Measures approx. 6" x 9", hard cover wrapped in burgundy leatherette and featuring a copper insert with bas-relief portraits of Lenin and Stalin. The wording below the portraits says "To the winner of military sports competitions, Leningrad, 1943."

The item is in very good condition. The cover shows minimal scuffing at the head and foot of the spine, and one of the corners. The copper insert is holding firm, the copper is lightly worn off at the high points. The bronze or gold paint of the lettering has lost most of its luster but is all in place and presents well, adding to the item's air of age and authenticity. All the elements of the citation, typographical and handwritten, are pristine.

The citation on the inside of the cover states that it is given to comrade E. Mozhaiskiy for winning the first place in cross-country skiing among the units of the Leningrad Front, 5 km in 25 min 20 sec.

The competition took place while the city of Leningrad was struggling to survive in the vice of the Nazi blockade. On 23 February 1943, the Red Army Day, the city had to endure another eleven months until the blockade was broken.

The back side of the cover has a pocket to insert the back of a notepad, which is missing.

Please note that the medal in our photo is for size reference