J05053 (IJN) TORPEDO RATING BADGE SLEEVE INSIGNIA IN ISSUE ENVELOPE. A rating badge, typically worn on the left upper sleeve (as opposed to trade badges, which were worn on the right upper sleeve), in its original envelope. The 3 1/2" square paper envelope has a fold-over flap to its reverse, and one horizontal and two vertical lines of kanji characters printed to its obverse. The first two of the three characters in the column to the left ("sui-rai") translate to "torpedo," and the third ("jutsu") to "skill." The three characters to the right column ("fu-tsu-ka") translate together as "general course." The three horizontal characters to the base make little sense literally translated, but their syllabic combination, "No-ta-chi," may indicate a name, possibly that of the manufacturer. Light age yellowing and soiling is evident, as are wrinkles outlining the insignia within. The 3 1/8" diameter rating badge has, upon its very dark navy blue wool base, a cherry blossom above a stylized torpedo, both in machine embroidered gold threads, with black thread articulations to each lobe of the cherry blossom, and to the tail of the torpedo. Its reverse has a stiff, black rayon backing with five, equidistantly-spaced blackened metal hooks along its circumference. As this badge had evidently never been issued, it is in excellent condition.

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