Nickel-plated and gilded brass, enamels; 39.9 x 32.0 mm, weighs 15.0 g not including the screw plate and washer. Attractive and well-made badge of massive construction. The first post-war variation, featuring silver-plated scrolls and grey background enamel of the shield.

In outstanding, excellent condition. The enamel is perfect (the tiny black specks on white are inclusions characteristic of the period manufacture). Details of the scrolls, ornament around the shield and edges of the books are perfect and extremely crisp; the finishes are practically pristine.

The screw plate is full-length, nearly 12.5 mm, and includes the original washer and the screw plate maker-marked "Z-D ShMZ. MPS" ("Mechanical Stamping Factory, Ministry of Roads of Transportation" - this factory produced many Soviet award badges, and not only for the railroads, during WW2 and early post-war years).

/Avers 8, p. 208, fig. 1037/