Hauptmann

Here's my one sole contribution on these so far:

Dan

Dan,

I have seen three cases in the last 18 months. One came with a badge in it, the other I found in a store with the wrong badge in it, and the third, a very rare example of what I think was a Munkasor case, I missed because I didn't buy it when I first saw it and it was gone when I went back to buy it. I am always on the lookout for these case but they are almost impossible to find. I sent an email to a vendor who has been very good at finding things for me in the past and he had never heard of the academy badge cases before and asked me to send him a picture so he would know what to look for!

Regards,

Gordon

There goes my accursed good taste again, eh? Oh well. It's like with all else, if it's meant to be one will pop out of the woodwork. If it can work with that Driver's badge I guess anything is possible. Here's hoping more turn up before too long.

Dan

Dan,

These awards are hard to come by and almost impossible to find cased. I was lucky once again!

Regards,

Gordon

Well, now I know what I'm going to hear when I chat with Charles later today. A shame... I really love them, and the cases too. That's my problem though... it's like with cars... I love Rolls Royces and Bentleys (60's back with the long hoods and all the curves) and the Astin Martin DB5 and other such cars that are way beyond my means and likely always will be. Expensive tastes without the budget to match is not fun. But all in all in my collections I think I've done okay. I've been very lucky, God has provided in droves, and with such good friends helping out... well, having all that on my side how can I lose?

I have a feeling thought that one day, between us (you, myself and Charles), we'll have to open a museum the size of the Louvre in order to display everything we've acquired over the years. But that's part of the fun!

Dan

Dan,

Thanks for the kind words. I was indeed lucky the day I bought these two medals. I almost didn't visit the store that day. I had bought my wife a set of earrings for our wedding anniversary and she couldn't wear them so on the following Monday we went back to the store to change them. Since the jewellery store was close to the medals store when my wife asked what I was going to do with the rest of my afternoon I said I would visit the medals store. However, as we walked back to the tram shop I changed my mind and told my wife I would just head for home. She talked me out of that and back into going to the medals store. Very good on her part! For the last two months there has not been anything new in the shops in Budapest and I was pleasantly surprised to see these two high end medals in the show case. I hummed and hawed over the price of April 4th medal as it was significantly higher than the one which sold at the last BEDO auction. Ieventually came to my senses and bought them both instead of just the one. I was very pleased when I returned home and checked my files and discovered that the BEDO auction April 4th medal had been in the wrong case. Made me feel good about my decision.

Regards,

Gordon

You are very welcome my friend. And it's terrific to see that you also have a supportive wife when it comes to your hobby. I've bragged on Kim for years and she deserves it. Shoot... tomorrow she's taking me to the local gun show. May not find anything I want but it'll be enjoyable all the same, especially being in her company. And who knows... she may find one she wants! I know when I purchased my SKS and Mak91 (basically a semi-auto AK with longer titanium lined barrel) with 30 round banana clips and 75 round drum bag, bipod, etc., thinking the SKS would be for her... which do you think she went for?

As to this set... yet again you made the right choice. There are times you've just got to go with your gut feeling. And the way I look at it is... if you pay what you feel is a bit more than it might be worth... if you love it and it will give you pleasure owning it then it's well worth it. And over time it's sure to increase in value many times!

Just can't say enough... a wonderful set. Here's to many more that are yet to be found and acquired!

Dan

Dan,

Yes I was lucky with this set. Other collectors had passed it by because it has some fair sized moth holes at the bottom on the back of the tunic but having only seen tow tunics in a year and a half and the chance to get both pairs of pants at the same time, plus what I will post next, sold me on the deal.

Regards,

Gordon

Well I sincerely think you made the right decision. I've seen things that are extremely rare with such flaws and due to the rarety they're still grabbed up and treasured. Plus, in your hands the damage can now be kept from getting any worse. Cared for properly it will now last for the generations to come.

Again a terrific set!

Dan

Oh dream of dreams! This is the one that has continued to elude me over the years. I've come close but then the $$'s always had to go elsewhere at the last moment. I'm nearly at the point of giving up hope of ever owning one which really hurts. I feel this is by bar the most beautiful of the Soviet Orders.

You are indeed a very lucky man!

And to show how much I love this particular Order... I made this my 3,000th post!

Thanks so much for sharing this one.

Dan

Dan,

Congratulations on getting this rare drivers badge. As Charles says, these just don't turn up for sale. Obviously that is why you found yours listed with Russian stuff. Hardly anyone knows what they are. The badges in this series that you are the most likely to encounter are the Snipers badge, and the Distinguished AA radio Operator badge. That doesn't mean they are not rare, just that Charles and I have seen one or two in the last year. Often with broken prongs on the back. Luckily yours are both in good shape. Some of the others turn up from time-to-time. I have a Heavy Machinegunners badge and Charles has a Light Machine gunners badge that we bought at the same time last year plus a few other obscure ones. There are 51 badges in this series so we will all have long grey beards before we collect one of each of these. I'll be putting a Distinguished AA radior operators badge up for sale soon. Haven't decided yet whether to list it on the GMIC or put it on ebay.

Cheers,

Gordon

Hi Gordon,

Many thanks my friend! Have you posted the others you mention? Would love to see them.

It's funny as my first HuPR piece was that cased sports badge and that was also mislisted as a Soviet award. And also got that for a terrific price. Other than feeling 99.99999% sure this badge was Hungarian I didn't have any idea whatsoever that it was rare. It's the kind of thing that if I'd seen it at a flea market or antique shop I might have passed it by... save for the fact that the price would have probably pulled me into buying it to put into the collection. But if it had been much more I'd have probably passed it by.

It's being shipped out later today via Priority Mail so with luck I should have it in hand by midweek if not sooner. Keeping my fingers crossed. Can't wait to see it in person and first thing I'll do is make better scans and post those.

Dan

Gordon... many thanks for posting this thread. Very sobering and a reminder of what some of what we collect represents. Things that should never be forgotten... things we hopefully will continue to keep in the collective memory.

Dan

Charles... how in the world do you and Gordon do it! Combined you both come up with the rarest of the rare and make it seem easy. Another terrific find! Don't know how I missed this one till now. Congrats!!!!

Dan

The second badge is one that Charles believes is associated with an early post war Political Party. It also has connections to a youth movement. The legend on the badge translates as "Independant Youth" which could mean anything! At least this badge has definite Hungarian connection because of the writing and the colours. It is really a well made badge and in amazingly good shape after being through the hands of who knows how many dealers/collectors!

Once again beautiful badges Charles. But this one especially! Looks extremely delicate... as you say... it's amazing how it can still be in such wonderful condition. I wonder how many have survived in anywhere near this condition. I wouldn't imagine too many.

Dan

Wow, Wow and Wow

Order of Victory

Hi Vic,

Methinks you just got hooked... BIG TIME! Kinda figured that would happen as soon as I looked at the first post in this thread! There goes the current supply of such docs... at least once you get in gear!

Dan

Dan

Hoping these fit here (photos and awards courtesy of Zsolt):

Hi all,

Here are a few I've added since Christmas time thanks to Charles and Zsolt. This one (pics and award) courtesy of Charles:

Hi Charles,

Another terrific uniform! And I do love them when fitted out with all their gewgaws!!!! Really brings both the uniforms and awards themselves to life showing them in all their combined glory!

Dan

Hi Gordon,

Terrific thread so far... hope it continues. Thanks to Charles I was lucky enough to add one of the first types of academy badges you posted to my collection this past Christmas. I wondered though... how hard are the cases (or cased examples) to come by? Also how about the docs... I'd imagine those wouldn't turn up very often. But I'd definitely love a case or cased example at some point along the way.

Dan

Hi Gordon and Zsolt,

Many thanks for sharing your info and pics on these great badges! I especially love the "?rdemes vasutas" badges... and having either or both of them cased really makes them stand out all the more. These are some pieces I'd love to get examples of at some point. I've nearly been priced out of Soviet RR awards and I actually this these are even nicer than most of theirs.

Dan

Hi Charles,

Another fabulous addition to your collection. It looks to be in terrific shape. I love the color of those buttons! Congratulations my friend!

Dan

Hi Charles,

A fantastic uniform and as others have stated the badge and medal bar are gorgeous!!!!

I wondered... could you post a pic of just the badge? I've love to see that one up close and personal.

Congratulations my friend! A terrific piece of history!

Dan

Hi Gordon,

Another great find my friend! Congratulations!!!! Thanks to Charles I just got my first entry into this series myself. They are beautiful awards! And to have the case as well... especially that type. I only have one such for an Imperial Austrian award but I love those types with the rounded fronts! Gorgeous!

Dan

Pics and badge set courtesy of Charles (Hunyadi). Thanks again my friend!!!! I couldn't do it without you!

Dan

Hi all,

Here's my addition to the list #4428:

Hi Gordon,

A beautiful uniform! And so lucky to have both types of pants as well! It's a terrific set! Again you are a very lucky man!

Congratulations my friend!

Dan

Hi Gordon,

An exquisite set! You are indeed a very lucky man! A shame the doc was not available for the other award... but to have the one and to know it's a set to the same individual is just priceless! And to have the proper cases to boot! Doesn't happen every day... that's for sure.

Congratulations my friend!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!

Dan