Watch List notes:

RUSSIAN MEDALS. ORDERS OF THE USSR. Researched Order of Red Star. Type 2, "Transitional". Award # 1157. Earliest production, after the type. No mintmark, double-tier screwpost base. Comes with complete official research from the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, including award cards, citations, and full military record (includes photo). Awarded to Senior Lieutenant Knyazev A.V. by decree of April 27, 1936, for successful actions against basmatchi. Extremely rare decree, with only 3 people from the entire 6th Uzbek mountain cavalry division bestowed with order of the Red Star. By the same decree, the 6th division itself was awarded with Order of Lenin. Guards Colonel Knyazev was killed on June 17,1942, while leading his 6th Guards cavalry regiment on a raid behind enemy lines. Archival citations show him being submitted for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (posthumously) twice. General Belov, in his memoirs, mentions Lieut. Colonel Knyazev with a great deal of respect (excerpt of the memoirs is included). Very rare Star by a very rare decree, which miraculously survived the hero veteran, killed in auction in 1942. Condition: Enamel may be professionally restored, still superb eye appeal and very desirable

Estimate: US$ 7,500