Shock Worker of Stalin Labor Campaign badge, Type 1, #6996, circa mid-1930s.
Brass, silver plating, enamels; measures 30.8 mm in height, 31.9 mm in width (between the extending points of the upper banners); weighs 14.6 g not including the screw plate. This is the first version of the Stalin Labor Campaign award for railway employees. The badge is of superb quality, featuring a riveted three-piece construction: the back plate with banners, superimposed hexagon nut with black lettering, and superimposed engine locomotive with the hammer and stylized sickle forming the round opening are separate parts held by four pins. The absence of the flagpole finial on
Brass, silver plating, enamels; measures 30.8 mm in height, 31.9 mm in width (between the extending points of the upper banners); weighs 14.6 g not including the screw plate. This is the first version of the Stalin Labor Campaign award for railway employees. The badge is of superb quality, featuring a riveted three-piece construction: the back plate with banners, superimposed hexagon nut with black lettering, and superimposed engine locomotive with the hammer and stylized sickle forming the round opening are separate parts held by four pins. The absence of the flagpole finial on the banner is also characteristic of the early issues of the Stalin Shock Worker badge. The stamped serial number is in smaller font than on the later, two-piece versions of the same badge. Note that the serial number 6996 is very low even for the first version of the badge.
In outstanding, excellent condition, extremely rare for the early issue. The enamel is essentially perfect, displaying a beautiful luster and having only a couple of microscopic contact marks invisible to the unaided eye. Raised details of the locomotive are likewise perfect, completely free of detectable wear - including the clearly visible raised inscription "Stalin" on the front. Much of the original silver plating on the obverse is intact, having only a minimal amount of wear at the high points. The wires are intact, and the parts of the badge are joined perfectly tight. The screw post is of full length, approx. 10 mm, and includes the very scarce original screw plate marked "IZO Cooperative, Leningrad." To reiterate, the condition of this badge is truly extraordinary: it is one of the best examples of the early type we have ever seen, if not the best.
/See Breast Badges of the USSR of the Era of Labor Victories, 1920-1940, p. 80 fig. 99, also Avers 8 p. 149,
fig. 741.a/
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