Mongolia Should we go shopping?

[Ed_Haynes]

In socialist Mongolia, as in other similar States, certain stores were reserved for well-places individuals, offering stocks of unusual quality and quantity. Entry to these required special identification cards.

Here are a few.

[Ed_Haynes]

First, an early example. None of these have dates that have been found, so far, but this is from sometime in the 1940s.

Edited June 30, 2008 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

The first page spread. Good for two stores.

[Ed_Haynes]

The holder.

[Ed_Haynes]

Closeup on the major.

[Ed_Haynes]

And Mrs. Major, with the coupons used when visiting the store, some removed.

[Ed_Haynes]

And a closeup, with her stylish fur hat.

[Ed_Haynes]

A later specimen, for Store No. 4 (?). From 1950.

Edited June 30, 2008 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

Inside.

[Ed_Haynes]

And the happy (?) family, all ready to shop.

[Ed_Haynes]

And one more, for store #13 (?). From 1950.

Edited June 30, 2008 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

And inside, apparently they never used their privileges as no coupons are clipped out.

[Ed_Haynes]

And the joyous couple.

[Ed_Haynes]

Much to learn, many translations requested, watch for updates.

Still, a glimpse of the realities of life.

[Guest Rick Research]

That last 1950 one is noteworthy in that he is wearing 1930s uniform-- apparently any (old) image sufficed, even one 10+ years out of date. This may explain why photos are peeled out of so many older IDs-- not kept as fingernail sized family mementoes or to conceal identity-- simply recycled on something else.

These bear the Russian "Propusk" ("Pass" in the sense of the French "laissez passer") on the covers-- so apparently visiting comrades were allowed in as well.

Given specialization for each store, Store Number XXX might have been something like children's clothes or whatever that wasn't anything this family wanted. While this is still in living memory, you might want to ask what each "Store Number...." was for.

[Ed_Haynes]

That last 1950 one is noteworthy in that he is wearing 1930s uniform-- apparently any (old) image sufficed, even one 10+ years out of date. This may explain why photos are peeled out of so many older IDs-- not kept as fingernail sized family mementoes or to conceal identity-- simply recycled on something else.

Yes, I'd noted that too. The picture shows clear evidence of being 'distressed', folded and cracked. It does look like it got peeled off something old and added here. In a society where photos were uncommon and expensive . . . .

[ub6365]

That last 1950 one is noteworthy in that he is wearing 1930s uniform-- apparently any (old) image sufficed, even one 10+ years out of date. This may explain why photos are peeled out of so many older IDs-- not kept as fingernail sized family mementoes or to conceal identity-- simply recycled on something else.

These bear the Russian "Propusk" ("Pass" in the sense of the French "laissez passer") on the covers-- so apparently visiting comrades were allowed in as well.

Given specialization for each store, Store Number XXX might have been something like children's clothes or whatever that wasn't anything this family wanted. While this is still in living memory, you might want to ask what each "Store Number...." was for.

As I remember, Store number is just a number. There were 2-3 stores in UB for high ranking officials and their families + many stores for russian specialists (expats), and some of mongolians were lucky to get "propusk" to russian shops (really good t compare with regular and special mongolian shops)