First, I'd like to say how much I've enjoyed reading the posts on this site for the last week or so. I just signed up and hope to be able to provide some contribution to the site.
One of my favorite collecting activities is to research the orders in my collection. What do you guys think about posting interesting citations from time to time? I'm sure all of us would have some good ones to contribute.
Here is a bio on a Cavalier of the Order of Glory that I just finished translating. My translations aren't great because I use one of the online translators coupled with my Russian - English Dictionary. Anyway, I think I've got it mostly right:
OSIPOV Kuzma Andreevich, Born 14.11.1916 in the village of Novye Veguchi in the Petrovsky region of the Saratov Oblast to a family of peasants. Mordvin. Completed three grades of rural school. Worked as a tractor driver on a collective farm. Joined the Red Army in 1937.
At the Belorussian Front since February 1943. Driver-Mechanic of a self-propelled artillery gun with the 1493rd Self Propelled Artillery Regiment (11th Tank Corps, 8th Guards Army, 1st Belorussian Front) Junior Sergeant Osipov on 23.7.44 together with his crew, broke into the village of Radzyn (Radzyn-Podlaski, Poland) and put out of action 2 enemy anti-tank guns and their crews. Awarded the governmental Order of Glory 3rd Class 17.8.44. On 16.01.45, in the battle for Plets, (20 km west of Radom, Poland) Senior Sergeant Osipov (69th Army) with his crew destroyed 2 tanks, 4 artillery guns, an armored car, 5 machine guns and more than 20 Hitlerites. Awarded the governmental Order of Glory 2nd Class March 3, 1945. From 31.01-5.02.45, during the battles for Skape (10 km south-west of Swiebodzin), Sternberg (nowadays Torzym, 15 km southeast of Rzepin) and Kunersdorf (Kunovitse, 2 km west of Rzepin, Poland) destroyed 3 tanks, 3 artillery guns, a mortar, several tracked motor vehicles carrying ammunition, and numerous enemy soldiers and officers. 31.5.45 awarded the Governmental Order of Glory 1st Class.
Demobilized in 1945. Returned to his native land. Worked as a tractor driver. Lives in the Petrovsky region of the Saratov Oblast. Awarded Governmental orders Great Patriotic War 1st Class, Red Star, medals.
I have noticed it a long time ago, and I think it's worth a look: on the watch tower on the order of glory we can see diferent times - the qustion is - WHY? is it a little expretion of individuality from the makers?
Or no stamped "D" at all...also note the stamped serial number. All normally awarded third class Orders of Glory have either the hand-engraved serial number or a rotating-tool engraved number.
Picture from McDaniels "The Comprehensive Guide to Soviet Orders and Medals".
What do you think about the collecting value of an authentic order og glory, 2nd class with a new gold plating? After all, many veterans apllied a new gold plating on those orders.
Of course it is essential to authenticate that a piece is original 2nd class. But if it is the case and a new gold plating was applied, is it the same value as an order with almost all the gold palating gone?
Personally, I shy away from the 2nd class Order of Glory. It takes a very keen eye to distinguish the authentic 2nd class from the fake. McDaniel writes that 2nd class fakes are made by gold plating the 3rd class. They are supposed to be recognizable due to the fakes having the gold applied over the already worn centers of the 3rd classes. I've seen the fake in his book and the real 2nd Class, and they look almost exactly alike.
Of course, assuming the piece is genuine, I would have no problems purchasing a re-plated 2nd class for the same price as as one with original plating. I would have a problem if it was a recent decision to plate it, but not if it was the original recipients decision to do so.
