Documented group of a Hero of Socialist Labor, awarded on 23 May 1966 to Stanislav Zabrodskiy.

Decorations:|

Gold "Hammer and Sickle" Medal of Hero of Socialist Labor, Type 2 Var. 3, #13810. The medallion is in 23 K gold; the suspension is in gilded silver. The golden medallion measures 33.6 mm in height (incl. eyelet), 32.2 mm in width; weighs 14.6 grams not including the suspension and connecting link. Features serial number stamped in the lower portion of the medallion.

The medal is in very fine to excellent condition - far better than the average for a Soviet Hero award made of relatively soft 23 K gold. The hammer & sickle emblem and the facets of the star are beautifully smooth, with only a few minor contact marks and dings. The ridges are extremely crisp. There is a single tiny scrape and bump to the underside of the upper right arm, barely noticeable from the obverse and not too detractive. The stippling on the reverse is essentially pristine; there are none of the usual knocks to the raised edge, only a couple of microscopic dings.

The medal comes on original suspension, complete with hexagon nut, rectangular back plate and mint marked screw plate. The original gold plating is present and clearly visible on all parts of the suspension, although it is partly obscured by attractive silver patina. The screw post is over 12.5 mm long measured from the back plate, has not been shortened. The ribbon is not original to the medal but quite old, obviously worn by the original recipient. The silver connecting link appears to be original; its ends are still joined with solder. To summarize, this is a beautiful example of the Hammer and Sickle Medal!

Order of Lenin, Type 6, Variation 2, #383198. The medallion is in solid 23 K gold and platinum; measures 45.1 mm in height (incl. eyelet), 38.4 mm in width; weighs 32.9 grams not including the suspension and connecting link. This piece is an exceptionally interesting and rare transitional version. A Type 6 Variation 2 by McDaniel classification, it is among the first post-war, serially produced Orders of Lenin with engraved serial number (other than occasional duplicate issues), and also one of the last that specifically mentions Leningrad Mint in raised lettering on the reverse (all the later issues by both Leningrad and Moscow mint had a generic mint mark). Moreover, the serial number has an engraved underline - unlike the later specimens that had a raised underline as a part of the die. This piece was apparently made at the Leningrad Mint in the early summer of 1966, right after the change in production specifications - but before the new die with raised underline became available later that year. In our estimate, no more than a few hundred specimens had such features making it an extremely rare and desirable sub-variation.

The Order of Lenin is in very fine to excellent condition. Careful examination reveals a few small surface flakes on the lower fold of the banner along its upper edge. They however do not penetrate to surface, not easy to notice without a magnifying glass, and definitely not visually detractive. The enamel is perfect otherwise and retains magnificent luster throughout. The platinum bas-relief and golden wreath show no wear visible to the naked eye. The reverse has a couple of tiny scuffs but no major wear of any kind. Note a darker area near the eyelet, a typical patina acquired as a result of contact with the silver connecting link. The rivets are perfectly tight.

Comes on original suspension device, a two-layer model is steel. The perfectly preserved ribbon is old, probably original to the order. The connecting link appears to be original as well, and its ends are still joined with solder.

Documents:

Order booklet, issued on 4 July 1966. The document shows only two entries: the Lenin and Gold "Hammer and Sickle" Medal, both showing the same 23 May 1966 date of the award decree. The document is in near mint condition, perfectly clean and crisp.

"Large" Certificate for the Title of Hero of Socialist Labor with 8"x12" hard leatherette folder showing embossed State Emblem and impressed inscription in gold "To a Hero of Socialist Labor". The document was issued on 3 June 1966, apparently on the day of the special ceremony in Moscow Kremlin when the decorations and large certificate were presented to their recipient. The citation reads that the Title of Hero was bestowed "for outstanding achievements in fulfilling the tasks of the Seven-Year Plan and attaining high technical and economic results in production of sugar." The certificate is hand-signed by Nikolai Podgornyi, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and Mikhail Georgadze, Secretary of the Presidium. The document comes with its original Presentation Case in rubberized red cardboard.

The reference to the seven-year plan in the citation is very uncommon: this longer-term program had started under the Khrushchev's regime and of course proved even less feasible than the usual Soviet five-year plans. Later its failure was blamed on the Khrushchev administration, and the Soviet industrial planning reverted to the tried-and-true five-year horizon. This document is reflective of the rather turbulent era immediately after the ouster of Nikita Khrushchev, when the power struggle between the top members of Politburo such as Brezhnev, Kosygin and Podgorny was far from settled. Incidentally, relatively few people were made Heroes of Socialist Labor at that time: mass issues of awards usually associated with Brezhnev began much later into his reign.

The certificate is in perfect, near mint condition. There is only the slightest wear to the exterior, no scuffs or scratches. The internal pages show only normal age toning, free of foxing, stains, fingerprints or damage of any kind. The presentation case has some minor scuffs and spots to the top, otherwise perfect and completely sound.

Based on information found on the Internet, Stanislav Zabrodskiy (Станислав Васильевич Забродский) was born in 1918. During the 60s, he worked as a foreman of a team of mechanics at the Verkhnyachskiy Sugar Factory in the town of Verkhnyachka, Khristinovskiy District, Chernigov Region of the Ukraine. The refinery was built well before the 1917 Revolution and was nationalized after the Bolsheviks consolidated power in the Ukraine during the Russian Civil War. The factory was largely destroyed during WW2, but was soon rebuilt and greatly expanded in 1950s - early 60s. In 1962, it received programmable centrifuges and new filters. Although exact details of Zabrodskiy's achievements are unknown at this time - this may be worthy of further research - in all likelihood, he distinguished himself in installation and maintenance of some of the factory's new equipment. It is noteworthy that although 10 other workers of the Verkhnyachskiy Factory received state decorations at the same time as Zabrodskiy, he was apparently the only one in the factory's history to be made a Hero of Socialist Labor.

Item# 36495

$5,950.00