Ushakov I,07,Marshal Of Aviation Semen Fedorovich Zhavoronkov

[Christophe]

Is it Spring again ? Are orders blooming ?

William (New Order) informed us some weeks ago of an Order of Nakhimov 1st Class for sale by a well-known US dealer.

The same dealer proposes now on his site an Order of Ushakov, 1st Class, #7 (August 1944), with a PMD certificate (8 ou of 10).

Price : $109,000.00 (sic).

Messieurs, à vos portefeuilles (this approximately means : please, break your money boxes !!).


Here is its description, as done by the dealer :

"Order of Ushakov, 1st cl., #7, August 1944 issue to commander of Soviet Naval Air Forces Comes with McDaniel authentication certificate. Excellent condition, rated 8 out of 10 by Paul McDaniel. Microscopic fractures to enamel, visible in close-up pic.
Awarded on 19 August 1944 to Air Force Col. General Semion Zhavoronkov. This is one of only 26 Orders of Ushakov 1st cl. ever issued to individuals (another 10 have been awarded to naval units and schools).

Semion Zhavoronovko participated in the Revolution of 1917 as a member of the Red Guard, and then served in the regular Red Army since its foundation in 1918. After the Civil War he graduated from several top air force schools and by 1937 reached position of an air corps commander. In 1938-39 he commanded the Soviet Pacific Fleet Air Force and in May 1939 took command of all naval air forces of the Soviet Union.

Zhavoronovkov’s first wartime success were September 1941 air strikes on Berlin, conducted on his initiative by DB-3 torpedo carriers of the Baltic Fleet. Later he organized an air umbrella over the tenuous “Life Road” supply line to besieged Leningrad. Zhavoronkov employed innovative tactics that proved highly successful: splitting available naval air forces into point defense interceptor units and attack groups for offensive operations. He also took responsibility in allowing “free hunting” tactics for torpedo carrying planes. This was a bold deviation from the usual Soviet aviation doctrine requiring pilots to fly only in close formations and leaving little room for personal initiative.

Included: Xerox copy and translation of the article about Semion Zhavoronkov in the catalog “Admirals and Generals of the USSR Navy” by V.M. Lur’e.

$109,000.00 "


Ch.

[yolkin]

It is beautiful, isn't it?!

I am not sure if everyone realizes the magnitude of that particular order...

On the rarity scale, I think this is the most rare order available next to King Mihai's Order of Victory... I am of course referring to the realistic orders that have been actually awarded and there were less than 50 awarded.

This is truly a magnificent piece and unless someone on the forum owns one of these, this is most likely the closest we will ever come to an awarded Ushakov 1st class...

Even though the price of $110K is arbitrarily set, I think it is worth it, due to the rarity of the piece.

Thanks,

Eric

[Christophe]

Eric,

Good points. I'm just wondering who could buy such a beauty ? Will it join a private collection or an official one ? A private one, I guess...
BTW are there museums or official institutions looking for such extremely rare pieces ?

Ths dealer's site provides close-up photographs... for our data bases.

Ch.

[HuliganRS]

I held this piece in my hands and it's absolutely breathtaking!!!

This is one of those pieces that has unreal enamel and very intricate detail... As far as the microscopic fractures to enamel; I couldn't see it untill it was pointed out!

WoW

Rusty.

[Ed_Haynes]

Yes, I saw it too. And fondled it.

I was prepared to be impressed by the "Tractor Lenin" in an adjoining case, but ...!

:eek:

More than a house, but ...?

Ed Haynes

[Tretov]

110.000 USD is a damn lot of cash, you can get a decent house with garden for that here (and surely elsewhere too)...!

Wonder how much the dealer paid for it when he got it?


regards, from a cold autumn Finland

/Patrick

[HuliganRS]

Patrick,

Knowing some of the deals this dealer made I would guestimate around 65k - 75K.

Rusty.

[new world]

Originally posted by tretov
110.000 USD is a damn lot of cash, you can get a decent house with garden for that here (and surely elsewhere too)...!


/Patrick

And for this much money one would expect to have Ushakov in perfect condition, not with the cracks in the enamel like the piece in the discussion...

[HuliganRS]

I do agree with Vlad regarding the quality vs. price but...

It's the only one for sale in a long, long time!!!

With only 3 dozen or so made, how likely are these to come-up for sale in any frequency!?!

Rusty.

[CtahhR]

Here is the original Ukaz awarding Naval personnel with the Ushakov 1st Class.


Speaking of rare Navy awards. I'll be posting a Naval award of which there were only (and will only ever be) 55 awarded soon - almost as rare as a Ushakov 1st Class.