Tbilisi Artillery School

[Chuck In Oregon]

Here's another one of the badges that my darlin' wife brought back for me.

This series is interesting to collect. Not that I do, but it's interesting nevertheless. I think this is one of the very-hard-to-get examples, a graduate's badge from the Tbilisi Artillery School.

Sidebar: When I'm in Tbilisi on Victory Day, I like to go the national park (Vake Park) to see and take pictures of the veterans. I always offer free copies if they will let me take their picture and lots of them take me up on it. Some are suspicious, who can blame them after what they have survived, but most say OK and many ask me to take pictures of them with family and old friends.

I asked one old vet where I could deliver his photo and he said "at my job". You mean, you're working? "Yes, just come over to the Tbilisi Artillery School and meet me at the gate." So that's what happened. This old (mid-90s) colonel was an artillery commander all through WW II and that's what he teaches every day at the school. In fact, he teaches partly by outlining what he did and how he did it in several of his battles. Very nice guy, and he was disappointed (as was I) when I couldn't accept his dinner invitation.

Enjoy.

Chuck

[dannybou]

Chuck do you have a date of issue for these badges? Pre-WW2?

[Alfred]

Hello,

I always thouht the artillery school badges are pre WWII.
Bu I looked in the red book from I.I. Lichizkij "Art of russian metal miniature"

He mentioned that they were founded by order number 208 of the ministry of defence at 18. July 1946.

best regards
Andreas

[Chuck In Oregon]

Chuck do you have a date of issue for these badges? Pre-WW2?

I never knew what years these were issued. I do, however, have the/a 1995 red book by I. I. Likhitskiy called Art of Russian Metal Miniature. I think this is item # 323. There is no mention in my book of the period of their issuance. Perhaps there are several variations of this book. I have the English/German version with 55 numbered pages and 40 pages of plates. Andreas' version has more and better information than mine. Thanks, Andreas.

[HuliganRS]

This badge is part of a large set of schools made in the same motif.
I think it was close to 40 badges!
I remember these badges going on eBay for $20.

Rusty.

[dannybou]

I see it in my book as well, but doesn't give a date.

[Chuck In Oregon]

My book shows 17 examples of this style but it doesn't claim to be a complete listing of this or any other series of badges.

I remember when gas was less than two bucks a gallon. Oh yeah, that was August.

Chuck

[dannybou]

According to Likhitskiy it was worth $150 back when the book came out and mine is 1995.

[Chuck In Oregon]

According to Likhitskiy it was worth $150 back when the book came out and mine is 1995.

Yes, I saw that and I hope he was right, back then. However, I have always been sceptical of his prices. One series in particular really bugs me. I have items 363 (1949) and 369 (CCCR), officer graduate badges of the Military School of Combustibles and Lubricants and Landing Troops Military School (Second Type). He values them at $250 and $600, respectively.

I have never brought up this topic before, and maybe it deserves its own thread. I simply can't believe those prices, and those are 1994-95 prices, when he was putting together the book. If these aren't mistakes, great, I have a couple of items that are far more valuable than I thought when I got them. However, this seems way too good to be true, so I have always disregarded his prices and used his book for IDs only.

Does anyone else have an opinion on the prices in this book? I don't know what these two badges are worth, since I have never seen them for sale, but his prices seem way out of line to me.

[dannybou]

I'm afraid I am of no use for the validity of his prices. In going through his book, he has several if not numerous other badges highly prices. One thing I am curious about is are badges increasing in prices like medals and Orders?