I wouldn't go for this one. Last one I saw(see attachment) sold on one forum gone for something like $20 but it was in match better condition. If you speak Russian PM me I'll give you the link to web -site, where you can get this stars. dug ones.
OK - ask yourself how one seller got a hold of so many badges in such a corroded condition of which I can tell from the photos and the description they're all missing prongs.
a. he found the remains of a factory that had a hole with these buried in the ground or exposed to the elements - possible, not very probable
b. he's digging these out of graves - again possible, not very probable. The Civil War was brutal, but it wasn't WWII with common graves. Kind of reminds me of that Chinese medieval terracotta army of statues they found about 30-40 years ago.
c. he's making them in his back yard
With the scant references, poor quality control on items made almost 100 years ago, and coincidental appearance of a high number of similarly conditioned pieces, I'd go for "c".
desantnik Wrote:OK - ask yourself how one seller got a hold of so many badges in such a corroded condition of which I can tell from the photos and the description they're all missing prongs.
a. he found the remains of a factory that had a hole with these buried in the ground or exposed to the elements - possible, not very probable
b. he's digging these out of graves - again possible, not very probable. The Civil War was brutal, but it wasn't WWII with common graves. Kind of reminds me of that Chinese medieval terracotta army of statues they found about 30-40 years ago.
c. he's making them in his back yard
With the scant references, poor quality control on items made almost 100 years ago, and coincidental appearance of a high number of similarly conditioned pieces, I'd go for "c".
It's logic, pure and simple. If you want one that looks like the ones in the photos you've shown us, have a try at making them yourself. From the looks of them, it should take about 9 months to a year in a shallow hole so some air can still get in and speed up corrosion. Don't forget to knock off most of the paint or enamel on the copy you start with and pull at least one or both prongs off - that's how the seller of these seems to have done it.:rolleyes: