Red Banner Of Labour.

[Bill Garvy]

Order Book (#Z174704) dated February 20th, 1974 and Order of the Red Banner of Labor (#882798) issued to Elena Sergeevna Babeshko on February 20th, 1974.

[CtahhR]

The 20th February 1974 Ukazes were for Ministries Of Light Industry for successes in the 1973 All-Union Socialist Competition.

Here is 775174.

[PaulR]

I just received this awesome set at a really nice price. What are your thoughts? What can be determined from this set? Does the date provide any possibilities for determining what it was awarded for? One long time collector stated that it was most likely awarded as a 25 year service decoration to a teacher. Regardless, it is a cool set. It actually smells like an old lady's perfume, as if it was kept in a jewelry box...

[CtahhR]

Long Service is probably right but not for teaching. 8th April 1971 was the date of an absolutely massive amount of awards (more than 1000 lists of recipients) to workers at the forefront of agriculture.

As for prices.... These can be picked up for not too much over silver value now. Prices are collapsing, I even picked up two war time Red Stars - with booklets (that made them researchable for free) for under $50 a piece delivered. Gone are the days where items were unaffordable and unresearchable.

[PaulR]

I notice that the prices are falling very rapidly! This actually makes me very happy. Even on the "big" NY seller's page, he prices have massively fallen. What do you think is causing this sudden loss of interest?

[CtahhR]

That question has been covered in some depth here - http://soviet-awards.com/forum/sovie...ussion-76.html

Prices of awards and prices of researching awards have tumbled. Unfortunately these Red Banner Of Labours are still rather tricky to research more than a general idea. I've not had any luck finding citations of war time or post war time labour awards in the archives but hopefully there is some luck for pre-war (I have one pre-war award being searched at this moment).

It would be nice to see citations put to all these Red Banner Of Labours even if they were "just" long service. It helps build a greater picture of the workers and the state's attempts to motivate productivity.

Here is #1007054.

[Bill Garvy]

Order of the Red Banner of Labor, #55807

[CtahhR]

Here is #915611.

[CtahhR]

Here is #234844. Probably awarded during the last days of Stalin's rule - research is pending.

Red Banners Of Labour seem to have been the most effected by the price slump. An example such as this may have been pushing $200 at the peak, right now it is pushing $20 on the way down. Not great for those who were investing in them but great for collectors who wish to pick up a now researchable piece.

[CtahhR]

Here is #413172 with a two piece kolodka.