DPRK Prices "How Much To Pay".

[CtahhR]

Good luck!
So far I have found that all the dealers (or at least all the dealers I have ever communicated with) have some understanding of English. Mind you since I don't write Mandarin that is the only way I can communicate with them.
A good tip is to look for Coin/Stamp dealers. They usually have DPRK items under the counter.
Strangely enough contrary to the Coin/Stamp dealers that may pick up awards in the process - whilst collecting DPRK awards I've also had coins and stamps come in too. The coins (made for circulation) are also very light. The stamps are almost universally made "cancelled to order" so I have refined my collecting of them to pre-1960.

If it is Soviet made items you are looking for (which cuts the field down to a few early Orders and Titles) a great percentage of them were awarded to the internationalists that came to help in the early 1950's. These can be found splashed over the former communist nations of Eurasia but caution must be taken as I have seen various cases of DPRK awards being used to make up fantasy groups (and at extraordinary prices). Buying the Soviet made awards is the only sure way not to be disappointed by poor quality. One of my most belovéd pieces out of the entire collection is an early http://soviet-awards.com/forum/sovie...tml#post163884that has been worn to a satin finish on the reverse. An item that just needs to be touched. I can even be so bold as to say I prefer it over any of the Red Stars (comparable award in rank and production) in the collection. I think it set me back $20 (compare that to the cost of a 19## numbered Red Star). It would be a dream to have research on it - in my top ten list of "Dream Research" (along with the 1## numbered Hero Of Labour).