here . . . .

S NIB 04 -- State People's Song and Dance Ensemble

R NIB 13 -- People's Education, Teacher 60 Years