BOSTON, MASS.- RR Auction presents a vast array of Olympic Memorabilia in its third offering devoted exclusively to the beloved international sporting event this January 12-19. Representing over a century of competition, this online auction maps the modern Olympic pathway with a diverse, in-demand selection of the rare and remarkable items.
Highlights from the Olympic Winners Medals section include:
A massive 1936 Garmisch bronze winners medal. Designed by Richard Klein and struck by Deschler and Sohn of Munich, Germany. The front features a female holding a victory wreath and riding a triga on arch above winter sports equipment, with raised text, GarmischPartenkirchen; the reverse shows the Olympic rings encircled with raised text, IV Olympische, Winterspiele 1936. Only 755 athletes competed in these games, with a total of 36 gold, 36 silver, and 36 bronze medals minted, making these large medals exceedingly scarce and desirable amongst collectors. One of the very largest of Olympic medals. (Estimate: $30,000+)
St. Moritz 1948 Winter Olympics Silver Winners Medal. Designed by Paul Andre Droz, Silver, 60 mm, 103 gm. The front depicts a hand holding the Olympic torch against a background with snowflakes and Olympic rings, with motto above, Citius Altius Fortius; the reverse features two raised snowflakes and the raised text, Vmes Jeux Olympiques DHiver St. Moritz 1948. The St. Moritz Games were the first to be celebrated following World War II, and were bestowed with the moniker, The Games of Renewal. Due to their roles in the preceding war, both Japan and Germany were not invited to compete; they subsequently rejoined the Winter Games in 1952. A total of 123 athletes won medals at the 1948 Games, with 48 of those earning silver medals. Given the low quantity of struck winners medals, as well as the historical significance of the period, this example is of the utmost desirability.A complete set of winners medals from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Conceived by Malcolm Grear Designers and manufactured by Reed and Barton, all three medals are inscribed on the rim, Mfg. Sample, and each include their original green-and-gold ribbon. The medals are housed in an attractive wooden display case laser-cut with the centennial host logo and lined on the interior in black felt. (Estimate: $8,000+)
Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics Gold Winners Medal. Gilt silver, 60 mm, 117 gm, by Constantino After, Milan. The front, inscribed, VII Giochi Olimpici Invernali, features the head of Victory crowned in Olympic rings with a torch to the right; the reverse, inscribed, Citius Altius Fortius, Cortina 1956, portrays an ice crystal over Mt. Pomagagnon. The hallmark, 800, and proof stamp are present on right-center edge of reverse, with the designer name, Cost/Affer, visible to the left of Victorys neck, and the mint on the right edge, Lorioli. Includes the original green leather presentation case. Cortina d'Ampezzo was initially selected to host the fifth Winter Olympics in 1944, but the Games were canceled due to the onset of World War II. Awarded as a Winter host twelve years later, Cortina is best remembered for the debut of Soviet athletes in a Winter Olympiad, as well as for the first instance in which the Olympics were internationally televised. One of a total 51 first place prizes issued for the Cortina Games, this is an attractive and exceedingly scarce winners medal. (Estimate: $10,000+)
Among the Olympic Torches to be featured:
A rare official 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics torch. Designed by the National Research Council of Canada, the torch was made to resemble the Calgary Tower, an iconic landmark in the Canadian city. The torch relay was an enormous event, with approximately 6,500 torchbearers drawn from an application pool of over six million. After the lighting ceremony in Olympia, the flame was flown to Newfoundland and then traveled 18,000 km through Canada over 88 days. Unlike many relays, the torches were shared and thus only about one hundred and fifty were manufactured. (Estimate: $40,000+)
In addition, a spectacular relay torch from the 1956 Cortina Winter Games, the second Winter relay and the first instance in which the Olympics were internationally televised. The torch was modeled after the one used for the 1948 London Olympics and the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, with the upper part in the shape of a cauldron with three cut-outs of the Olympic rings, encircled below by the inscription, VII Giochi Invernali Cortina 1956. (Estimate: $20,000+)
The Olympic Memorabilia Auction from RR Auction will begin on January 12 and will conclude on January 19. For information, visit the RR Auction web site at www.rrauction.com.