Soviet 1980s Embroidered 2-Sided Red Challenge Banner, Kherson Ukraine For Sale

Soviet 1980s Embroidered 2-Sided Red Challenge Banner, Kherson Ukraine
$300.00 Buy Now
Item Description
This listing is for a large double sided embroidered authentic Cold War-era Soviet Union communist workers banner, which is approximately 40 years old. The banner is old enough and high quality enough that it could belong in a museum. It is a historical Cold War artifact of the Soviet Union and Ukraine (see below).
The origin and history of the banner is quite interesting:
This banner was acquired shortly after the end of the Cold War in Eastern Europe in the 1990s, where it was bought by a US Army servicemember at a bazar in Hungary as a trophy. It was well taken care of, locked away in storage, double sealed in air tight bags and forgotten. It was recently discovered and put up for sale here. It is unique, embroidered, one of a kind since each one made at the time was different, personalized to the region it was awarded to and competition it was awarded for.
The fabric is a very thick and heavy felt. It measures about 48 x 48 inches.
The interesting thing is that the flag bought in Hungary at the bazar at an ex-Soviet airbase apparently traveled across eastern Europe from Ukraine. The text on the flag is in Ukrainian and it appears to have come from the Kherson Oblast. The text is translated as follows (there could be some errors, but it was verified by Google Translate, the information below is AI assisted - you can verify it yourself form the photos, using Google Lens):
The banner appears to be a Soviet-era "Red Challenge Banner" awarded in socialist competitions, in this case, production. The competitions aimed at increasing productivity and efficiency within the Soviet economy.
[The side with Lenin's portrait](top) "PROLITARIANS OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!"---Lenin's portrait here---(bottom) "UNDER THE FLAG ON MARXISM-LENINISM, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY-FORWARD TO THE VICTORY OF COMMUNISM!"
[The side with the state emblem of the Soviet Union, featuring a hammer and sickle, globe, and sheaves of wheat](top) "KHERSONSK" (Kherson Oblast, located in southern Ukraine)"PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION "VOLNA" OF LOCAL INDUSTRY AND TRADE UNION OF WORKERS OF LOCAL INDUSTRY AND PUBLIC UTILITIES ENTERPRISES."---Soviet Union emblem here---(bottom) "TO THE WINNER OF THE SOCIALIST COMPETITION"
The banner was awarded and put on display as a symbol of achievement by the workers in Kherson, Ukraine.
Whether you want to put the banner on display as a historical artifact, or wear it as a cape and LARP as a communist at your local protest, this banner is guaranteed to attract attention.
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