This piece is 3.75" tall. At top is bar pin reading "Contest Com." Below is suspended a red fabric and a small cord on the reverse holds the loop of a medal to the fabric. Back of the medal is blank except for stamp reading "Gold Filled" along with Boston address of maker Dieges & Clust. The front of the medallion has the word "Official" at the top while below surrounded by a wreath is the emblem consisting of a shield with high relief letters printed over open books "H/A/S." Surrounding this is a cloud bkg. with tiny bi-plane detailed above and date of 1911 below. Surrounding text is "Harvard Aeronautical Society Inc. 1910." Condition is essentially Mint as issued. The Society was organized in 1909 with membership open to any present or former member of the University. They started with 250 charter members but the group quickly grew to 360 members just three months later. In 1910 they affiliated with the Aero Club of North America. The group established a library, held lectures and hosted both international and intercollegiate aviation and glider meets. Members built their own glider and bi-plane, the latter named Harvard I. In 1910 and 1911, the year of this badge, the Society sponsored the Harvard/Boston Aero Meet. A similar third event was held in 1912. A rare and wonderful piece of early aviation history.