BOSTON, MASS.- With the Olympic season finally upon us again, RR Auction will host another auction honoring the worldwide Games. The Olympic Memorabilia Sale features nearly 200 lots; online bidding is scheduled to begin July 15 and conclude July 22. The catalog chronicles Olympics past and present, with a wide selection of relay torches, winner's medals, participation medals, and Olympic ephemera.

The sale opens with two extreme rarities—winner's medals from the 1896 Olympic Games at Athens, the first modern Olympiad. Among them is an Athens 1896 Olympics Silver' First Place' Winner's Medal. The exceedingly rare first-place winner's medal issued for the Athens 1896 Olympics. Silver, 50 mm, 67 gm, by Jules Clement Chaplain. And an Athens 1896 Olympics Bronze Winner's Medal. Winner's medal issued for the Athens 1896 Olympics. Bronze, 50 mm, 60 gm.

At the inaugural modern Olympiad, first-place winners were awarded silver medals, and second-place finishers earned bronze prizes; there was no award for a third-place result. Any winner's medal from the historic debut of the 1896 Olympic Games remains exceedingly rare. This example represents just the third that we have ever offered and the premiere instance of a first-place medal, which are among the most sought-after accolades in the realm of sport.

Among other winner's medals, Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics Gold Winner's Medal. Gold medal from the 1984 U.S.A. men's basketball team, which featured the likes of Jordan, Mullin, and Ewing.




Los Angeles 1932 Summer Olympics Gold Winner's Medal awarded to Swedish wrestler Ivar Johansson.

Garmisch 1936 Winter Olympics Silver Winner's Medal. The rare winner's medal awarded to Bill' Rabbit' Thomson as a member of the Canadian hockey team.

Top torches include; a Lillehammer 1994 Winter Olympics Torch. The torch is constructed of wood, iron, and copper, designed by André Steenbuch Marandon and Paal Christian Kahrs, and manufactured by Paal J. Kahrs Arkitekter AS, Statoil. Resembling that of a sheath knife, the torch is highlighted by its long birchwood handle that symbolizes Norway tradition. The upper section consists of a polished aluminum blade that conversely reflects the nation's industrial modernity and technology.

Lake Placid 1980 Winter Olympics Torch. The appreciably rare 1980 Lake Placid Olympics torch, comprised of bronze-colored leather and metal, designed by Don McFarland and manufactured by Cleanweld Turner. The torch design and materials symbolized a blend of modern technology and a reference to Ancient Greece.

Innsbruck 1976 Winter Olympics Torch. The extremely rare official 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics torch, constructed of aluminum alloy and steel, was designed by Vereinigte Metallwerke Ranshofen Berndorf. The upper shaft of the torch is hexagonal and features a pair of Olympic rings in openwork, with the curving metal strip extending from rings to platform representing a ski jump.

The Olympic Memorabilia auction from RR Auction will begin on July 15 and will conclude on July 22.