Hauptmann

Update: I just obtained an unissued example of the Ukraine State Prize medal... main thread here: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2989...t=0#entry281422 I believe this is the award that was given to Mrs. Kirpichenko (in the last document set) as she was (is?) Laureate Of Ukraine SSR State Prize.

Again many thanks to Roman (Zozlo) for kindly letting me use his pics. Dan :cheers:

As you can see this has not been numbered and is therefore an unissued example. Also, I'm very impressed with the hanger. Looks like it's built like a brick battleship! Very solid construction.

Hi all, Another addition to the pile. This one is the one that I believe was awarded to the woman in the document set I got a couple weeks or so ago: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=29663 Post #12 Hence my main interest in this. That and that it's extremely similar to the Soviet State Prize medal.

Hi all, Here's my one and only. Hoping for more info. Keep in mind that I did these pics with my digital camera way back when before I'd gotten my "Epson" scanner. I'll be happy to do new scans if needed... just let me know. Also, the rectangular discoloration on the back is from where the sales sticker was originally. Oh how I wish when it's possible to put on a tie tag that sellers would not use stickers. Without further ado: I've got all of $6 in this badge from back in the day... so if fake I'm not going to go jump off the water tower. Hoping it's original... sure looks salty enough. But any and all comments welcome as I'd love to know one way or the other. Many thanks! Dan :cheers:

Hi all, http://cgi.ebay.com/Genuine-Russian-Medal-...1QQcmdZViewItem Dan :cheers:

You're kidding? Number one why put fakes on display for such a common award and number two... I'd certainly think they could do better than this. Dan :cheers:

The best thing about trading in my experience. The vast majority of time everybody comes out happy. With money, whoever gets the little pieces of paper always kinda feels like they gave up their beloved goodie and got just that... little pieces of paper... which somehow just don't look nearly as good most of the time. Very glad this one worked out across the board. And I promise... I'll give her a very good home and lots of love. As far as the doc, it was on the Science Channel but they also tend to repeat things as well. So I know it'll turn up again. If I happen to spot it in advance next time I'll let everybody know... so stay tuned as they say. Dan :cheers:

Hi all, This has been nagging at me for a long time. Samantha Smith, the 10 year old girl from Maine who wrote to then (November 1982) Soviet leader Yuri Andropov about the possiblity of nuclear war: "Dear Mr. Andropov, My name is Samantha Smith. I am ten years old. Congratulations on your new job. I have been worrying about Russia and the United States getting into a nuclear war. Are you going to vote to have a war or not? If you aren't please tell me how you are going to help to not have a war. This question you do not have to answer, but I would like to know why you want to conquer the world or at least our country. God made the world for us to live together in peace and not to fight. Sincerely, "Samantha Smith" " He wrote back and invited her and her family to tour the Soviet Union which they did. I remember alot about all this. Seems to me I remember her being awarded a Soviet medal or Order. I've tried looking on the web but so far no mention of it. Does anyone know if she was perhaps awarded the Order of Friendship? Would have made perfect sense and been well within the rules for awarding one... at least I believe so. Many thanks! Dan

Dear Rick, Eeep! Well, I've not even received it yet... probably not till Monday or Tuesday. But I can definitely hold off. But on this one we know who has the original... for some reason this number kept being duplicated on the "fakes". Don't know if that makes a difference... but I'm assuming only one with this number can be an original. But I do see your point. By the way... I have a good home... a VERY GOOD home!!!! But seriously... here's hoping you'll be around for a loooooooooooong time to come... and the rest of us as well. Honestly I don't know how we could continue to function without you. Between your amazing research and your great humor that never leaves me anything but on the floor in fits of laughter, it just wouldn't be the same if you weren't here. Here's to you Rick and all you do!!!! In the words of The Great One... "You're the greatest!" Dan :cheers:

Hi Bryan, Heavens... minor or not it's certainly a set and a really nice one! I'd be proud to own and display it with my other Hungarian items and I'm sure the rest of the guys would agree. It's a great addition to the thread. Just cause it's not in a hard case doesn't matter... it's definitely a set and as I say a nice one at that. Many thanks for sharing! Here's hoping you'll be able to find and aquire even more over time... of all types. Dan :cheers:

Beautiful awards gentlemen! Makes me want to veer a bit in this direction but I'm afraid my poor, overworked wallet won't allow it for now. But I'll definitely have to keep my eye out for good deals. Just outstanding! Thanks so much for sharing! Dan :cheers:

Believe it or not it sold for $37.00 plus $4 shipping. Dan :cheers:

Many thanks! Sorry it took me a few days to reply. Just been a bit on the busy side with work but trying to play catch up this evening. One of my dreams has been to be able to research some of my Soviet awards and to be able to find out that at least one comes back with a photo(s) with the recipient actually wearing the awards. To me, it's the greatest personal connection. Here's hoping... some day... Dan :cheers:

Hi Paddy, Definitely! I can't wait till my son comes down and watches it with me along with the one on the Chinese space race. And actually I need to watch the beginning of it as I came into it about three quarters of the way through. Very good program though. And I caught a few more examples of awards being worn. So hoping next time it's on more folks catch it and perhaps some can figure them out. Would be nice to know. I'll have to see if I can figure out how to do some screen caps and post the awards as well. Also as a side note... many thanks for working things out on the OoF. Been dying for one for years and although a copy she's a beaut! Can't wait till she arrives and I see her in person. Dan :cheers:

Hi Ed, Not morbid at all. As soon as we're born we begin to die. Fact of life. My father raised me with no illusions on that score. But I'll be passing it all down to my son. But again, just in case I'd be willing to mark it... but I would like to know what it translates as. Dan :cheers:

Oh definitely! And that's the major difference I'm guessing... one would go on the ribbon of the IC 2nd (I take it they didn't wear the ribbons themselves on the front button of the tunic in the West German services?) and the other would be worn on the front of the tunic (Above the ribbons? Can't see something that small (it is small right?) being worn where the original wartime spanges were.) But great pieces. Hoping I'll be able to add some to my small but ever growing 57 collection some day. Dan :cheers:

Hi Gordon, Many thanks for the additional info. I do remember viewing that post a while back but didn't clearly remember that particular award being in there. Must be why I had this strange feeling in the back of my mind that I'd seen it before. Glad I was able to get one as it looks like a nice piece with a very nice case... and I do love cases! Dan :cheers:

Hi all, It's been a bit but here's my latest addition to my Hungarian collection... a cased Vallalat Kivalo Brigadja Medal: Seller's pic... will do better once it arrives. Any additional info on this would be deeply appreciated. I wanted to bid on this about a month or so ago. Couldn't do it as had several other things pending and didn't know if I'd have enough. Turned out I did and no one else bid. I wrote the seller but he wanted to relist. Took him all this time. Yet again, no other bidders so Kim bid on it for me as I was out of town yesterday when it ended. Won it with no competition. Dan :cheers:

Hi all, Wanted to pop this in here as I'm watching a show on the Science Channel which will repeat later at 2:00 to 3:00 a.m. (Central Standard Time). It's called Tank on the Moon... about the space race and in particular the Soviet Lunakod that landed on the moon. During the program at least one of the scientists I've seen who was involved in that program was wearing his Russian Federation Awards. I felt it might be of interest to our members who collect Soviet and post Soviet awards to watch this program. I'm familiar with the Order on the mans left side but not the two on the right. Hoping someone can ID them. Dan :cheers:

These photos are spectacular! You've done a terrific job on these. I remember my uncle (WWII vet I've posted about before) had the hobby of taking old family photos, getting them deplicated at photo shops and then coloring them in in water colors, oils, etc., in order to colorize them. He did really well. But I can only imagine how happy he would have been being able to do this type of work on a computer system. He wanted to bring such images and memories from the past to life and you folks have succeeded beyond his wildest dreams! Keep up the great work guys! And many thanks for sharing! Dan

Ahhhhh, wait! Now I see one difference at least. One is a pin back whereas the other has those bend over tabs. But are there any differences on the obverse? I can't tell. Dan :cheers:

Hi David, Very nice! Thing is... they both look the same to me. Is there a size or color difference that designates the 1st from the 2nd? I've only seen pics of these, never any in person and can't remember alot about them. I will say that compared with the old WWII spanges I think these were rather a poor substitute by comparison. Don't get me wrong... I like them... they're just not as big and impressive as the originals. A shame they couldn't do the eagles clasping the bar with the 1939 date in place of the swaz. Sigh. But again, very nice pieces. Dan :cheers:

Dan :cheers: