POSTER STAMPS AND LABELS OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

The following poster stamps and labels were issued for the 1960 Games in Squaw Valley:

Click on any image below to open an enlarged version in a separate window/tab

DuBois #	Dubois images	Images of actual label(s)	DuBois description TEXT IN COURIER FONT is from DuBois Catalog. Text in other fonts is this author's.
1960W-1			Squaw Valley, California, is a small hamlet near Lake Tahoe. Winter Games were held there in Feb. 18-28, 1960. 1. VIII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES CALIFORNIA 1960 - circular, black text around edge. Vignette: an irregular star composed of 3 triangles, a blue triangle on top of a red & a gray one; white Olympic rings on the blue triangle are interlaced as on the official Olympic flag. A printer's imprint near bottom of label - "PRINTED IN U.S. A." 89mm diameter (overall) ... Rare (The above vignette appeared on a 6lx91cm poster in December 1958, 57,228 copies in 5 languages, and, is the emblem chosen by the Organizing Committee of Squaw Valley.) - From "OLYMPISM THROUGH POSTERS" published by the International Olympic Committee. SIZE: 88mm diameter (Based on THIS IMAGE)
1960W-2			2. VISIT LOS ANGELES across top. Vignette & text: as on larger label No.1, triangles are dark blue, red & white, texts are blue. 42x49mm (overall), imperf ... Rare (1000 copies were issued by Mason £ Podolsky) 2a. Same as No. 2 but a black proof ... Rare
1960W-3			3. Olympic Committee of Norway, a "combo" label: NORSK DELTAGELSE (Norwegian participation) across top, in white; 1960 SQUAW VALLEY ROMA across bottom, in black. Vignette: depicts Olympic flag, with red rings, over flag of Norway, in correct red, white & 'blue colors. 26.5x20.5mm, perf 11, background blue with "wispy" white clouds in lower area ... $2.50
1960W-4	1960W-04 1960W-04a	1960W-04 1960W-04a	4. A Bread-Wrapper Label: SELECTED EXCLUSIVELY above; RAINBO across bottom. Vignette, between two texts: same emblem & text as No. 2 , in a white circular area. 70mm square (overall), imperf, outer texts are white on a red background, white & blue vertical stripes on right & left edges ... $5.00 --------------------- 4a A Bread-Wrapper Label: SELECTED EXCLUSIVELY around top; RAINBO BREAD around bottom; VIII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES in center. 30.5mm diameter, black text on red background ... Rare AS with many labels in this catalog, little is known of the current availability of such a label. While not "rare" in the usual sense, how many of these labels were salvaged from those RainDo bread-wrappers?
1960W-5			5. "HOLIDAY GATEWAY TO THE 1960 WINTER OLYMPICS" around edge of circular vignette portion; "Newt Crumley's HOLIDAY Hotel in Downtown Reno" below. Vignette: a drawing of a "cowboy" skier with an "H" in front of his face. 57x79mm (design), 64x86mm (overall, including white margin), colors are dull-orange & black ... $1.50
1960W-6			6. Lake TAHOE HOME OF THE VIII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES 1960. Vignettes: a small lake & mountain scene at upper left; Olympic rings at lower right. 49x30.5mm (overall), rouletted 9.5, silver, blue & black ... Rare
1960W-7, 8, 9, 9a		7, 8, 9, 9a TYPEs I & II panes The type II pane is a mockup - does it really exist?	7. Triangular label: FOR TICKET INFORMATION WRITE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES SAN FRANCISCO across bottom at base of triangle. - Vignette, above text: official emblem as on label No.2, in a white circle with pointed edging. - 72mm base & 36mm height, perf 12 at base, side edges have one or two imperf sides, when perfed they are perf 12.5 - Colors: emblem like label No,2, bottom text is blue, background is pink ... $3.00 (Pairs exist tete-beche at the triangular bases of 7 & 8) ------------- 8. Triangular Label: FOR TICKET INFORMATION WRITE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES SAN FRANCISCO between two vignettes and across bottom. - Vignettes: an ice skater on left, blue background; a skier on right, red background; official emblem, as on label No.2, above text. - 72mm base & 36mm height, perf 12 at base, left or right side is imperf, opposite side is perf 12.5. - Colors: emblem like label No.2, "OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES" is red, other texts are blue, vignette figures are white ... $3.00 ------------- 9. FOR TICKET INFORMATION WRITE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES SAN FRANCISCO down large arrow, on left, pointing to the official emblem and its text, on the right. - 49x37.5mm, perf 12.5 (on one or two edges - two or three edges are imperf) - Colors: arrow is red, "OLYMPIC" is dark blue, other text is white, emblem and its text are colored as at label No.2 ... $3.00 ------------- 9a. FOR TICKET INFORMATION WRITE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES SAN FRANCISCO across bottom. - Vignette: official emblem, as on label No.2, at middle ring of five, irregular Olympic rings. - 45x29mm, perf 12.5 (at one or two edges - two or three edges are imperf). - Colors: left & right ring are pale blue, lower rings are pink, central ring (not connected to other rings) is dark blue, "OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES" is red, other texts are blue, emblem and its text are colored as at label No. 2 ... $3.00 ------------- Sheet Format: Panes of seven exist consisting of two copies of No.7 (squared up in pairs), two copies of No.8 (squared up in pairs), and three copies of No.9 (or 9a) placed one above the other. The panes are imperforate on the four outside edges. The panes came as "pads" lightly bound down the right side. The two different panes are listed herein as Type I and Type II, containing either three copies of No. 9 or three copies of No. 9a, respectively. Type I has been seen as a pane of seven and Type II has been reconstructed via use of four label entities (both types are illustrated as such) - as panes ... Rare It is interesting to note that the triangular pairs, of the two pane types, are arranged differently. This effects different locations of the side- perforations of the two types of triangular-shaped labels. Thus, it is possible to isolate a total of nine perforation varieties from the two pane types (including the two perforation-types of the oblong labels on each type of pane).
1960W-10			A Shield-Shaped, Self-Adhesive, Baggage Label: 10. SQUAW VALLEY 1960 WINTER GAMES below. Vignette, above text: Olympic rings in their usual multicolors (interlaced as on original Olympic flag above; an American-Indian and child on skis, each holding on to one ski-pole; mountainous background. 64x78mm (design), 77x89mm (overall, including rectangular border), multicolored with background color of turquoise-blue ... $15.00
1960W-11			An Oval-Shaped Baggage Label: 11. RENO: LA PORTE above; DE' JEUX OLYMPIQUES D'HIVER below (white texts in wide, red, outer border). Vignette portion, inside wide, red border: a blue-edged shield with Olympic rings above (upper rings red, lower rings blue) and a large "1960" above wide red & white stripes; "SQUAW" to left of shield; "VALLEY" to right of shield. 12.8x8.3cm (overall), "Squaw Valley" & "1960" are blue ... $4.00
1960W-12	1960W-12a signed by Dr. A.J. de Bruijn 1960W-12d ASTROGRAM - Design printed on the envelope eBay description: ROCKET MAIL Olympic Winter Games cover, unused. Covers of this design were rocket-flown on February 18, 1960 from Washoe County, NV to Sierra County, CA. Printed by NRS (Nederlandsche Ruimtevaart Studio) for use by RRI (Rocket Research Institute). Conducted by RRI in commemoration of the Olympic Winter Games, Squaw Valley, CA. ASTROGRAM has imprinted NRS Winter Olympics rocket stamp - only 40 such covers were flown.	1960W-12 1960W-12a 1960W-12b&c signed by Dr. A.J. de Bruijn	12. Netherlands Souvenir Sheet: VIII OLYMPISCHE WINTERSPELEN TAHOE CITY CALIFORNIA at top of sheet; N.R.S. RAKETVLUCHT at bottom of sheet; a block of four identical labels in center, each as follows: A snowflake at upper left, N R S at upper right, a rocket in vertical panel on right side, a skier on left side with a "4" on his chest, Olympic rings VIII OLYMPISCHE WINTERSPELEN down a central, vertical panel. Down both sides and across bottom of block of four: stylized leaves meeting at ribbon-like bow at bottom. Individual labels measure 44x26mm, perf 12.5, colors are red & brown, invisible gum ... $1.25ea Overall sheet measures 162x105mm, outer texts, leaves and bow are red, perforations extend through selvage of sheet, invisible gum ... $5.OO/sheet (NRS means Netherlands Space Travel Studio; Raketvlucht means skyrocket. Tahoe City is the name of the rocket and the place near which the rocket was fired). 12a. Same as S.S. No. 12 but imperforate ... $5.OO/sheet 12b. Same as No.12a but red color only ... $10.00/sheet 12c. Same as No.12a but brown color only ... $10.00/sheet Note: Above items are listed in the Ellington-Zwisler Rocket Mail Catalog of 1967 (formerly available from the American Airmail Society). The information just presented on the Netherlands souvenir sheets was obtained from Robert Schoendorf, now deceased. Mr Schoendorf did much research study on the subject of flying mail via balloons and rockets. He had an outstanding collection of philatelic and other materials on those subjects. The writer attempted to obtain a few items related to the Netherlands souvenir sheets from him but was informed by his son, Walter Schoendorf, that his father passed away on Dec. 24, 1984. The writer had written to Robert Schoendorf on Dec. 26, 1984, without any knowledge, of course, that he had just died. Other items, related to the souvenir sheets, that he had offered, included the following: A presentation sheet on carton paper, imperforate, signed by Rocket Pioneer, Dr. DeBruijn. A flown presentation sheet carried on rocket "Tahoe City" - red or brown color omitted. It is regrettable that the two above items were not obtained as they would have been nice additions to this catalog. Most collectors can tell such stories of the "ones that got away!" We found some of the ones DuBois lamented losing - see images at left.
NOT IN DUBOIS The following labels were not listed in the DuBois catalog. Further additions are welcomed.
mber	Source images & text	Images of actual label(s)	Description and comments
1960W-x1			x1. Circular label, very similar to 1960W-1. VIII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES CALIFORNIA 1960 around outer edge. Vignette: in center, an irregular star composed of 3 triangles, a blue triangle on top of one red & one outlined in blue; white Olympic rings on the blue triangle are interlaced as on the official Olympic flag. A printer's imprint near bottom of label - illegible. Backgound is white or cream? Approx 82mm diameter (overall) --------------------- From an eBay auction in 2013 The seller described the lot as "3 OLYMPICS 1960 LUGGAGE LABELS DECALS SQUAW VALLEY LAKE TAHOE" original image at far left - The "I WAS THERE" label measures 84mm diam (I own a copy), and this one is slightly smaller. Note similarity to 1960W-1. Shown together in lower image at left.
1960w-x2			x2. Two circular labels: a. I WAS THERE at top; WINTER OLYMPICS 1960 SQUAW VALLEY down middle. b. No text at top, otherwise the same. Less than half the size! Vignette: image of Squaw Valley Olympics venue, skier, logo. a. 84mm total diam. b. 32mm total diam (!) Colors: light blue, dark blue, and red on white background. The second label is from a recent Heiko Volk auction - HERE is the image, it was part of a group of five items. See x15 and x16 below, for two other new items from that group.
1960w-x3			x3. A horizontal rectangle: Placer County SITE OF THE 1960 Winter Olympics 83x52mm, black text on gold
1960w-x4		x4 On cover See 1960 Rome page, 1960-x4 for a similar label.	x4. A horizontal rectangle: At left: VIII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES From U.N. Building to Squaw Valley Franked in Accordance with Title 39 U.S. Code Sec. 500 At right: Cartoon of skier with mountains behind. 85x25mm design Color: Blue ink on white paper. ------------------- I looked up Title 39, it is a US Postal Law - Section 500 was renumbered, and is now 401 (I think ) which simply describes "General powers of the Postal Service" I found several eBay auctions with this on cover, and it appears the label was a sort of meter postage. If so, it does not belong to this collection - we include only non-postal items. Can anyone explain more?
1960w-x5			x5. A vertical rectangle: At bottom: SQUAW VALLEY CALIFORNIA Vignette: At top, image of Native American woman and child skiing. At middle: Olympic Rings, C-199 at bottom right of vignette 2-1/2" wide by 3-3/4" tall Colors: multicolored ------------------- eBay auction Decal with application instructions on glassine sleeve
1960w-x6			x6. A vertical rectangle: In middle: SQUAW VALLEY CALIFORNIA Vignette: At bottom - Olympic venue At top: ski lift gondola against mountain background Approx. size: 65x90mm Multicolored. ------------------- Image taken from recent eBay auction, full image shown at left. Decal - application instructions on glassine envelope - 3rd image.
1960w-x7			x7. A vertical rectangle: At bottom: SQUAW VALLEY U.S.A. Vignette: ski lift gondola against clouds and mountain background Approx. size: 65x90mm Multicolored. ------------------- Image taken from recent eBay auction, full image shown at left. Decal - application instructions on glassine envelope - 3rd image.
1960w-x8			x8. A rectangular label: ROCKET RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC. 3262 Castera Avenue - Glendale 8, California Rocketpost Flight VI Commemorating THE OPENING OF THE VIII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES, SQUAW VALLEY, CALIFORNIA XVII Year of the Rocket Research Institute, Inc. February 18, 1960 Washoe County, Nevada to Sierra County, California Cover and Seals designed by David R. Vaughan H. Harry Mueggenburg, Chairman, RBI Astrophilatelic Committee SHEET N0 2195 Size unknown Color: blue on white ------------------- Images provided by Tony Wiegard
1960w-x9			x9. A decal: CONTRIBUTOR U.S. OLYMPIC FUND on U.S. Olympic shield. Size approximately 75x103 (design), based on similar items Colors: Blue and red
1960w-x10			x10. A small square label: Very similar to label x2, but square - SOUVENIR at top; WINTER OLYMPICS 1960 SQUAW VALLEY from middle to bottom Vignette: image of Squaw Valley Olympics venue, skier, logo. size: 32x29 mm overall Colors: blue and red on white background.
1960w-x11			x11. A strip of three labels: Each label: Logo of the Squaw Valley Games at center, VIII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES CALIFORNIA 1960 around outer edge. Large "D" or "L" or "B" at right, "2917" running vertically at left. Printed on "HB SAFETY PAPER" with a faint background of their logo and parallel bars size: 50x34 mm overall each Colors: dark blue and red ---------------------- What are these? Tickets? LATER - Philippe Pavard says they are not gummed, so I tried to figure out the B,L,D - and of course! Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner - they are meal tickets. So they don't really belong here - not labels, stamps, stickers - but we'll leave them for a while.
1960w-x12			x12. A decal 1960 WINTER OLYMPICS SQUAW VALLEY CALIFORNIA at bottom Ski-jumper in air with mountain scene in background size: 3in x 4.25 in Multicolored
1960w-x13			x13. A horizontal rectangular label SKISPORTENS VUGGE - TELEMARK MORGEDAL TURISTHOTELL OLYMPISK START 1952 (rings) 1960 Morgedal Tourist Hotel - Cradle of Telemark Skiing, Olympic start in 1952 - 1960 Vignette: Ski hotel in background, baby with skis and ski poles in cradle in foreground size: approx. 80x46 Blue and white background, black text, brown vignette According to Wikipedia, Morgedal, of the municipality of Kviteseid in the county of Telemark Norway, is called the cradle of skiing.
1960w-x14			x14. A vertical decal, die-cut in a shield shape SQUAW VALLEY 1960 OLYMPICS Vignette: white background, Blue border around edge of shield, Olympic rings at top, American Indian woman and child skiing, text at bottom. size: unknown White background, pale blue text, orange vignette Note similarity to labels 10 and x5.
1960w-x15			x15. A small horizontal rectangular label SOUVENIR VIII Winter Olympics SQUAW VALLEY 1960 Text only, black on gold foil size: 26x10mm
1960w-x16			x16. A sugar wrapper size: 108x64mm This doesn't really belong here, it's not a poster stamp or label, but it's cute, so I am showing it. It was part of a recent Heiko Volk auction - HERE is the image.
1960w-x17 & x18			x17 & x18. Auto Bumper stickers x17: 13" x 4" x18: 4" x 4" These two items raise some questions: - Is there a limit on the size of items we can call "poster stamps and labels?" - Should they at least fit comfortably onto an album page? - Does their intended use matter? - Does a label over a foot in length belong in this collection? I say it's up to you.
1960w-x19			x19. A circular label size: approx. 48mm = 2" The label depicts the official emblem of the 1960 Squaw Valley Games. White paper with black ink - monochrome. 5/18/18 - Feldman auction
1960w-x20			x20. A rectangular label Yellow background; at right, skier in grey silhouetted against snow-scene; at left, "RENO Gateway to the 1960 WINTER OLYMPICS" in red letters. size: vignette approx. 45x28mm 5/18/18 - Feldman auction 11/13/18 - Second image, different colors? from Alvaro Trucchi and Phila-Sport magazine
1960w-x21			x21. A circular decal/transfer White background, narrow black rim, Squaw and child on skis heading down to right, "SQUAW VALLEY" at bottom. size: unknown 11/13/18 - Alvaro Trucchi and Phila-Sport magazine
1960w-x22			x22. A circular sticker/label Red, white & blue - OFFICIAL CAR - RENAULT around outer edge, Olympic rings and "WINTER OLYMPICS 1960" in center size: approx 100 mm, based on lower image. The label on the right, 1960W-x2 is 84 mm diam. 11/13/18 - Alvaro Trucchi and Phila-Sport magazine
1960w-x23			4/1/19 x23. A rectangular self-adhesive sticker/label POUR LE SKI - MER - MONTAGNE VUARNET Medaille d'or Olympique 1960 Image of sun glasses with color photo reflection of skier in one lens, text in other From a delcampe auction SIZE not specified, but I assume it's three or four inches wide.
1960w-x24			7/5/19 x24. A shield-shaped self-adhesive sticker/label and a letter from the American Committee to Aid the Winter Olympic Team of Japan Blue border, purple background, Mt Fuji at top, Olympic rings top center, skier at left, skater at right, crossed flags of US and Japan at bottom. Images contributed by Akihiko Kanda: "JOC Official self-adhesive sticker for 1960 Squaw Valley winter games." Distributed to donors to the Squaw Valley Olympic Japan team.
1960w-x25			6/16/2020 x25. A rectangular sugar wrapper from Harrah's Casino Lake Tahoe with the 1960 Winter Olympics logo. Size: 70x50mm
1960w-x26			6/16/2020 x26. A rectangular label with the 1960 Winter Olympics logo, "SQUAW VALLEY" and "VIII OLYMPIV WINTER GAMES" Size: 60x45mm
1960w-x27			6/16/2020 x27. a decal (water transfer) with ski lift, downhill skier, Indian squaw and papoose, "HOME OF 1960 WINTER GAMES, SQUAW VALLEY, CALIFORNIA." Size: 94x60mm

If you have information or images that can improve this website, please contact me at

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...

Click here to access my web page about the 1936-1951 Poster Stamp Bulletin of the National Poster Stamp Society.

Home

All text Copyright © 2016, William M. Senkus

Send feedback to the author: CLICK HERE

Created -- 06/16/2016
Revised -- 06/16/2020