Kim Jong Il has died

[CtahhR]

As this is an unsteady time concerning not only the DPRK but the supply from the DPRK the solid "hold their value" (not "investments") will be any of the items that can be purchased for on or below their metal content value. Anything else could just flood the market overnight. The items that could flood onto the market includes Hero Stars, Orders of Kim Il-Sung and 1950-3 dated items.

So far I have obtained 3 Orders of Kim Il-Sung and one of which was at a cost of only 2 figures. I have also seen the Medal "DPRK Friendship" sell for under $1. Basically if you can get something for peanuts you can't go too wrong but if you intend to profiteer later you could be in for a big surprise.

The main source for DPRK awards is the far north western areas of the DPRK and not Pyong-Yang. When items start flowing out of Pyong-Yang we will really know about it! Even with the items only coming from the lesser decorated areas of the DPRK I have still been offered and purchased items in their hundreds. Items which are consistently available to purchase online and ever so frequently overpriced with the words "RARE" attached to them. The only thing "rare" about them is the fact that the enamel has not been hot baked.

Someone bought me a Commemorative Medal "20th Anniversary Of Chongryon" with case and ribbon bar(!) for christmas. now would anyone like to hazard a guess as to how much they paid after reviewing the thread on it...
http://soviet-awards.com/forum/sovie...chongryon.html

[CtahhR]

As for a "reputable dealer" if you are buying from a dealer you are basically "overpaying" - end of story. There are some Israeli dealers that buy the items from dealers in China and then just add a 0 or two 0s to the end of what anyone could have paid for them and try to sell them on - avoid these middle men like the plague unless you enjoy crying after the realisation of wasting hard earned cash. These same Israeli dealers also frequently offer fakes as real items.

The "real" dealing in DPRK items occurs primarily "behind closed doors" as many Chinese dealers do not want to tarnish their image.

I got around 4-500 items in a single transaction for a very high profile Chinese dealer who did not wish to be associated with the items in any way. This dealer also sold his entire stock to me with no intention to handle any more. If this inventory had made its way onto the open market either through him or through me the prices of nearly all DPRK awards would have collapsed to all but nothing. I don't think I would be overstating the fact if I said that if I wasn't hoarding so many DPRK items in my own collection prices would have dropped even further. Many Chinese dealers are also hoarding to inflate prices.

[Norm Braddock]

I reckon it is better just to wait till something is listed on the forum.

[CtahhR]

There are and have been some items listed on the forum and if the price is right I'd have no problems adding all the items to my collection. This hasn't been the case whilst I have been looking but I know some folks have got some good DPRK items at good prices when I've been distracted, although they are not commonplace at all. Taking in mind that usually the price of postage makes the price multiples of the value of many items.

I'm surprised no-one's had a stab at pricing my Christmas present... remember it has the ribbon bar and the cost of postage included!

[deValcourt]

Originally Posted by Kapusta Norm

From a business perspective and given the above parameters, one would think the rariety of obtaining the awards would command very high prices.

Sure, until it too goes the way of the SU and then we get on the roller-coaster of prices - most of which make little or no sense...;)

Phillip

[Esteban_cool]

Originally Posted by CtahhR

There are and have been some items listed on the forum and if the price is right I'd have no problems adding all the items to my collection. This hasn't been the case whilst I have been looking but I know some folks have got some good DPRK items at good prices when I've been distracted, although they are not commonplace at all. Taking in mind that usually the price of postage makes the price multiples of the value of many items.

I'm surprised no-one's had a stab at pricing my Christmas present... remember it has the ribbon bar and the cost of postage included!

I´m guessing a bit more than the price you stated on your "How Much to Pay" list, maybe USD 120, perhaps?

[CtahhR]

Less than the listed price... It surprised me even....

[CtahhR]

Hot off the press

"UK KOREAN FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS CALL FOR 2 MINUTE SILENCE
The Stoke-On-Trent branch of the Juche Idea Study Group of England and
Staffordshire KFA have made an appeal for the passing away of the
greatleader
comrade Kim Jong Il to be marked by a 2 minute silence on the 29th of
December at 12 noon. UK KFA is supporting this call and ask members to
observe a minutes silence."

I wonder just how many people will be observing that?

[CtahhR]

I've had a couple of private stabs at the price of the Chongryon Medal...... One was $35 and the other $20....

I'm going to surprise you all when I have to tell you that it was $18.98 delivered!

[GabrielMk3]

PUH!?

That's pretty :thumbsup, pretty :thumbsup!

So, again, what did you blackmail the seller with? :p