This is my first Thread at the Forum, so I am little bit nervous. The first, I would like to say thank you to everybody for your welcome.
Why I started collecting Soviet Medals and Orders? I came to the US 13 years ago. I am 50 years old now. Since I was 6 years old during all my life in USSR I had a hobby, collecting Soviet stamps. Leaving USSR I was not able (did not want) to take my great collection with me. I am probably a collector in my blood. For all these 13 years I thought about collecting something. I tried different things, but in one week or month everythig would become boring for me. It was not mine.
In 1989 I bought Order of Lenin (in Kiev). I brought this Order to the US with the goal to sell it for $10.000 (ha,ha). Of course I did not sell it. Last year in November I saw Order of Victory (copy) at Soviet Collection Magazine. I decided, what if I buy it and put together interesting set “Highest Awards of Soviet Union” (Lenin, Victory, HSU, HSL). I will frame and it will look nice. I had no idea about eBay and other collectors.
To make my story short, I don’t know how it happened, but I got into my new hobby like crazy. My collector’s personality plus collecting things that relate to the place where I grew up and know some history make my current hobby very exiting and interesting. I know I will have upps and downs. I know I will have more or less $$ to spend on it. But I hope it will be for very long time. (Only concern I have is after I die, my grandson will probably sell at the garage sale all my collection for .10 cents a piece).
Today as a new collector I try to put sets together (Highest Awards, Mothers, Labor, etc.), frame them. I am planning to cover empty places (expensive items) with fakes, until some day I might be able to buy real once. May be later I will start collecting different types and variations, but it’s not now.
I am in process of learning a lot. I am glad I met all of you guys and able to learn from many people. Collecting Medals became part of my life in the US and I am happy. I know, later I will have changes and will adjust my interests. But today, it’s what I enjoy to do.
My story is very long and boring. As I told it’s my first tread at the Forum and I am very anxious.
Thank again. It’s very interesting to share your thoughts with other people who have the same interests.
Arkady (Eric).
Why I started collecting Soviet Medals and Orders? I came to the US 13 years ago. I am 50 years old now. Since I was 6 years old during all my life in USSR I had a hobby, collecting Soviet stamps. Leaving USSR I was not able (did not want) to take my great collection with me. I am probably a collector in my blood. For all these 13 years I thought about collecting something. I tried different things, but in one week or month everythig would become boring for me. It was not mine.
In 1989 I bought Order of Lenin (in Kiev). I brought this Order to the US with the goal to sell it for $10.000 (ha,ha). Of course I did not sell it. Last year in November I saw Order of Victory (copy) at Soviet Collection Magazine. I decided, what if I buy it and put together interesting set “Highest Awards of Soviet Union” (Lenin, Victory, HSU, HSL). I will frame and it will look nice. I had no idea about eBay and other collectors.
To make my story short, I don’t know how it happened, but I got into my new hobby like crazy. My collector’s personality plus collecting things that relate to the place where I grew up and know some history make my current hobby very exiting and interesting. I know I will have upps and downs. I know I will have more or less $$ to spend on it. But I hope it will be for very long time. (Only concern I have is after I die, my grandson will probably sell at the garage sale all my collection for .10 cents a piece).
Today as a new collector I try to put sets together (Highest Awards, Mothers, Labor, etc.), frame them. I am planning to cover empty places (expensive items) with fakes, until some day I might be able to buy real once. May be later I will start collecting different types and variations, but it’s not now.
I am in process of learning a lot. I am glad I met all of you guys and able to learn from many people. Collecting Medals became part of my life in the US and I am happy. I know, later I will have changes and will adjust my interests. But today, it’s what I enjoy to do.
My story is very long and boring. As I told it’s my first tread at the Forum and I am very anxious.
Thank again. It’s very interesting to share your thoughts with other people who have the same interests.
Arkady (Eric).
