POSTER STAMPS AND LABELS OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES
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INTRODUCTION
SUMMER GAMES |
1924 - VIII Olympiad - ParisMay 4-July 27
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SOLVED MYSTERIES!
SUMMER GAMES
WINTER GAMES
OTHER TOPICS |
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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,
(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
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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!
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10/01/2021 - TA-DA! French collector Oleksandr Zhylich sent the image below!
Magnifique!
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#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 |
#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
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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.
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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.
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
12. Nos. 9, 10 & 11, with violet handstamps of new values:
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#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 |
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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 |
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. |
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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: |
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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!
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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.
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PARIS 1924 VIII OLYMPIADE |
NOT A POSTER STAMP
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4/20/16
OFFICIAL LUGGAGE LABEL
JEUX OLYMPIQUES
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. |
LABEL or LEAFLET?
#1924-x3 variety (both sides shown) 155x95mm overall
4/22/18 - this just showed up in an eBay auction.
COMPARISONS OF THE THREE LABELS
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Swiss Swimming and Diving Fund label
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NB - I have reorganized and renumbered the items from here down on this page.
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OLYMPIC GAMES OSAKA JAPAN, 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.
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#1924-x6c thru j |
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!"
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#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
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?
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NEW FIND - 12/29/2019
AUX OLYMPIADES at bottom, |
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.
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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)
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
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* 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.
Where is it? |
05/10/2022
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.
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02/12/2023
Not poster stamps - obviously - but attractive ephemera from
the event. Images courtesy of our friend Philippe Pavard.
From an eBay auction, July 2022.
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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:
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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...
Send feedback to the author: CLICK HERE
Created -- 07/27/2013
Revised -- 008/10/2023