My DPRK Display.

[CtahhR]

I have started to frame my DPRK awards to go on public display either later this year or next year. So far I have the basic first frame set up to display some of my pin-back orders. The frame will have a plastic front and a more elaborate frame when I have finished but for now you get to see the basic functional frame. As to get a better understanding of the scale, the frame stands at just over 5 feet by 3 feet (150cm X 90cm).

Here's a run down of what's there;
All 5 current Kim flag pins
3 Orders Of Kim Il-Sung Type 2 (Numbered 1##-2##)
5 Orders Of The National Flag 1st Class Vertical Pin Numbered (26###-88###)
1 Order Of The National Flag 1st Class Unnumbered
1 Order Of Freedom And Independence 1st Class Numbered (4###)
1 Order Of Korean Labour Type 3 Numbered (6###)
10 Orders Of Korean Labour Type 4/5 Various Variations Unnumbered (3 more in transit)
3 Orders Of Military Service Honour 1st Class
37 Commemorative Orders "20th Anniversary Of The Foundation Of The Democratic People's Republic Of Korea" Numbered (5##-105###)
5 Commemorative Orders "Foundation Of The Democratic People's Republic Of Korea" Unnumbered
Commemorative Order "50th Anniversary Of The Foundation Of The Democratic People's Republic Of Korea"
2 Commemorative Orders "Anniversary Of The People's Army" Vertical Pin Unnumbered
3 Commemorative Orders "60th Anniversary Of The People's Army"
25 Commemorative Orders "40th Anniversary Of Fatherland Liberation War Victory" (One in transit)
1 Order Of The National Flag 2nd Class Horizontal Pin Numbered (10###)
12 Orders Of The National Flag 2nd Class Vertical Pin Numbered (28###-ㄴ35###)
14 Orders Of The National Flag 2nd Class Unnumbered (5 more in collection)
Order Of Freedom And Independence 2nd Class Vertical Pin Unnumbered
24 Orders Of The Banner Of The Three Great Revolutions (One more in transit)
3 Orders Of Military Service Honour 2nd Class
3 Commemorative Orders "5th March"
2 Commemorative Orders "Capital Construction"
1 Commemorative Order "30th Anniversary Of The Agricultural Presentation"
9 Orders Of Soldier's Honour 1st Class
9 Orders Of The National Flag 3rd Class Numbered Horizontal Pin (3###-99###)
25 Orders Of The National Flag 3rd Class Vertical Pin Numbered (Various Letters)
38 Orders Of The National Flag 3rd Class Vertical Pin Unnumbered (39 More in collection)

Other pinback orders not shown (Will be in the second and third frames when I finish making them)
1 Order Of Soldier's Honour 2nd Class (Screwback altered to safety pin)
26 Orders Of Soldier's Honour 2nd Class Vertical Pin
20 Orders Of Military Service Honour 3rd Class
Ribbon suspension orders;
4 Orders Of Military Engineering Service Honour 10 Years
1 Order Of Military Engineering Service Honour 20 Years
1 Order Of Military Engineering Service Honour 30 Years
1 Order Of Fishery Service Honour 1st Class
1 Order Of Fishery Service Honour 2nd Class
3 Orders Of Colliery Service Honour 1st Class
5 Order Of Colliery Service Honour 2nd Class
4 Orders Of Colliery Service Honour 3rd Class

[desantnik]

Now that's impressive!

[Esteban_cool]

Amazing collection! :thumbsup

[EricFG]

Wow. Just wow.

Absolutley awesome! That's something to be proud of.

Please keep us updated on this amazing display including construction photos if possible, please.

[CtahhR]

Thank you all for the positive feedback. It really made all the difficult and time consuming deals worth the while. A learning curve like no other. When Chinese dealers tell you not to let anyone trace the merchandise back to them in case it damages their reputation it certainly makes you think. DPRK items can be picked up VERY cheaply but don't expect people to be dealing them overtly - You have to jump through hoops!

As for a "Behind the scenes" look at the construction of the frames, since this next frame I am starting is basically just in measurements form I can photo it from start to finish. I had some real problems making the first one since someone kept moving my mitre saw settings and I kept forgetting to check it. Not good when you cut then check!


In the meantime here is another (smaller) frame filled with some of my screwbacks.

We have,
Hero Of Labour Type 1 Variation 1 (1##)
2 Guards Badges Type 2
Order Of The National Flag First Class Previously unrecorded variant numbered (4###)
9 Commemorative Orders "Anniversary Of The People's Army" Numbered (2###-14###) (One more in transit will need bigger frame!)
Guards Badge Type 1
12 Orders Of The National Flag 3rd Class Numbered (North Korean, Soviet and Czech made types) (1###-91###)
Order Of Soldier's Honour 2nd Class Soviet Type
2 Banner Unit Badges

[Bob]

"Wow" is the word that comes to my mind!

Are these all different types/variations, or are you just addicted to having as many as possible? :)

[CtahhR]

I think I might just be a tiny bit addicted. Now you may realise why I had to teach myself how to read Korean.

Of the 367 Orders, Commemorative Orders and Hero Star currently in the collection 120 of them are numbered so of the 247 unnumbered Orders and Commemorative Orders there are 27 unique Orders with 60 variations in total. Usually I am sold them unseen so it's a Russian roulette situation. So far I haven't found any variation in the "40th Anniversary Of Fatherland Liberation War Victory" Commemorative Order which I thought I would as there were so many issued. I also have 15 documents for Orders, which isn't a very good percentage but when I do find them they usually only cost $1 each. If anyone would like me to make up a "how much to pay" list I could happily do that. One thing is for certain if you are buying through middle men you aren't getting a very good deal at all. I've watched one dealer in particular by things time after time on that online auction site place and then relist them himself for sometimes 1000% mark-up (Although with rather little success).

The official communication I got from the DPRK people on the display so far was "Very impressive" so I can't complain! Hopefully I can expand and expand as there are so many DPRK awards out there are so little precious metal in them to warp the prices. I would like to have an additional 200 DPRK Orders entering the collection each year to pad out the display. Time will tell. Many Chinese dealers are sitting on VAST reserves and only sell one at a time to keep the prices right up, which is very disappointing if you keep seeing them return to the market each time going for less and less after getting in early as not to miss out. There are not many fakes out there yet but that situation is confused as the fake Hero stars are usually of a better construction than the modern originals.

The DPRK award system, actual awards and then the market for them isn't something that you can pick up overnight by any means!

[Esteban_cool]

If anyone would like me to make up a "how much to pay" list I could happily do that.

Yes please! :thumbsup

[medals73]

Yes, please, a "how much to pay" guide.

:thumbsup

[Pobeda45]

Really impressive collection! And yes, a price guide would be great. Also interesting to learn that fakes are uncommon, I had previously assumed that the China-originated ones were manufactured there too.. Good stuff! :thumbsup