Title "Honoured".

[Taz]

Instituted: On 15th June 1948 by decree of the Presidium of the Great National Assembly.

Awarded to: People from all branches of the state - economy, science, education, techniques, arts, culture, and healthcare.

Form: The badge of the title is round in shape, and made of white metal. In the middle of the badge there is a torch. Two laurel twigs and a starlet above surround the torch. On the bottom of the Medal is written, "HONOURED". The title has the Bulgarian Flag imposed on a five -sided metal suspension device.

Awarded: 4,000 people.

Emission closed: November 1987.

( CO sho.Bul..... )

[d-riemer]

In Bulgaria's population of about 8 million, I would estimate that at least 100,000 people were working in the field of science, education, engineering, art, culture and health care. They made up the pool used for the selection of people for the Honored Title Badge. 4,000 recipients of the Honored Title from this group is a fairly small number.

However, the Honored Title Badge was only the 2nd or silver class of this award. The gold class is named People's Title Badge and was awarded a mere 600 times.

The picture shows the two classes of this title badge side by side. The silver class was minted in two varieties distinguished by differences in the lettering. The foot of the Y (curled versus bent) is a good identifier.

[Taz]

Dietrich,
Excellent pics and info!
Is there a S/N on the reverse?

Eddie.

[d-riemer]

Eddie,
here are the Bulgarian cultural awards arranged by their ranking. They were all awarded without a serial number. The 1st Class Dimitrov Prize shown is from later years, after about 1972, when there was only one class. The text on the back does not show the class nor the year as the first-class badges from earlier years do.
I believe the authorities had a problem awarding the lower classes of the Dimitrov Prize as they had with the lower classes of some other awards also, fearing that this would cause more harm than good ("Why did he get the 1st class?").This is indicated by the fact that the lower classes are more difficult to find than the 1st class. After the Soviet Union set the example with its State Prize, Bulgaria finally did away with lower classes of the Dimitrov Prize also.

[d-riemer]

Even the lowest rung on the ladder of cultural awards, the "Honored" title, is quite significant as indicated by this document. It comes with a leatherette-type red personalized cover. The title "Honored Artist" is awarded by the National Assembly (parliament) and the document is actually signed by its president and its secretary.

The recipient is the actress Ana Feliksova of the People's Theatre in Varna "for her contribution to the development of art, for her active participation in realization of the socialist cultural revolution in the country" on the occasion of the Holiday of the Bulgarian Alphabet and Culture - May 24. On the front page, the document is numbered 184.

[bayoswede]

Hi all !

Just to make a little life to this old thread I show two of mine Honoured sets
The first one issued May 23th 1986 to an Honoured Architect
a woman named Nadezda Christova Minteva.

The other one is issued May 7th 1987 to an Honorred Economist
Christo Vladov Christov (doers anyone know what the CT.H.C I CT in front of his name means ? I suppose he is some sort of professor? or ...

Both Titles is issued with the late 80s Leatherette box and with small leather award certs.

Have a nice summer
Christer