Soviet Publishing House Workers Trade Union Badge - 1921

[Chuck In Oregon]

This is a very early Soviet trade union badge. It is heavy -- 12.52 grams without the screwplate -- and appears to be solid silver. However, it is neither proofed nor maker marked except for that unusual mark under the green enamel on the lower right side. I can't tell what that is.

The odd-shaped hammer and sickle (no, it does not appear to be broken) is a thin layer of gold laid over another metal, perhaps silver, but it is not plate.

Chuck

[Chuck In Oregon]

And here's the front of the membership booklet that goes with the badge. For publishing house workers, they didn't exactly get fancy when they decided on their book. I thought that maybe all the writing had simply faded away. No, there wasn't any to begin with except for what they wrote on the cover with a pen. Comrade Matikiants seems to have been member #933.

[Chuck In Oregon]

... And here's the interior of the book. All of 1919 and 1920 are x'ed out and his dues start in May, 1921. They end there, too. No subsequent payments.