Military Academy for the Rear and Supplies (VATS) graduate badge, Type 1, 1954 issue.
Silver gilt, enamels, 46.5 x 26.7 mm, four-piece construction. Type 1 featuring wire attachments of the state emblem. In excellent condition. There is a tiny surface flake to the tip of the upper arm of the star, detectable under 10x magnification but practically unnoticeable to the naked eye. The red enamel is otherwise perfect and shows beautiful luster. The black enamel on the letters is fully present having only a couple of microscopic contact marks. The white enamel is completely pristine.
The state emblem shows only the lightest wear to the high points;
Silver gilt, enamels, 46.5 x 26.7 mm, four-piece construction. Type 1 featuring wire attachments of the state emblem. In excellent condition. There is a tiny surface flake to the tip of the upper arm of the star, detectable under 10x magnification but practically unnoticeable to the naked eye. The red enamel is otherwise perfect and shows beautiful luster. The black enamel on the letters is fully present having only a couple of microscopic contact marks. The white enamel is completely pristine.
The state emblem shows only the lightest wear to the high points; its details are beautifully preserved and crisp. There is very attractive dark patina on both sides of the badge. The wire attachments of the emblem and plaque are intact and tight. The screw post is full length, over 10 mm, and includes original early type screw plate in silver showing Mint logo.
The academy had its roots in the Imperial Institute of Railway Engineers, established back in 1800 in St. Petersburg. In 1942 it became known as VATS with added name of Molotov. In 1954, "Molotov" was removed from its name and the plaque read simply "VATS" for two years afterwards, until the school merged with another military academy. Among the Soviet military academies, VATS was a comparatively small one, and as a result, its graduation badges are harder to find than many of the others.
/See Y. Dumanskiy "Badges of the Higher Education
Establishments of the Armed Forces of the USSR", pp. 45-46/.
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