POSTER STAMPS AND LABELS OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

      INTRODUCTION

      STATISTICS

      UNSOLVED MYSTERIES

        SUMMER GAMES
1894 - Modern Games Founded
1896 - I Olympiad - Athens
1900 - II Olympiad - Paris
      - Vignettes of the 1900 Paris Expo
1904 - III Olympiad - St. Louis
1906 - Intercalated Games - Athens
1908 - IV Olympiad - London
1912 - V Olympiad - Stockholm
1913 - Berlin prepares for 1916 games
1914 - 20th Anniversary of Rebirth of Games
1916 - VI Olympiad - Berlin
1920 - VII Olympiad - Antwerp
1924 - VIII Olympiad - Paris
      - Post Cards
1928 - IX Olympiad - Amsterdam
1932 - X Olympiad - Los Angeles
1936 - XI Olympiad - Berlin
1940 - XII Olympiad - Tokyo
      - XII Olympiad - Helsinki
      - New Zealand Centennial Games
1944 - XIII Olympiad - London
      - German POW Games
1948 - XIV Olympiad - London
1952 - XV Olympiad - Helsinki
1956 - XVI Olympiad - Melbourne
      - XVI Olympiad - Stockholm
1960 - XVII Olympiad - Rome

1924 - VIII Olympiad - Paris

May 4-July 27

     

Official Posters and Emblem for 1924 Games in Paris
This was the first Olympiad for which an official Emblem was created.

Page 65 of the Official Report of the 1924 Games
details the official propaganda labels created for the event:

1,6oo,ooo luggage tags, bearing the name of the Olympic Games, were distributed all over the world and used by the major shipping and transport companies, by the main commission agents, hotels, novelty shops, etc. (1924-x3, below)

With the authorization of the Minister of Finance, 11 million Olympic stamps were inserted into boxes of cigarettes and cigars; (1924-03, below) 14 million envelope-labels for cigarette packets were marked "Olympic Games, Paris, 1924". (Never seen!)

In addition, a million vignettes were inserted in packets and parcels sent by large novelty stores and the principal wholesale and retail houses, or dispersed by plane.

Three million propaganda stamps, reproducing the two Olympic posters, were distributed and used throughout the world. (1924-1,2)

There are TWO mysteries about that narrative. First, if 1.6 million of the luggage labels were distributed, why are they so scarce today? Second, why have I NEVER seen the "SPECIMEN DE PAQUETS A CIGARETTES"?!

Thanks to eBay seller vandello_books for referring us to that report.

Back to DuBois:

The following poster stamps were issued for the 1924 Games:

Click on image below to open an enlarged version in a separate window/tab
Click on the DuBois number beneath the image to display technical data about that label.


#1924-1&2a thru d
Official labels in the four official colors.

Other (scarcer) colors and combinations of ink and paper exist, the most common being red, though those could be changelings from orange or brown.

 

Note the three directly above, which look as though someone enhanced them with colored pencils. Each has at least four colors - these can't be originals, can they?

Imperforates exist.

      SOLVED MYSTERIES!

      STILL MISSING

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      UPDATE HISTORY

       SUMMER GAMES
1964 - XVIII Olympiad - Tokyo
1968 - XIX Olympiad - Mexico City
1972 - XX Olympiad - Munich

       WINTER GAMES
1924 - I Winter Games - Chamonix
1928 - II Winter Games - St Moritz
1932 - III Winter Games - Lake Placid
1936 - IV Winter Games - Garmisch-Partenkirchen
1940 - V Winter Games - Sapporo
      - V Winter Games - St Moritz
      - V Winter Games - Garmisch-Partenkirchen
1944 - V Winter Games - Cortina d'Ampezzo
1948 - V Winter Games - St Moritz
1952 - VI Winter Games - Oslo
1956 - VII Winter Games - Cortina d'Ampezzo
1960 - VIII Winter Games - Squaw Valley
1964 - IX Winter Games - Innsbruck
1968 - X Winter Games - Grenoble
1972 - XI Winter Games - Sapporo

       OTHER TOPICS
      - U.S. OLYMPIC SHIELD DECALS
      - Workers' Olympics

DuBois listing:

1. "PARIS - 1924" above vignette; "VIIIe OLYMPIADE" in upper left of vignette; "JEUX OLYMPIQUES" across bottom of vignette. Vignette: a group of athletes giving the Olympic salute, a Parisian coat of arms and palm branches are below, an ornate (columnar) frame is around text and vignette, printer's imprint below design: "STRIBICK FALLY & Cie. 29x43mm, perf 14

2. "VIIIe OLYMPIADE" above vignette; "JEUX OLYMPIQUES PARIS 1924" below vignette, in a black panel (Paris 1924 is of same color as the laurel-garland frame). Vignette: A javelin thrower with an upper portion of a globe and a view of Paris in the background, a laurel-garland frame surrounds the text and vignette, printer's imprint as on No.1, above. 28x43mm, perf 14.

The vignettes of both Nos. 1 & 2, above, are black, but the frames are colored as follows:

a)green,
b)orange,
c)brown ....... $5.00ea
d)violet ...... $10.00

(8 other frame color varieties are reported)

Nos. 1 & 2 were issued in se-tenant pairs (of one color combination only) ... 2.5x value of single labels

Printed in sheets 10 wide by 5 high

9/26/22 - image of full pane above! Thanks to Nick Dandoulakis for sending image from an eBay auction, seller e-phila.

SOLD July 21, 2022 for $40.23 - quite a bargain for such a rare item.

 

OTHER LABELS FOR THE 1924 GAMES


#1924-3

DuBois listing:

3. "Jeux Olympiques" above; "Paris 1924" below; Vignette, centrally located: a coat of arms of Paris. 70x51 mm, imperf, text-blue, coat of arms-red ... Rare

According to the Official Report (see top of page) these were distributed as inserts into boxes of cigarettes and cigars!


#1924-4

Is the one at bottom left really orange, or just faded?
OR is it 1924-5? (next item, at right)

DuBois listing:

4. Estonian-Fund Label: "5M" in upper left & right corners; "VIII OLYMPIAAD PARIISIS 1924" in ribbon across top. Vignette: an old sailing ship with a rising sun behind. A lined frame around vignette and text. 32x24.5mm, perf 11.5.

a)red,
b)green,
c)blue,
d)brown, or
e)violet ... $27.00
imperf ..... $27.00


#1924-5

DuBois listing:

Like 1924-4, but a larger, imperf proof 42x32mm, red

DuBois provided no image for this entry. Below: image from the www - could this be it?

Note the red border along the lines where it was cut, and some minor differences from 1924-4, e.g. the shading above the text.

 

1924-4 is 32x24.5mm - significantly smaller - but if the vignettes are identical, the only way to tell them apart would be to show them side by side, so if you have this item, please send a scan with it next to the ordinary variety.


#1924-6

Above: One stamp, with partial overprint "EEST" - DuBois says the entire overprint spans three stamps, but it looks like the overprint would stretch over at least four stamps.

DuBois listing:

Like 4 but with a vertical, violet overprint, reading down and covering three labels:
"EESTI SPORDI KESKLIIT"
Five different colors as with No.4 (red, green, blue, green, violet)

Overprint text translation = Estonian Central Sports Union

6/15/2020 - below, two examples with horizontal overprint.

10/01/2021 - TA-DA! French collector Oleksandr Zhylich sent the image below! Magnifique!



#1924-7

DuBois listing:

7. Italian Issue: "COMITATO OLIMPICO NAZIONALE ITALIANO" inscribed on a wide circle frame, on a red background; Vignette, with gold background: a wreath around a white ribbon on which is inscribed "CITIUS ALTIUS FORTIUS" - all lettering black; a thin, white border around edge. 26mm. diameter, imperf.

a)red frame ....... $15.00
b)carmine frame ... $20.00


#1924-8

DuBois listing:

8. French Issue: Similar to No.7 but vignette is all black and inscription now reads "COMITE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIQUE" wholly surrounded by a red, white & green circular frame with a crown at the top. 29mm square, perf 11.5 ... $20.00

Note: The motto, "CITIUS-ALTIUS-FORTIUS" which occurs on labels 7 and 8, above, means "Swifter-Higher-Stronger." This motto occurs on labels of the 1932 - Los Angeles Games, on a ribbon which intertwines around the Olympic rings
(see Nos.2,3,6,7,40,61,70 & 71 of that section).

According to Wikipedia:

The Olympic motto is the hendiatris "Citius, Altius, Fortius" which is Latin for "Faster, Higher, Stronger". It was proposed by Pierre de Coubertin upon the creation of the International Olympic Committee in 1894.

Coubertin borrowed it from his friend Henri Didon, a Dominican priest who was an athletics enthusiast.

Coubertin said "These three words represent a programme of moral beauty. The aesthetics of sport are intangible." The motto was introduced in 1924 at the Olympic Games in Paris. A more informal but well known motto, also introduced by Coubertin, is "The most important thing is not to win but to take part!" Coubertin got this motto from a sermon by the Bishop of Pennsylvania during the 1908 London Games.

 

Polish Fund labels
#1924-9 thru 12
#1924-12a, 10, & 12c (top) and 1924-12abc (bottom)
Images courtesy of Roman Babut

The basic stamp is an ornamental design with overprint "POLSKA NA OLIMPJADE" in three lines. Denomination (5, 10, or 20) is in large numeral in a central oval.
12a,b,c are 9 thru 11 with purple surcharges.

Following reunification of Poland in 1918, the Polish Olympic Committee was established, and in 1924 Poland sent its first athletes to the Games in Paris. These labels were part of a fund-raising effort by the POC for those Games. The initial printing of 1923 was almost immedistely rendered worthless by the hyperinflation of that year, necessitating the new overprinted valuations. Consequently the unoverprinted labels are much scarcer than the overprinted ones (which are not exactly plentiful). I am told the image of 1924-10 above may be the only surviving example, and that there are no known examples of 1924-9 and 1924-11.

DuBois listing:

9. Polish Fund Label: "POLSKA NA OLIMPIJADE" a black over-print. Vignette: a white "5" in an ornamental background. 24x29mm, perf 11.5, gray ... $30.00
10. Like No. 9 but a white "10" - Overprint is brown, vignette is rose ... $28.00
11. Like No. 9 but a white "20" - Overprint is black, vignette is violet ... Rare

12. Nos. 9, 10 & 11, with violet handstamps of new values:
a) Mk 50 on 9,
b) Mk 100 on 10,
c) Mk 200 on 11 ... All rare



#1924-13

DuBois listing:

13. Swiss Fund Label: "FEDERATION SUISSE de BOXE Olympiades PARIS 1924" at upper part of label; 10c at lower right. Vignette: a boxer on a plank, Swiss flag on the left. 27x42mm. perf 11.5, multicolored ... $39.00


#1924-14

DuBois listing:

14. Swiss Fund Label: "FEDERATION SUISSE de BOXE" above; lOc at left; "PARIS 1924 OLYMPIADES" at lower right. Vignette: a half-figure of a boxer on the left, a white cross on the right. No border, red background extends through the perforations. 32x26mm, perfed, design is black ... Rare


#1924-15

DuBois listing:

15. "ZU GUNSTEN DER TEILNAHME SCHWEIZER. RENNFAHRER AN DER VIII. OLYMPIADE PARIS 1924" below; Vignette: 4 cyclists, each with a white cross on his chest. 35x54mm (40x61 mm, overall), perf 11.5, multicolored. $25.00 (German text: To favor the participation of Swiss racing cyclists in the 8th Olympiad, Paris 1924)


#1924-16

DuBois listing:

16. Like No. 15 but French text: "POUR LA PARTICIPATION DU CYCLISME SUISSE A LA HUITIEME OLYMPIADE PARIS 1924" ... $25.00


#1924-17

DuBois listing:

17. Swiss Label: "F.S.S.A. S.R.V. LES RAMEURS SUISSES A LA / DIE SCHWEIZERISCHEN RUDERER AN DER" above; "VIII. OLYMPIADE PARIS 13-17 JUILLET 1924" below. Vignette, between the two texts: a 35x37mm picture of an oarsman in a scull. 36x55mm, perf 11, blue, brown & tan vignette, text is brown. ... $15.00



#1924-18

DuBois listing:

18. An Issue of the Hungarian Athletic Council: "VIII. OLYMPIÁD PÁRIS 1924" above; "MAGYAR ATHLETIKAI SZÖVETSÉG" below. Vignette, across the middle of the label: two profiled heads to the left and the Hungarian coat of arms to the right, in an irregular ribbon-embellished frame; outside frame, to left, the French colors, to right, the Hungarian colors. 54x38mm (62.5x42.5mm overall), perf 1l.5, multicolored ... $14.00


#1924-19

DuBois listing:

19. A French Theatrical Production Advertising Label: "Casino de Paris LA GRANDE REVUE OLYMPIQUE" Text is white on a red background. 70x50mm, oval-shaped, imperforate ... Rare

The Casino de Paris was a Paris music hall that reached the peak of its popularity around 1924, during the Paris Olympics. To capitalize on the event, they mounted LA GRANDE REVUE OLYMPIQUE, which included performers such as Maurice Chevalier and Sophie Tucker.

Grand, indeed! Handbill below.
 

MORE HERE


#1924-20


Two varieties of the booklet cover

DuBois listing:

20. Great Britain Fund Label: "BRITISH SWIMMERS" at upper left; "OLYMPIC FUND" at lower right. Vignette: a diving swimmer between texts, stylized waves across bottom, lined margin(about 1 mm wide). 25x25mm, perf 11, black & red on orange paper ... $20.00 Issued in panes of six, SE4S, thus labels are straight-edged on one or two sides.

Note: The above-discussed label is listed as being a 1932 label in the following catalogs:
- Katalog der Vignetten zu den Olympische Spielen by Paul F. Rampacher (label no. 22, "1932 - Los Angeles")
- A Catalog of Poster Stamps of the Olympic Games by Dick Green (label no. X084, listed as being on brown paper, rather than on orange paper as listed by Trory & Rampacher).

Ernest Trory, in his book "A Philatelic History of the Olympic Games" comments on label #1924-20 as follows:

THE FIRST BRITISH OLYMPIC LABEL

In 1924 for the first time ever, a British sporting body issued a Special Label for the purpose of raising funds to enable a team to participate in the Olympic Games.

The sporting body was the Amateur Swimming Association; and the money raising effort was the British Swimmers Olympic Fund.

Booklets of the Special Labels, or "Stamps" as they were called. were issued, each containing 60 "Stamps" to be sold at 1d. each. The "Stamps" were in panes of six - ten panes to a booklet; and each booklet was numbered.

The British Swimmers Olympic Fund was specifically for the "preparation, training and selection of British Swimmers to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games at Paris, 1924." This was stated on the cover of each booklet, as was the fact that "Any further information may be obtained from; money remitted to; and further books issued by the Representative in your Country or district. A. J. Perring, 10 Tollington Place , Tollington Park , London, NA."

3/13/16 - Steve Payne sent this image of the GB swimming team of 1924. How times have changed!


NOT IN DUBOIS

If you can provide information about any of these - dimensions, issuer, etc. - please send to the author at the email address at bottom of page.

OR, if you have examples of other seals/labels/stickers/poster stamps from these Games, tell me about those, too.


#1924-x1
Found on the www.

PARIS 1924 VIII OLYMPIADE
Vignette: Javelin thrower, globe, Paris skyline, rectangular border = wreath

NOT A POSTER STAMP


#1924-x2
Found on the www
Height approx. 40mm = 1.6"

JEUX OLYMPIQUES PARIS 1924
Vignette: Javelin thrower, globe, Paris skyline

5/30/16 - I just realized what that "stamp" above is!
It's the left-hand half of a stamp from Fujeira. That straight-edge on the right side finally tipped me off. Here is the complete item:


It's from this sheet:

4/20/16

OFFICIAL LUGGAGE LABEL
#1924-x3
155x95mm overall, no gum
LARGE - 6.25" x 3.75"
Image and stats courtesy of Philippe Pavard

JEUX OLYMPIQUES
PARIS
MAI-JUIN-JUILLET 1924
White text over Blue stripe in top half, Red stripe in bottom half.
"6.013 - 1.500.000 - 9.23" in tiny blue letters vertically at left edge of red stripe.

According to the Official Report (see top of page) 1,600,000 copies printed in September, 1923. Where are they all?

THERE IT IS used on a satchel of the period - cute.
BUT, looking closely, the lettering is slightly different. And is the blue text there?

LABEL or LEAFLET?

#1924-x3 variety
(both sides shown)
155x95mm overall

4/22/18 - this just showed up in an eBay auction.
It has printing on the back, and no gum.
Note that it does NOT have the tiny blue text in the red stripe.

COMPARISONS OF THE THREE LABELS
(I see tiny differences):



#1924-x4
42x29mm overall
Image supplied by Philippe Pavard

Swiss Swimming and Diving Fund label
FSN-SSV Jeux Olympiques Paris 1924
Vignette: woman in middle of swan dive, clouds in background.


FSN = Fédération Suisse de Natation (Swiss Swimming Federation)
SSV = Ski- und SportVerein (Ski and Sport Association)

--------------------


#1924-x5
COLOMBES OLYMPIQUE
Registration label from Olympic venue -
Found on the www.


Here it is on cover.

NB - I have reorganized and renumbered the items from here down on this page.

-------------


#1924-x6a
Approx. size of vignette = 47x69mm
Found on the www.

OLYMPIC GAMES OSAKA JAPAN, 1923
6th Far Eastern Championship Games in Osaka, Japan, 21-25 May, 1923

The Far Eastern Championship Games (also known as Far East Games ) was a small Asian multi-sport competition considered to be a precursor to the Asian Games. These games were started in 1912, and discontinued in 1938. They had no official connection with the Olympics, except in that their creators intended them to promote Olympic ideals.

BELOW and to the right: more of these labels have turned up. Sources eBay and Feldman Auctions. Only five of them say "OLYMPIC GAMES," though.
(Thanks to eBay seller sdhmedia for several of these images)


#1924-x6b

#1924-x6c thru j


#1924-x7 a & b
Suomi Voittoon!
(Victory to Finland!)
Approx. size = 30.5x42mm (design)
Poster stamp and matchbox label issued to raise funds in support of the Finnish teams in 1924.

Below: 5/13/19 - a second version of the stamp, without the printer's name at the bottom, AND part of a document from the Finnish Gymnastics and Sports Association with 1924 date and same image.

 

Text at top translates "Victory to Finland at the Olympics and World Cup 1924!"



#1924-x8
Decal/sticker:
AMERICAN OLYMPIC TEAM
PARIS 1924
SIZE: Approx. 5-1/2" by 5-3/4"

Probably intended as a luggage label for Olympic athletes - hence the spaces at top for SPORT and MEMBER.

NEW FIND - 12/29/2019


#1924-x9
Silver foil sticker:
"V. Tama Sport" at top, Olympic rings,
"TABAJDY LÁSZLÓ / BUDAPEST
IV KAROLY KRT 28 / GERLOCZYU OLDAL / 189-198"

SIZE: Approx. 30mm high

Seems to be an ad for a sporting goods store in Budapest. The date is assumed from its context, an eBay lot with five other vignettes from 1924.

Can you tell me more?

NEW FIND - 12/29/2019

 
#1924-x10
Cardboard coaster for a wine bottle. This is not a label, so is outside the official scope of this collection, but it's such a great design, I just had to show it!

AUX OLYMPIADES at bottom,
Image of athlete casually lifting what looks like a cannon's barrel and a group of very heavy iron weights!
At left is script saying "Il en a bu" which translates "He drank it."
I suppose the idea is that the wine made him strong!
My friend Phil Pavard points out that it is also a pun, since it can be read "Il en abu..." which translates "He drank too much!" - "Il en abuse"


Seller described it
1910-20s circular Table wine vignette, aux Olympiades

I think it belongs here, with the Paris Olympics, right?

1/11/2020 - Phil won the auction, and emailed me to say the diameter is 80mm - smaller than I thought. It must be a coaster for a glass, rather than for a bottle. Thanks, Phil!

10/4/2021 - Collector Rufin Schullian of Italy emailed me the image below, a second variety of this "coaster." His is the same size, 80mm diam.


#1924-x10a


10/4/2021 - Collector Rufin Schullian of Italy emailed me the image below, of a 1923 Swiss cover with what I would call a charity label, perhaps a revenue stamp.

TEXT: A.S.F.A. - (SECTION DE FOOTBALL)
JEUX OLYMPIQUES - PARIS 1924
10 centimes.


#1924-x11


#1924-x11

Obviously this was sold to raise funds for the Swiss Olympic Team. Was it compulsory? The fact that it is placed with the stamps and canceled suggests to me that it was, and that for some period in 1923, all letters had to have this label affixed to show payment of a surcharge.

A.S.F.A = Association Suisse de Football et d'Athétisme

* NEW FIND - 8/10/2023 - eBay seller vandello_books referred us to the Official Report of the French Olympic Committee, which desribes and illustrates the official propaganda items created for these Games, and this item, shown in that report, should be plentiful, but I have never seen it! Supposedly it was an insert in packets of cigarettes.



#1924-x12

Where is it?

05/10/2022
FAKE


#1924-fake
140x100mm

Another "modern fantasy" or "fake" Olympic label, similar to ones I show on the 1928, 1936, and 1940 pages. The fact that it has the same format as those others is confirmation of its modern origin. Should you collect these? That's your choice. They are attractive, and make an interesting sidelight to one's collection, if they can be acquired cheaply.

IF YOU KNOW WHO MADE THESE, and when and for what purpose, please write and tell me.

02/12/2023
Set of 5 Olympic Souvenir postcards, 1924 Paris



110x60mm

Not poster stamps - obviously - but attractive ephemera from the event. Images courtesy of our friend Philippe Pavard. From an eBay auction, July 2022.


France issued 4 stamps for the 1924 Olympics. Overprinted versions were issued by Lebanon and Syria (both of which were under French control at that time).

Uruguay issued 500 sets of three Olympics stamps in 1924. They were not for sale at post offices.

Costa Rica issued 3 semi-postals "to help defray the expenses of athletic games at San Jose on Dec, 1924" (according to the Scott catalogue). Sources on the www indicate that these were the first Pan-American Games. Note that the stamps say "Juegos Olimpicos" - Olympic Games.


RELATED MATERIAL

3/10/16 - Steve Payne sent the following images, of essays for a proposed (unissued) alternate design for the 50fr French stamp for the 1924 Olympics, as well as a French postal card, the first Olympic postal stationery.

   

Ernest Trory, in "A Philatelic History of the Olympic Games" writes of the essays as follows:

Of much greater interest, however, are the proofs of an unadopted essay for the 50¢ value designed by E. Becker and engraved by G. Daussy. These are said to exist in 16 different colours. The author has examples in four different single colours - magenta, prussian blue, yellow-green and bluegreen; and in four different combinations of two colours - mauve and brown, red-brown and light blue, red and pale green, deep yellow and brown . He also has a proof of the frame only in black.


TOP

I am indebted to Robert J DuBois for allowing me to use images and information from his Catalog of Olympic Labels on these web pages.

All text and images are the property of the author. Any errors are his.
REWARD! If you have better or additional information about anything shown or discussed here, please email the author.
Email address at bottom of page. Full credit gladly given - your name, ebay ID, web site...

Home


All text Copyright © 2013, William M. Senkus

Send feedback to the author: CLICK HERE

Created -- 07/27/2013
Revised -- 008/10/2023