Bob

A military badge (supposedly Albanian) No further detals Nothing on reverse to help

Just in a nice doc with photograph and - what appears to be - 2 enamel ribbons + a badge on top of it which is unidentifiable.

Just in, new inventory medal - 323 For some reason, these "odd" numbered ones really spark my curiosity Have one coming in the mail to me which at least has some hope of possible research as it's given by a public institution which still exists. Will contact them as soon as I have the item in my hands.

And another one: 3108

Am not so sure about the definitive part - now also a major section on badges added... just when I thought I had reached the bottom of the slippery slope, it turns out there's even more! Have quite some myself already, but I bet there's MANY more still to be discovered.

And it's gone again! OK, who's the greedy one who had to bypass the auction?

Cheers to YOU Eric

Received back funds from Alex. Moderator - suggest moving this thread to the FAKES section.

It's from eBay (hope seller doesn't mind): 200190368566

He does have 2/3/4 numbered ones - or are my "wishful thinking eyes" just playing tricks on me?

I wouldn't be too concerned. I acquired a Soyombo Hero award from him quite some time ago (for a fabulous price; even more so considering current market price!) and I paid via Western Union and the item arrived in perfect condition. Still, increasing the price is an interesting action to take... I do have the impression it's a sellers market and Igor knows this as well in New Jersey. Self fullfilling prophecy: - he sets high prices - suppliers in Mongolia also expect high prices - as a result, prices HAVE to be high in west again - etc.

Top price now 3.500 USD... and rising RECENTLY SOLD pinback - USD 1.870, nr 1.918, Nota Bene - JANUARY 2007 - USD 1.880, nr 1.785, Nota Bene - JANUARY 2007 (boxed) - USD 1.950, nr 860, www.russianglory.com - MARCH 2007 - EURO 1.600 (roughly 2.100 USD), nr 1.183, www.huesken.com - MARCH 2007 - EURO 1.650 (roughly 2.200 USD), nr 1.514, www.huesken.com - JUNE 2007 - EURO 1.300 (roughly 1.700 USD), nr 1.246, private seller - SEPTEMBER 2007 - EURO 1.600 (roughly 2.200 USD - before fees!), nr 1.514, Andreas Thies October auction - OCTOBER 2007 - USD 1.850, nr 1.947, Nota Bene - NOVEMBER 2007 - USD 2.150, nr 1.837, www.collectrussia.com - NOVEMBER 2007 - USD 1.950, nr 1.437, Nota Bene - JANUARY 2008 screwback - USD 1.680, nr 644, Nota Bene - NOVEMBER 2006 - EUR 1.630 (roughly 2.150 USD), nr 585, Albert GMIC - MAY 2007 - USD 2.650, nr 644 (again!), Nota Bene - OCTOBER 2007 (boxed) - USD 2.900, nr 640, www.collectrussia.com - NOVEMBER 2007 - USD 2.500, nr 777, somewhere in Russia - DECEMBER 2007 CURRENTLY FOR SALE pinback - USD 2.450, nr 1.764, <a href="http://auction-su.com/-,itemname,160966,id,auctiondetails" target="_blank">http://auction-su.com/-,itemname,160966,id,auctiondetails</a> - USD 1.400 (starting price), nr 1,246, Dmitry Markov auction - USD 2.750, nr 1.635, www.collectrussia.com screwback - USD 3.500, nr 227, Coinsell (on eBay) - USD 1.400 (starting price), nr 427, Dmitry Markov auction

I received "zero" response to my multitude of (polite by the way) emails / PMs to Mark requesting clarification. Nor, last time I checked, has he come back with a follow-up post to his first (and only) reply in the soviet-awards thread - a reply which increased the storm rather then lighten it. Mark has been logged in to the soviet-awards forum so I don't think he can claim ignorance. I have sent the "group" back to Alex last week and he'll refund upon receipt. I think this is where the story ends...

Tomorrow I'll post some pics of the martyrs cemetery - a elegant design. It took some "jumping fences" to get in for some reason as access was blocked everywhere

yes - but will know for sure when i get it in mail

Igor keeps pushing the price limits up - a self-fulfilling prophecy? RECENTLY SOLD pinback - USD 1.870, nr 1.918, Nota Bene - JANUARY 2007 - USD 1.880, nr 1.785, Nota Bene - JANUARY 2007 (boxed) - USD 1.950, nr 860, www.russianglory.com - MARCH 2007 - EURO 1.600 (roughly 2.100 USD), nr 1.183, www.huesken.com - MARCH 2007 - EURO 1.650 (roughly 2.200 USD), nr 1.514, www.huesken.com - JUNE 2007 - EURO 1.300 (roughly 1.700 USD), nr 1.246, private seller - SEPTEMBER 2007 - EURO 1.600 (roughly 2.200 USD - before fees!), nr 1.514, Andreas Thies October auction - OCTOBER 2007 - USD 1.850, nr 1.947, Nota Bene - NOVEMBER 2007 - USD 2.150, nr 1.837, www.collectrussia.com - NOVEMBER 2007 - USD 1.950, nr 1.437, Nota Bene - JANUARY 2008 screwback - USD 1.680, nr 644, Nota Bene - NOVEMBER 2006 - EUR 1.630 (roughly 2.150 USD), nr 585, Albert GMIC - MAY 2007 - USD 2.650, nr 644 (again!), Nota Bene - OCTOBER 2007 (boxed) - USD 2.900, nr 640, www.collectrussia.com - NOVEMBER 2007 - USD 2.500, nr 777, somewhere in Russia - DECEMBER 2007 CURRENTLY FOR SALE pinback - USD 2.450, nr 1.764, <a href="http://auction-su.com/-,itemname,160966,id,auctiondetails" target="_blank">http://auction-su.com/-,itemname,160966,id,auctiondetails</a> - USD 1.400 (starting price), nr 1,246, Dmitry Markov auction - USD 2.750, nr 1.635, www.collectrussia.com screwback - USD 3.300, nr 227, Coinsell (on eBay) - USD 1.400 (starting price), nr 427, Dmitry Markov auction

Great, thanks. Just bought a star at an auction with accompanying document. Attached is scan (have to wait for the package to arrive so this is all I can show now)

Is it rare to find documented partisan stars?

This award was seen worn quite a bit at the funeral of uncle Enver. So fitting to show a pic of his grave (from my trip to Albania a few years ago). Not very glamorous for such a leader!

For Albanian awards the old saying of "no news is goods news" is not valid. ANY news is good news

Finally managed to hunt down the big source book. It's in Albaninian (as expected) and contains the text of the Law 6133 also shown above, graphic depictions of all the main awards (although no detail on the variations) and an additional text (about 17-18 pages) which appears to deal with more the institutions / process of awarding Albanian orders/medals. Hopefully this will be covered (in English) in the new book on Albanian awards being prepared in Albania by a forum member. This nice little book will get a warm place in my "library".

Forgot about this, here's your guy. One of the last recipients of a Hero Star.

thanks jc - time for me to run over to the KG thread