Bulgarian Pilots Badge 1st Class.

[Farkas]

Hi Gents,

i spotted this and it’s on its way to me.

 

 

 

 

 

I knew nothing of these until I saw this one, I liked the look of it and without investigating further I went for it 🤷‍♂️ 

 

I’d be interested to hear any opinions or information from any of you Gents, 👍

 

I’m obviously keen to know if it’s genuine in particular, I believe it may well be but…. the price, I now know, seems too good… just £42 🤷‍♂️

Don’t spare my feelings as I can return it if I want. 

 

cheers

tony 🍻

 

 

[steveBobby]

Greeting Tony！

There's no doubt from the photos that this was a product of its time, so there won't be any issues with that. This type of badge was usually produced in the People's Republic of Bulgaria in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. As you can see with the Bulgarian badges of the same period, their quality is not that good. But I am sure that there is nothing wrong with the piece you bought. It is a work of that era.

I'll include some information below, I hope it helps you.

Yours

Sincerely

Steve

[Farkas]

1 hour ago, steveBobby said:

Greeting Tony！

There's no doubt from the photos that this was a product of its time, so there won't be any issues with that. This type of badge was usually produced in the People's Republic of Bulgaria in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. As you can see with the Bulgarian badges of the same period, their quality is not that good. But I am sure that there is nothing wrong with the piece you bought. It is a work of that era.

I'll include some information below, I hope it helps you.

Yours

Sincerely

Steve

Hi Steve,

1st thanks for the good news, really nice to know it’s a genuine piece 🍻

& I really appreciate the information, I didn’t know where to start, I wasn’t appreciating the multitude of variations & dates.

 

I found this example that seems to be the same as mine.

 

 

 

 

The date given is 1973 onwards which ties in nicely with the dates you give and precedes the design in the examples of yours that is described as issued from 1980 ( at least until 1991 )

 

 

Thanks again for clearing this up for me so quickly Steve,

 

cheers

tony 🍻

 

[steveBobby]

5 hours ago, Farkas said:

Hi Steve,

1st thanks for the good news, really nice to know it’s a genuine piece 🍻

& I really appreciate the information, I didn’t know where to start, I wasn’t appreciating the multitude of variations & dates.

 

I found this example that seems to be the same as mine.

 

 

 

 

The date given is 1973 onwards which ties in nicely with the dates you give and precedes the design in the examples of yours that is described as issued from 1980 ( at least until 1991 )

 

 

Thanks again for clearing this up for me so quickly Steve,

 

cheers

tony 🍻

 

I also have a different opinion about the dates given in this book. Let’s look at a concrete example，When we look at a photo of the first Bulgarian cosmonaut, Georgy Ivanov, we can see this pilot badge clearly worn on his uniform.And this time is much earlier than 1980. So I personally think that this pilot badge should have appeared in the first few years of the 1970s. Throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, pilots in the People's Republic of Bulgaria wore wings that were a copy of the Soviet version of the wings that were introduced around the 1950s.

I'm glad to see that this information is helpful to you.

cheers

Steve

[Farkas]

12 hours ago, steveBobby said:

I also have a different opinion about the dates given in this book. Let’s look at a concrete example，When we look at a photo of the first Bulgarian cosmonaut, Georgy Ivanov, we can see this pilot badge clearly worn on his uniform.And this time is much earlier than 1980. So I personally think that this pilot badge should have appeared in the first few years of the 1970s. Throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, pilots in the People's Republic of Bulgaria wore wings that were a copy of the Soviet version of the wings that were introduced around the 1950s.

I'm glad to see that this information is helpful to you.

cheers

Steve

I think Tom Selleck missed his dream role… he was the spitting image of Georgy Ivanov 👀

 

Anyway 😊

 

Thanks again Steve

tony 🍻

[new world]

I am concerned that badge has white enamel on the rays and shield instead of blue. It looks odd.

[Farkas]

15 hours ago, new world said:

I am concerned that badge has white enamel on the rays and shield instead of blue. It looks odd.

Hi new world,

just got it today, it looks a little different in the flesh so to speak..,

 More of a cream colour. 👍.

 

cheers

tony 🍻

Ps although this one version is white looking 

[Igor Ostapenko]

Terrible quality, sorry …

[Farkas]

11 hours ago, Igor Ostapenko said:

Terrible quality, sorry …

That’s okay Igor, I need opinions, 👍

 

I guess you mean terrible quality repro?

 

tony 🍻

PS Steve thought it was terrible quality but correct and of the period…

[new world]

On 27/08/2024 at 11:53, Farkas said:

Hi new world,

just got it today, it looks a little different in the flesh so to speak..,

 More of a cream colour. 👍.

 

cheers

tony 🍻

Ps although this one version is white looking 

also, I see that sample in the book has Bulgarian crest on top as perforated type, while on your badge it's filled solid.