USSR New York World's Fair 1939 Fantasy Badge.

[Greg Collins]

Earlier in the thread, the 1939 Exhibition was mentioned. Here's a badge from that event. This badge is gilt with red enamel and, I understand, was worn by those who worked the exhibit. The same badge in nickle plate was given as a presentation badge (Igor has one on his site). You'll note some enamel issues on mine. The base bears the legend, "USSR New York World's Fair 1939". The back has four marks. The badge was designed in the USSR but made in the US.

[deValcourt]

Originally Posted by Greg Collins

The badge was designed in the USSR but made in the US.

Back in the days before McCarthyism.:D The "Red scare" of the 1950s came up when my students seemed very surprised that the Puritans started accusing each other of witchcraft in order to avoid being accused themselves (my lecture was on Hawthorne). They thought this kind of thing could never happen again once those "Puritan nuts" - as one student put it - were gone. When I mentioned the Soviet Union and the problems here, they looked aghast. My class is a sophomore-level literature class, not American or world history, but I figured they should know at least something about communism. Apparently, I was mistaken.:mad:

Anyway, I digress. Greg, some very nice pieces in excellent shape.:thumbsup I too like anything with that Vera Mukhina statue on it. It is (was?) a very impressive sight up close. I don't know if it was torn down after I left.

Phillip

[Greg Collins]

Phil,

I know the statue was disassembled "for cleaning" for awhile, and thought "yeah right- cleaning", figuring I'd never see it again. Time passed and then the "Night/Day Watch" movies came out (two of my all-time favorites) and, lo and behold, there was the statue rising up next to the Moscow freeway. So, I'm assuming it's back in place- at least I'm hoping that's the case.:piva

[Lapa]

Greg,

The statue has recently returned to its former pedestal.

Originally Posted by Greg Collins

Earlier in the thread, the 1939 Exhibition was mentioned. Here's a badge from that event. This badge is gilt with red enamel and, I understand, was worn by those who worked the exhibit. The same badge in nickle plate was given as a presentation badge (Igor has one on his site). You'll note some enamel issues on mine. The base bears the legend, "USSR New York World's Fair 1939". The back has four marks. The badge was designed in the USSR but made in the US.

I am afraid that this badge is a fairly recent-vintage fantasy. It seems that you were fed the "standard story" about it.

Marc

[Greg Collins]

Ah well, Marc, I got it pretty cheap a few years back. No sleep lost.:cool:

[Alfred]

Originally Posted by Lapa

Greg,

The statue has recently returned to its former pedestal.



I am afraid that this badge is a fairly recent-vintage fantasy. It seems that you were fed the "standard story" about it.

Marc

--------------
Marc,

are you sure that this badge is a fantasy piece? Also one big dealer offered this kind of badge in 2005.

best regards
Andreas

[Lapa]

Andreas,

These have been around for some time now (6~8 years as far as I know).

Marc