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 