New Book on Bulgarian Badges

[d-riemer]

A fairly expensive reference book titled "Bulgarian Badges, Witnesses of History" has just been published in a small edition of 125 numbered copies. For more information please contact me.

[Nota Bene]

Dear Dietrich,

Congratulations on finishing this monumental job! I believe this is a first for Bulgarian badges. Could you please post some pictures of the book, how many badges are described, price, etc.

Alexei

[d-riemer]

Dear Alexei.
I appreciate your understanding of the effort required in publishing a book. I am now looking at all books with much greater respect. Just two persons, myself and the consultant/printer/publisher in Sofia, created this book. Computers make such small-scale publishing possible.
It was my intent to write a book that uses badges as source for information about events and attitudes in the Bulgarian past.
The book is distributed by the Bulgarian publisher. (I will send a link by email.) Here are some excerpts from his announcement:

Bulgarian Badges, Witnesses of History (Reference Book)
Author: Dietrich E. Riemer: a collector focused on Bulgarian communist awards.
Printed in May 2007, Sofia, Bulgaria
First, limited edition of 125 copies
Each copy is numbered, with handwritten personal message by the author!
+ Glossary of abbreviations with interpretation!
+ Separate pricelist with prices as of May, 2007 (to be updated annually)
Language: English
ISBN–10: 954-91123-4-9
Size: 160/220 mm, hardback, high-quality print!
Pages: 361
Price: 70.00 USD / 57.40 EUR

This book of excellent printing quality presents more than 1500 Bulgarian badges in detail and will bring joy to the readers who value in-depth information and full-color photos! Most badges are shown at actual size. Where a photo had to be reduced, the reduction ratio is listed. Interesting details of badges are explained with enlarged pictures, which is very helpful!

A lot of the badges included in the book have been published for the first time!

The book can be referred to as the first attempt to cover a field that is too broad to fully encompass. The main goal of the book is to satisfy the needs of the collectors and provide them with useful information about the Bulgarian decorations that are least explored: Bulgarian badges. In brief, the book can be referred to as a priceless reference tool for every collector (both advanced and beginner).

The author’s style is easy-to-follow and interesting-to-read: Bulgaria’s history and its decorations are presented in a story-like manner, with a lot of social aspects and facts of importance included.

Different spheres of awarding have been explored: art and culture, different ministries, the communist party, a whole variety of organizations, the Armed forces, MVR, Navy, Civil Defense as well as all the official and unofficial structures of the Bulgarian society.

The history of the awards themselves is presented too, their classes, emissions, rank and type of make. General historical background and rich fact material add to the merits of the book. At that point, it won’t be exaggerated to say that the author is the readers’ guide in time showing them the different stages of development both of the Bulgarian state and the Bulgarian badges, the witnesses of History. Follow him and you won’t get lost.

[Nota Bene]

Dear Dietrich,

Thanks! This looks like a dream come true for all Bulgarian collectors. I've ordered my copy yesterday. Can't wait to receive it! I am willing to bet that 125 copied would not last you a week :thumbsup

Alexei

[d-riemer]

Dear Alexei,
a week has passed and the 125 copies have not sold yet. I will be very interested in your comments about the book once you receive it.

The book started as an attempt to convince anyone in my family to become interested in the subject of collecting Bulgarian badges. So, there is some introductory information in front of the book that is written for people who know nothing about medal collecting or about Bulgaria. But then the book grew into more advanced regions, trying to read from badges about history and social life of Bulgaria.

I had a friend in my early days who was a military attache of the GDR in Bulgaria, and I always felt kind of sorry for him. Now I realize how distorted my view was through the lens of the Cold War. The People's Republic Bulgaria with about 7 million people had an unbelievable complex social life when analyzed through their badges and decorations. However, it could be that the non-conventional approach I used to learn about a country shows more of the country's dreams and hopes than of its reality.

[Art]

Dietrich,

Feel free to post good scans of some of the illustrations from your book. Also it may be interesting if you provided a few excerpts...kind of teaser material for what we can expect.

Art