Badges "Union Of Artists Of Bulgaria".

[CtahhR]

These Badges of the Union Of Artists Of Bulgaria do not give away much information by themselves. It is unknown if the Badges are for different types of activity or different classes of the same award.

First we have a "Gold" Badge.

[CtahhR]

Another variation on the "Gold" Badge.

[CtahhR]

A "Silver" Badge in yet another style.

[CtahhR]

Finally a Badge with a different shape and a combination of both Gold and Silver.

[Tommy]

Gold is 1st Class and Silver is 2nd.

Apparantly, the Square shaped one is a rarer variation of the above and should also come in Gold and Silver varieties for 1st and 2nd class.

Maybe the plating has just worn of this example on the reverse?

Unsure what you had to do to warrant the awarding of such a badge though.

Tom

[CtahhR]

The "not round" example is certainly dual colour as it hasn't seen too much action. The gold has remained gold but the silver has tarnished quite a bit on the front.

If these Badges were valued a bit more and retained their documents we would probably have a better idea of just what most of these meant. It's difficult when the recipient, their heirs, the dealers and more often than not, the collectors don't care about the Badges let alone the paperwork that came with the Badges.

Most of the Bulgarian Badges I've collected have come in "job lot" boxes full of mixed awards with Communist Orders, Medals and Badges selling for on average 20-25 cents each within the lots.

It is amazing how much information can be dug up with a small amount of research which completely illuminates them.

Many dozens of Badges to come.