POSTER STAMPS AND LABELS OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

CLICK HERE to view the 1968-MEXICO-CITY section of the DuBois catalog as a pdf.

The following poster stamps and labels were issued for the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City

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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.
INTRA-OLYMPIAD LABELS - 1966
1966-1			1966-1 1966 - 70th. ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Text at lower portion of label: 70 followed by four lines of Greek text/1896 - 1966/Olympic rings (interlaced as on original Olympic flag) 70 ΕΤΗΡΙΣ Α! ΔΙΕΘΝΩΝ ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΩΝ ΑΓΩΝΩΝ 1896-1966 70 YEARS MODERN INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC GAMES 1896-1966 Vignette: depicts the "Statue of Victory" with the Parthenon in the background. The statue is like that of the 1906-Athens label as well as like that on two Greek stamp issues of 1896 & 1917 (postal tax stamp). 30x61 mm, (46x87mm, overall), imperf, violet ........ $4.00 Additional colors: Black, Brown, Burgundy, Blue, Green Apparently created for a celebration at the Olympic Museum in Olympia, Greece. I don't know why DuBois did not assign a number to this item. It is somewhat crude, really just a rubber stamp applied to rectangles of gummed paper (and to envelopes - see bottom image at left), but that does not bother me. I like it, so I have assigned it a number.
1966-x1	UBOIS		1966-x1: Decal TOP 2/3: Red background, gold stylized eagle in profile, Small image of red, white & blue American Olympic shield in white circle at center. Bottom 1/3: Blue background, white text "WE CARE / WE GAVE / U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM" - Olympic rings in gold 7.5" x 5" overall BACK: Very similar to label 1960-226, but text in central area has been simplified. Number at bottom left is 66-12227-11, which the eBay seller offering this decal says indicates it was issued in 1966. If that is the case, then label 1960-226 would be a 1964 label, since the text on its back is "64-10296-9", but we have independent evidence it was sold in 1960. SO...???
1966-x2	NOT IN DUBOIS		1966-x2: Decal At top: WE CARE / WE GAVE - U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM Bottom 3/4 of decal: US Olympic shield in red, white & blue. Three upper rings are red, and lower two are blue No text on shield Size: 7.5" x 5" overall?? BACK: Similar to label, 1960-226, but text in central area has been simplified. Number at bottom left is 66-12227-11. Images courtesy of Teresa Hedgpeth Archivist & Historical Steward United States Olympic Committee 9/24/16 - Ms. Hedgpeth sent me these images of an item in the USOC collection, and added the following information about them: I came across your website today: http://www.alphabetilately.org/Oly/decals.html on Olympic decals. I noticed you had one of the 66-122227-11 decals but not the other on your website. I have attached images of the front and back of the decal we have that is also a 66-122227-11 decal.
1966-x3	NOT IN DUBOIS		1966-x3: Decal Red and blue on white 11/19/17 Shield same as 1960-226, but with text across stripes: "CONTRIBUTOR U.S. OLYMPIC ROWING FUND" and crossed oars over text. Text on back is the same as 1960-226a. Number is 66-12039-8.
1966-x4	NOT IN DUBOIS		1966-x4: Fantasy labels for Elleore Ellympiad Various colors 08/10/2023 One of these showed up on eBay recently, and I did a little research, ending at this Wikipedia page And then at this site I'll let you explore, if you so desire.
INTRA-OLYMPIAD LABELS - 1967
1967-x1	NOT IN DUBOIS		1967-x1: Label/stamp Red, black and brown on white Gummed? Size? Olympic rings at top, "EXPOSICIÓN DE TEMAS DEPORTIVOS", (Exposition of Sports Thematics) Greek urn with flames, nude runners on side, "SABADELL - 1967" at bottom. Simulated perforations in brown surround design. Sabadell is a city of about 200,000 in Spain, 20 km north of Barcelona.
1967-x2	NOT IN DUBOIS		1967-x1: Matchbox labels Solid background, black design and text, Olympic rings in shield at center, "TEHRAN 1967" directly below Set of ten matchbox labels to commemorate the 65th Session of the International Olympic Committee, May 2 to 11, 1967, in Tehran, Iran.
**** SEE ALSO 1968-98, BELOW, which to my mind belongs in this section. ****
XIX OLYMPIAD LABELS - 1968
1968-00		Poster for Mexico City Games, and 1968-00	1968 - MEXICO CITY The following poster is reproduced from "Olympism Through Posters" published by International Olympic Committee. Printer: Miguel Galos S.A., Mexico. Size: 57x94cm Comments: The Aztec calendar rests on a base with the three colors of Mexico. Text, to left, is Spanish, French and English (pale blue) Rings are in usual multicolors, "1968/KEXICO" is tan, calendar is black,margin is tan. 1968-00 Self-adhesive label,in black, on gray-brown paper. Depicts same calendar as poster. The poster is the one most often displayed for these Games by those who are uncomfortable with the starkness of the official design by Lance Wyman at the top of this page. This one is more conventional and traditional. DuBois did not number the circular label, but I am told it was produced as part of the official publicity campaign for these Games, so it belongs in this collection, and I have given it the number "00."
1968-01 to 25	21 pictograms are shown, including the one of a house with the Olympic rings (designating Information Kiosks), in position 23 on this sheetlet. Two of the ones shown have been rotated - tennis and basque pelota. Two of the official ones shown elsewhere are NOT used here - Wrestling and Modern Pentathlon. ONE of these pictograms occurs ONLY here: the last one, what is that? Badminton? That was not even a demonstration sport at the Olympics until 1972, and did not become official until 1992. CLICK HERE for examples of all the official pictograms.	1968 - Mexico Sheets of 25 diff. Exist both perf. & imperf. on 4 colors of paper (blue, green, beige & white). Vignettes & printed info are in 5 colors (blue, green, red, orange & brown). Language is Spanish. Cat. #'s assigned to 25 seal positions is 1 through 25. 7/6/19 - The sheets below showed up on eBay, with red paper, so that makes FIVE paper colors - blue, green, beige (yellow), white, and red. With five ink colors, that makes 25 different sheets, or 50 counting perf and imperf.	1968-01 thru 25 A Spanish-text Sheet of 25(5x5) Different Labels. Nos. 1 to 25: Olympic events are depicted as pictograms in the 1st, 2nd, 4th & 5th vertical rows. Vignettes are 15x15mm squares with rounded corners, Olympic rings above & 1968 below each vignette. The 3rd vertical row employs Olympic symbolism to indicate that this sheet honors the XlXth Olympiad of 1968 in Mexico City. The designs on the latter vertical row are wider than those of the other 4 rows. The sheet has a lined border outside the vignettes. There are lines of text on all four sides of the sheet, outside the lined border but inside the outer perforations. The sheet has perf margins on all four sides and perfs extend through the selvage. Size: Design portion of sheet measures 129x169mm. Overall sheet size is 158x216mm. Sheets exist both perforated & imperforated. On perfed sheets,the size of the individual seals, and the width of the selvage around the sheets, varies. Perf gauge is 10. Colors: Each sheet is of one color only. Background color is provided via use of colored paper (blue, green, beige or white). The designs come in five colors: red, blue, green, brown or orange. Thus, counting imperfs, a complete set consists of 40 sheets (1000 labels). Texts on borders of sheet (translations in parentheses): Top: MEXICO: DEL 12 AL 27 DE OCTUBRE DE 1968 (Mexico: From the 12th to the 27th of October of 1968) Bottom: 19 MEXICO: EL ANO DE LA OLIMPIADA DE LA PAZ 68 (19 MEXICO: The Year of the Olympiad of Peace 68) Left & Right Sides: JUEGOS DE LA XIX OLIMPIADA DE LA ERA MODERNA (Games of the 19th Olympiad of the Modern Era) Evaluations: Perf or imperf singles ... 20¢ each Perf or imperf sheets ... $7.50 each Catalog Numbers: Nos. 1 to 25 for individual seals. Sheet format,however, dictates that they be collected as sheets of 25. Full discussion of the Mexico City sports pictograms HERE
1968-26 & 27			1968-26 & 27 1968 - MEXICO CITY 26. MEXICO - 1968/ across top; SPI/ at lower right corner. Vignette: a large XIX(25x21 mm) and Olympic rings with a map of Mexico in the background. 43z02mm (48z05mm, overall), roulettad 7, vermilion ....... $1 .00 27. Same as 26 but color is green .................. $1.00 SPI is Sports Philatelists International.
1968-28, 28a, 28b	1968-28 The top two are typical examples of 1968-28, as is the one shown in the DuBois catalog. The third is exceptionally nice. I have seen only one example each of the German and Spanish versions, both of which are quite clean - were they not self-adhesives?	1968-28 This is the nicest example of the English version I have seen, perhaps because it was used, so the reaction of ink and backing paper did not take place. It is on the cover below, a beauty, from Zambia to Rhodesia, July 4, 1968! 1968-28 on cover 1968-28a 1968-28b First US self-adhesive postage stamp	1968-28 & 28a: OMEGA watches self-adhesive label 28. OMEGA (with Greek letter, omega, above it) / at upper left; OMEGA - OFFICIAL TIMKKEEPER OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES-MEXICO 1968/ across bottom, below vignette; vignette: runners about to leave starting-blocks. 50z01.5mm (55x30 overall, including white border); imperforate, self-adhesive label; runners are multicolored, background is black, text in white at upper left, text below vignette is black .............. $2.00 28a. Same as #28 but German text below vignette .... $4.00 (OMEGA - ZEITMESSER DER OLYMPISCHEN SPIELE - MEXIKO 1968) 10/10/18 - new find! 28b. Same as #28 but Spanish text below vignette (OMEGA - CRONOMETRADOR DE LOS JUEGOS OLIMPICOS - MEXICO 1968) .... RRR It looks like these labels had the problem common to all early self-adhesives: The gum bleeds through and destroys the image. The first USPS effort with this technology in 1974 had the same fate - image at left. What will today's self-adhesive stamps look like in 50 years?
1968-29 to 39			1968-29 to 39: Matchbox labels 29. A Matchbox Label: MEXICO 1968 across top; imprint at lower corner: MHSZ; a 1mm wide, gold frame line. Vignette: a high jumper. 34x48.5mm, imperforate, colors: athlete outlined in black, uniform & shoes are yellow, hair is white, body is tan; high-jump bar is alternating black & white; text and imprint are white; background is gold . $1.00 30. Like 29 but athlete is a shotputter . $1.00 31. Like 29 but athlete is walking(and wearing a cap) $1.00 32. Like 29 but athlete is a fencer . $1.00 33. Like 29 but athlete is canoeing, "MHSZ" imprint is at upper left (canoe is yellow outside and gold with yellow ribs inside) . $1.00 31. Like 29 but athlete is a discus-thrower . $1.00 35. Like 29 but athlete is a woman gymnast performing on a horizontal bar .. $1.00 36. Like 29 but two wrestlers are depicted, one is wearing a black uniform .. $1.00 57. Like 29 but athlete is a gymnast performing on rings . $1.00 38. Like 29 but athlete is a boxer, wearing a black shirt and gloves, trunks are yellow . $1.00 39. Like 29 but athlete is performing long-jump . $1.00 ----- Re series 29 to 39: There are other labels in this series. Two more have been reported, as follows: 35a. Same design as No.35 but colors are as follows - body is pink, uniform is red & background is green .. $1.00 39a. Same colors as 35a but a woman gymnast is depicted. (This pose probably also exists as a gold-background label) The larger label of the torch runner (which DuBois had not seen) has the following additional text at bottom: BUDAPESTI GYUJTOK KLUBJA BUDAPEST COLLECTORS CLUB MHSZ could the manufacturer of the matches - I found many Hungarian matches with "MSZ" in a similar lozenge - OR Magyar Honvédelmi Szövetség (Hungarian Defense Association) - Hungarian paramilitary organization organizing sports and leisure activities between 1948 and 1990. The former seems more likely, but the latter is possible too, if creepy. DuBois seems to have realized that there was much more to this set than he had seen. Actually, it is the most ridiculously elaborate set I have seen. There are 24 small labels and 2 large ones in at least fourteen(!) color combinations, at least two of them on gold foil. All I have found so far are shown at left. Whew! I will not attempt an extension of the DuBois text, as I loathe matchbox labels. You can see why. 7/7/2019 - OH BOY! ANOTHER COLOR COMBINATION! (see below - groan).
1968-40			1968-40. A Hungarian Label: MAGYAROK AZ OLYMPIAN / MEXICO-CITY 1968 / at bottom; vignette, above: Olympic rings over Hungarian Flag (red,white & green horizontal stripes) 33x27mm, perf 7.5, text & Olympic rings are impressed in gold into the label-paper (a very attractive & well-executed label) ... $3.00
1968-41 to 43			1968-41 to 43 A Ukrainian Fund Raising Label 41. FOR UKRAINE'S / up left side; PARTICIPATION IN THE OLYMPIC / across top; GAMES / partly down right side; rest of right side and bottom border has Ukrainian text; vignette portion, inside border text: small Olympic rings / round aztec calendar / a small "1968" / MEXICO / down left side; large Olympic rings with the Ukrainian Territorial emblem in front of the 5th ring / on right side; a "5" at lower right corner. 38x23.5mm, perf 12.5, calendar and emblem are pale orange, rest of design is white, background is blue. 42. Same as No.41 but background color is light brown and "5" is replaced by "10" at lower right corner. 43. Same as No.41 but background color is yellow-olive and "5" is replaced by "15" at lower right corner 41, 42, & 43 are ...... $1.00 each. Sheet format of Nos. 41, 42 & 43: A sheet of nine (3x3), PM4S, perfs run through selvage; No.41 is at positions 1, 6 & 8; No.42 is at positions 3, 5 & 7; and No.43 is at positions 2, 4 & 9 (three different se-tenant strips of three are thus possible, as either vertical or horizontal strips of three) Strips of three diff.... $4.00 Sheet of nine .......... $15.00 Ukrainian text: ЗА УЧАСТЬ УКРАЇНИ В ОЛІМПІЇСЬКИX ІГРАХ Translation - FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF UKRAINE IN OLYMPIC GAMES
1968-44		Souvenir pin with same design.	1968-44. A Czechoslovakian Adhesive Label 44. OLYMPIJSKE HRY (01ympic Games) 1968 / across top; a large MEXICO / below (19mm high); vignette, to right of text, in a square panel: a Czechoslovakian flag above Olympic rings and a sprig of laurel (same vignette as on #2 of "1968-Grenoble"). 80x26mm, imperf, multicolored .................. Rare
1968-45			1968-45. 45. EL PASO / TEXAS / at upper left; JUAREZ / MEXICO / at upper right; Black Olympic rings between; GATEWAY TO THE 1968 OLYMPICS / across middle, in black; vignette, across bottom: U.S. flag in front of city with mountain behind, to left; Mexican flag in front of city with mountain behind to right; river in middle. 35.5x21mm, roul 7, multlcolored ....... $2.00
1968-46 to 53			1968-46 to 53 Nos. 46 to 53 are Latvian matchbox labels (Liepaja, on text of Nos. 46 to 51, is a city in W. Latvia, on the Baltic Sea) 46. MEXICO 68 / at top,center; black Olympic rings below; background color in blue; 48x30mm ... $0.50 47. MEXICO 68 / at upper left; vignette: depicts two runners in black & white, on a track; bkgr is blue ... $0.50 48. MEXICO 68 / at upper right; vignette: two men rowing a boat, black & white colors, bgrnd is blue ... $0.50 49. MEXICO 68 / at top, center; black Olympic rings; with a soccer ball in front of middle ring, ball is white, rings are black; background color is red ... $0.50 50. MEXICO 68 / at upper left; a bicyclist; on a track, color is black & white; bgrnd is red; 35.5x48imm ... $0.50 51. MEXICO 68 / at upper right; a javelin thrower,color is black & white; bjfrnd is red;vertical like #50 ... $0.50 Text on NOs. 46-51, at bottom, states "BALTIJA, LIEPAJA 60 GAB. 1 KAP. (plus 1-6, 2-6, 3-6, 4-6, 5-6, or 6-6) 52. MEXICO 68 / at top,center; black Olympic rings in center; background is blue; 100x51mm ... $0.75 53. Same as #52 but background is red ... $0.75 Note:The "MEXICO 68" text of Nos. 46-51 is black and that of Nos. 52 & 53 is white.
1968-54 to 56	Blind embossed image in center stamp of some sheetlets Silhouette of discus thrower and letters "CIFS" (CENTRO INTERNATIONALE DI FILATELIA SPORTIVA)	1968-54, 54a, 55 as singles   1968-54b and 1968-54c	1968-54 to 56 Nos. 54, 55 & 56 are issues of Rimini & Riccione, Italy 54. Red Olympic rings at top; MEXICO / below rings; VERSO / up left side; 1968 / down right side; Riccione (in red)/ 11A RASSEGNA OLIMPICA / DI ARTE FILATELICA / GIUGNO-LUGLIO 1968 / at bottom; vignette, in center: Olympic fire above a stylistic altar; a 1mm wide border-line(red). 28x41mm (overall), perf 11, background color light brown, text-black, Olympic fire red & white, vignette black and white ... $1.00 54a. Same as #54 but background color is light green. 54b. Same as #54 but background color is lavender and format is souvenir sheet of one ... 54c. Souvenir sheet with three versions of #54 - green bkgrd, blue bkgrd, brown bkgrd. 55. Same as #54 but "Riccione" is replaced by "RIMINI" and background color is light blue ... $1.00 Top of sheet containing 3 copies of #55 has following texts in selvage: VERBAND DER SPORT-PHILATELISTEN (German) / up left side (Association of Sports Philatelists); CENTRO INTERNATIONALE DI FILATELIA SPORTIVA (Italian) / across top (International Center of Sport Philately). 56. VERSO MEXICO 1968 / in green in a circular red & white "pin-wheel"; RIMINI / at bottom, white text in black panel; above latter, in a white panel: RASSEGNA / OLIMPICA / to left, Olympic rings, in center, and DI ARTE / FILATELICA / to right, latter texts green, rings are red; background is black. 28.5x41mm, perf 11 ... $1.00 Top of sheet containing three copies of # 56 has following texts in selvage: VERBAND DER SPORT-PHILATELISTEN / up left side (as on #55); AZIENDA AUTONOMA SOGGIORNO RIMINI (Independent Living Agency at Rimini) / across top. It turns out there is one additional stamp - 54a, green bkgrd, added to the list above and shown at left. In addition, all the singles except 55b were issued in sheetlets of nine, with a center stamp either blank or blind-embossed with the silhouette of a discus thrower and the letters CIFS (see image at far left). Finally, there are at least two souvenir sheets of #54, shown at left. And all the sheetlets were issued imperf. Whew! Examples of most of those variations are shown at left. DuBois had only a third of one sheet, so he did not have the complete text around the perimeter of each sheetlet. There are three variations, differing in the text across the top, as follows: All three: Up left Side: CENTRE INTERNATIONAL DE PHILATELIE SPORTIVE - INTERNATIONALER VERBAND DER SPORT-PHILATELISTEN Down right side: INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SPORT-STAMP COLLECTORS - CENTRO INTERNATIONAL DE FILATELIA DEPORTIVA Across bottom: CENTRO INTERNATIONALE DI FILATELIA SPORTIVA 1. Across top: CENTRO INTERNATIONALE DI FILATELIA SPORTIVA 2. Across top: AZIENDA AUTONOMA DI SOGGIORNO RICCIONE 3. Across top: AZIENDA AUTONOMA SOGGIORNO RIMINI I have not seen enough examples to say whether all four sheetlets exist with all three text variations. See 1964-52 thru 54 for a similar issue
1968-57 to 74		Factory "Belka" Factory "Lighthouse" All 14 factories uncut sheets	1968-57 to 74 A Set of Slavic Matchbox Labels, Two Types: Type 1: 57. largely white background: 68 (Olympic rings) МЕХИКО / at top, two lines of Slavic text / below; Vignette, in center: a boxer, in black & white, with a large boxing glove in back, both in a 23.5mm square with a red line across the top. 34x48mm, imperf. Colors: texts are black and background of square vignette is red ... $1.00 58. Same as 57 but a soccer player kicking ball before net 59. Same but sailing (2 sailboats) 60. Same but a bicyclist with large wheel behind 61. Same but a horseman with horse's head behind 62. Same but two swimmers 63. Same but volley ball player, ball & net behind 64. Same but with 5 small pictures: horse's head, a round target, a swimmer, crossed foils, and a foot 65. Same texts but no red background- a large red "68" behind black Olympic rings ... all $1.00 each. Type 2: 66. more red background: Same texts as Type 1 with red bar above; vignette,in center: XIX, a red hand holding a black torch that has red & black flames; vignette is in a 23.5mm square with a white line above; latter square is surrounded by a larger 29z01mm red square. 34x49mm (overall), imperf ... $1.00 67. Same as 66 but a runner with a large foot behind 68. Same but a fencer with large fencing foils behind 69-74 have no white line above vignette: 69. Same as 66 but a gymnast swinging on a bar with large ring behind 70. Same but a hand holding a pistol, with target behind 71. Same but a basketball player with net and ball behind 72. Same but a double paddle with two men rowing sculls 73. Same but a weight-lifter with a large bar-bell behind 74. Same but a water-polo player with an arm behind ... all $1.OOea Note:in above vignette descriptions, the figure in the foreground is black while the second-mentioned item is red. All labels printed on white paper. SECOND VARIETY - blue instead of red. DuBois chose to treat these as two sets of nine each, but they are just one, of eighteen. Odd that he calls them "Slavic" - they are Russian, and according to matchlabel.com they were produced at fourteen different factories, with some variation in colors, but basically just the two - red and blue. Factories (one example of each at left, in this sequence): Factory "1 May" Barnaul factory Factory "Belka" Biysk Combine Borisov Combine Association "Giant" Gomel Combine Factory "Red Star" Factory "Victory" Factory "Proletarian Banner" Factory "Revput" Factory "Siberia" Turin factory Factory "Lighthouse" Did each factory produce just the one color, or both? 02/15/2022 - I like the image of the uncut sheets, as it confir1968-x04-a.jpgms my assertion that this is one set of eighteen, not two of nine each. So there!
1968-75 to 86			1968-75 to 86 Esperanto Advertising Labels (Nos. 75 to 86) This set has one basic design but vignettes & texts occur in four positions. There are six different background colors. All labels have the following in common, except for position of each text or vignette item: MEKSIKO, in white, within a black panel; 1968, in black; "alvokas vin!" (Alvokas Wine), in black; a green star with a white background; Olympic rings, in black (interlaced as on original Olympic flag); a sombrero, with black outline and decoratively colored in green plus whatever background color is on the label. All labels have the imprint "E.MORENO - BARCELONA.1965" in the lower right corner. The four positions mentioned above come as blocks of four of each background color. Individual label data follows: 75. 45x29mm(overall), perf 11.5, color: light mauve 76. Same as 75 but color: yellow 77. Same as 75 but color: pale orange 78. Same as 75 but color: medium blue 79. Same as 75 but color: light-slate gray 80. Same as 75 but color: red ... all $0.50 each ... block of 4, all $2.OO each 81. Same as 75 but imperf 82. Same as 76 but imperf 83. Same as 77 but imperf 84. Same as 78 but imperf 85. Same as 79 but imperf 86. Same as 80 but imperf ... all $1.00 each ... block of 4, all $4.00each All of the above come in sheets of eight (4x2) with two diff. colored blocks of four per sheet. The following colors are combined on three different sheets(perf or imperf): Light mauve & yellow Pale orange & medium blue Light-slate gray & red ... perf sheets $5.00 each ... imperf sheets $10.00 each All sheets have wide, white margins (selvage), about 25mm wide at sides and 12mm wide at top & bottom. Perf sheets are PM4S with perfs passing through the selvage (means all perf singles are perfed all-around). First, the correct translation for "MEKSIKO alvokas vin!" is "Mexico invites you!" DuBois did not have the benefit of online translators for every conceivable language, as we do. Second, I do not understand his decision to assign numbers based on the color, and to treat the designs as irrelevant. I would have assigned four numbers, one per design, and given each color a letter. Whatever. Third, note the two imperf souvenir sheets of four with just the one color - there's a blue one peeking from behind in the top image, and an orange one in the bottom image. Does this format exist with other colors?
1968-87 to 91	ABOVE - DuBois listing BELOW - Ukrainian catalog listing, with colors not listed in DuBois, and additional label	Imperf sheetlets of 87 & 88 At left, in first colors listed in DuBois; at right, in "d" colors.   Imperf sheetlets of 89 & 90 At left, in first colors listed in DuBois; at right, in other colors.     New images above courtesy of Worthpoint/eBay. Below, from eBay.	1968-87 to 91 Ukrainian Fund Labels: These consist of five diff. vignettes and 15 diff. colors. Of each vignette, one perf color and three diff. imperf colors have been seen. The designs have the following features in common: Cyrillic text up left side; 1968 at lower left corner; a value number at upper left corner; 01ympic rings behind the athlete-vignette, in varying locations; background colors are mottled with white specks; 24x41 mm, perf 1l.5 (or imperf); text, rings, value & part of athlete depicted are white; and athlete is depicted in a dark color, complementary to the background color. (2nd color, below, is background). 87. Athlete at finish-line tape,value 15, colors: reddish-brown & cinnamon b) Same as 87 but imperf c) Same as 87 but imperf, colors:light blue & purple d) Same as 87 but imperf, colors:black & light blue 88. Diver doing back-dive, value 25, colors: dark green & light green b) Same as 88 but imperf c) Same as 88 but imperf, colors:silver-gray & carmine-red d) Same as 88 but imperf, colors:lake-brown & pink 89. Discus-thrower,value 35, colors:deep & light green b) Same as 89 but imperf c) Same as 89 but imperf, colors:violet & lilac d) Same as 89 but imperf, colors:olive-yellow & deep claret 90. Bicyclist,value 45, colors:dark & light blue b) Same as 90 but imperf c) Same as 90 but imperf, colors:ultramarine & azure-blue d) Same as 90 but imperf, colors:light turquoise-green & dark gray 91. Soccer player,value 55, colors:olive-green & bistre b) Same as 91 but imperf c) Same as 91 but imperf, colors:gray-black & gray d) Same as 91 but imperf, colors:olive-bistre & bistre-brown all ... $1.00 each 7/15/18 - At top left, sheetlets of 18 labels each, with additional design in center of each block of 9: 87x thru 91x. Ukrainian trident in a circular shield above, with Ukrainian text around edge; globe below, with English text: FREEDOM IS INDIVISIBLE; same colors as sports designs. The examples shown include colors not mentioned by DuBois, or in the catalog listing, and show multiple combinations in the perforated varieties, PLUS a new design, the trident and globe, so the total number of different stamps in this set is at least twice what DuBois lists. There may be additional formats. The Ukrainian text on each stamp transliterates as: "Pidpil'na Poshta Ukrainy" which translates "Special Post Ukraine" or sometimes "Underground Mail Ukraine"
1968-92 & 93		1968-92 1968-93	1968-92 & 93 Nos. 92 & 93 are undated but believed to be 1968 issues: 92. ANCIENNE / VILLE / above; OLYMPIA / below; vignette: Olympic rings in their usual multicolors, a laurel branch, in green, at top-left border; a blue border-line outside design. A round label, 51mm diameter, 55mm(overall), texts are blue ... $1.00 93. Another round & also self-adhesive label: ACADEMIE OLYMPIQUE INTERNATIONAL and laurel branch / around edge, inside thin borderline; inner text, circular: MUSEE HISTORIQUE DES JEUX OLYMPIQUES; vignette: Olympic rings / AncOLYMPIE / Olympic fire / in center. 41mm diameter, color: text & design are blue on gold. ... $1.00 (French translates; Historic Museum of the Olympic Games) DuBois does not state why he thinks these date from 1968, but we have seen a cover (click on image of 1968-92) with #92 on it, and postmarked 1/1/63, so clearly that one belongs with the 1964 material, or even earlier. As for #93, the ACADEMIE OLYMPIQUE INTERNATIONAL (International Olympic Academy) was founded in 1961, so #93 might date from that early. The only cover I have seen it on (shown at left) is postmarked 1969, so 1968 may be correct. The image of #93 in DuBois looks like it was drawn or traced - it is not an original. I show four images of what seem like different varieties of the design - the first looks coin-like, the second like foil, and the third like a printed image. The fourth was described by its eBay seller as a self-adhesive label on gold foil. The design on #93 was also used as a handstamp - see next item, below.
1968-94abc		10/31/18 - 1968-94b and c on covers 94b is postmarked 1964, while 94c is postmarked 1965. 02/04/19 - 1968-94a on cover It is postmarked 1972. 7/10/18 - I found the images below, of postcards with the same design and text as two of these labels, but arranged differently.   Both are postmarked April 4, 1967, making them FDCs for their stamps. 1968-94d 1968-94e	1968-94 a, b, c - souvenir sheets The following souvenir sheets are related to label No.93. 94a. No. 3476a Nat. Arch. Museum. / followed by ten lines of text. Vignette, across top: depicts a decorative relief of six youths playing with a ball. 98x84mm(overall), imperf, gummed, vignette is light brown & text is black. ... $5.00 94b. No. 3476c Nat. Arch. Museum. / followed by nine lines of text. Vignette, across top: depicts a decorative relief of four youths watching a cat & dog fight. A black, circular cancellation consisting of the same text & vignette as label No. 93 is on the left. 98x84mm(overall), imperf, gummed, vignette is light brown & text is black. ... $5.00 94c. No. 3477b Nat. Arch. Museum./ followed by ten lines of text. Vignette, across top: depicts a decorative relief of six youths playing a kind of hockey. A black, circular cancellation consisting of the same text & vignette as on label No.93 is on the left, with OLYMPIC DAY/6-4-1967/ below. 100x84mm(overall), imperf, gummed, vignette is light brown & text is black. ... $5.00 As with the items above - 1968-92&93, these labels belong on an earlier page, probably 1964, as I show them here on souvenir items dated 1964 & 1965. Until today (10/31/18), when I found 1968-94b&c, I was unable to find the three items DuBois shows, but I did find two more - shown. The top one is unquestionably from the same set, but the lower one is a puzzler. The date on the label itself is the same as the other four labels, but the date in the "cancel" is 1964, and the text is Greek. TEXT (in Greek): On label: ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ ΗΜΕΡΑ In Cancel: ΙΣΤΟΡΙΚΟΝ ΜΟΥΣΕΙΟΝ ΤΩΝ ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΏΝ ΑΓΩΝΩΝ Δ.Ο.Α Translation: OLYMPIC DAY HISTORICAL MUSEUM OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES Δ.Ο.Α stands for Διεθνής Ολυμπιακή Ακαδημία = International Olympic Academy The cancels on b,c,&d say ACADEMIE OLYMPIQUE INTERNATIONALE, MUSEE HISTORIQUE DES JEUX OLYMPIQUES - International Olympic Academy, Historic Museum of the Olympic Games.
1968-95			1968-95 souvenir sheet - Austrian Olympic Committee, overprint on 1964 issue 95. Same as No.16 of "1964 - Innsbruck" but overprinted. The upper text and the texts on left & right sides are overprinted "MEXICO 68." The four labels are overprinted: MEXICO 68 / OLYMPIADE / SONDERFLUG / WIEN / MEXIKO Label nos. are 95a, b, c & d ... $4.00/label ... $20.00/sheet (Overprint text: Olympiad, Special Flight, Vienna to Mexico).
1968-96			1968-96 souvenir sheet Poland, a Balloon Flight Mini-sheet These sheets of eight (4x2) contain three different labels, four of which have a 5zl value. The latter labels paid the air-mail postage of covers flown in a balloon flight held for the Mexican Olympics (at Poznan) 96. Sheet of eight: a. Four blue labels in positions 1, 3, 6 & 8 depicting a balloon and a city-hall building. b. Two red labels in positions 2 & 7 depicting a Maya discus above Olympic rings / MEKSYK / 1968 c. Two red labels in positions 4 & 5 depicting a philatelic "TEMATICA / POZNAN / 68" label above three Polish words Text across top of sheet: 75 LECIE RUCHU FILATELISTYCZNEGO W POLSCE Text across bottom of sheet: LOT BALONOWY Z OKAZJI XIX IGRZYSK OLIMPIJSKICH W MEKSYKU (Balloon flight on the occasion of the XlXth Olympic Games in Mexico) Text at lower left corner of sheet: PZF POZNAN 37/68 5000 ARK (Poznan, Poland; 5000 sheets) 148x108mm, imperf, sheet texts are white, overall background is green Shown, four varieties. I assume the top one is what DuBois had. The second one may be just a faded version, while the other two look like proofs or philatelic "experiments."
1968-97			1968-97 souvenir sheet 97. Same as sheet No.98 of the "1964 - Tokyo" section except MEKSYK 1968 is added across top of each label. Several thousand labels remained in stock after the 1964 Games. The remainders were overprinted "GRENOBLE 1968" or "MEKSYK 1968" and the entire issue was eventually sold out. ... $1.00/label ... $10.00/sheet Note: See No.17 of "1968 - Grenoble' section for other overprint .
1967 and 1970. Olympic-Related Labels The following labels are Olympic-related but not issued on Olympiad years:
1968-98		7/15/18 - I finally found this image, on Worthpoint, from eBay.	1968-98 label 98. 1967 / WINTER OLYMPIC / EXHIBITION / SAPPORO / on a "text-only" label, no vignette. 33x18mm oval-shaped, self-adhesive label; imperf, margin and text are silver colored on blue background, back-up paper is tan ... $1.00 The Sapporo WInter Olympics were held in 1972, so I presume this was part of the advance preparation and publicity.
1968-99-100		1968-99 1968-99 on 1968 souvenir "cover" 1968-100 on 1970 cover First Day Cover for Greece 886-890, issued April 6, 1967 on Olympic Games Day.	1968-99 & 100 The two following labels commemorate Olympic Day: 99. Greek text across top & across bottom; vignette: a gold map of the world on a light blue background; dark blue Olympic rings are superimposed on top of vignette; a "track" extends downward from the center ring. 43z02.5mm(overall), perf 11, text & track are black ... $1.00 100. Same as No. 99 but with "6. IV. 70" in red color, added at lower right corner ... $1.50 Note: Date of issue of No.99 is uncertain at this writing. Further information on dating and the significance of an "Olympic Day" is solicited from the reader. Greek text on stamp: ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΗ ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΩΝ ΑΓΩΝΩΝ 6 ΑΠΡΙΛΙΟΥ ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ ΗΜΕΡΑ Translation: OLYMPIC GAMES COMMISSION 6 APRIL OLYMPIC DAY DuBois wants to know when 1968-99 was issued. The cover shown at left with 1968-99 implies this label was available at the time of the opening of the Mexico Games, so was issued in 1968 at the latest. Moreover, note the similarity of this label to Greece Scott #886, issued in 1967 - see FDC at left. So I think this was issued in 1967. DuBois wants to know the significance of "Olympic Day." As we can see on the FDC at left, April 6, 1967 was the date of issue of the set of stamps commemorating the Olympic Games coming up in 1968. So the day was "Olympic Day" in Greece. There is an official Olympic day celebrated worldwide on June 23, because according to THIS PAGE International Olympic Day was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on 23 June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris. The goal was to promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability. There is still a mystery as to why Greece celebrated Olympic Day on April 6, 1970, per 1968-100.
NOT IN DUBOIS "x" labels numbered "x01" through xxx The following labels were not listed in the DuBois catalog. Further additions are welcomed.
New number	Related images & text	Images of actual label(s)	Description and comments
1968-x01			1968-x01 a thru t Set of 20 French matchbox labels with Mexico 68 sports logos. Each has pictogram at top, name of sport beneath (in French), MEXICO68 in official form, with "N" and "SEITA" in small type at left and right above. The designs are based on the pictograms created for these Games and used on maps and tickets and indeed all over Mexico City to help guide visitors to venues and events. SEITA (Société d'exploitation industrielle des tabacs et des allumettes), was the former French state-owned tobacco monopoly. It merged in 1999 with its Spanish equivalent, Tabacalera, to form Altadis. Is this a complete set? In the second column you can see one of the official posters for these Games, with all the pictograms, and there are twenty-two. The top image of these matchbox labels has twenty of them, except for the little house (?) and the tennis raquet - and none of the other images has those either. So are there two more? But twenty is a common number for such a set. 22 would be awkward to package. Often these matchbox label sets were issued with one or two large labels for the box holding the complete set, too. Stay tuned. LATER: I did some research and produced a page showing all 22 of the official Mexico City '68 sports pictograms - CLICK HERE. I guess the producers of this set of labels wanted to limit the set to 20 designs, a standard number for such sets. It made sense to exclude the little house - symbol of an information kiosk - and then it made sense to exclude one of the demonstration sports, so they picked tennis. In other words, I think 20 is a complete set of the matchbox labels.
1968-x02			1968-x02 Russian lottery ticket, 1968 - Olympic rings. Not a label or sticker or poster stamp, so an optional item. But why not?
1968-x03			1968-x03 Mexican motel decal/sticker. Size unknown Multicolored rectangle, "MEXICO, 1968" at top, image of motel bottom right, Olympic rings in background. Other text: Loma Bonita Motel, Fronton, Alberga, Swimming Pool, VACANCY. SERVICE AND HYGIENE, STRICT MORALITY AV. PRESIDENTE LOPEZ MATEOS 3800, GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO outer border yellow, inner border black. PS - it's still there, and looks just the same! Just ask Google.
1968-x04	examples on cover enclosure	1968-x04 a&b   1968-x04 aa&bbx1   1968-x04 ax1&bx1 1968-x04 bx2	1968-x04 a & b Belgium, Two Fund-raising Souvenir Sheets x04a: JEUX OLYMPIQUES MEXICO 1968 at top; LIGUE ROYALE BELGE D'ATHLETISME at bottom; a crown & 50Fr (in a circle), on each side; vignette, in middle: a simulated stamp with image showing head and shoulders of male? female? wearing olive wreath, Olympic rings. colors: stamp is multicolored, label background is reddish brown. Thin Red border. Size: about 2.5 x 2.3", based on the cover shown x04aa. Background is grey. Translation of French text:"Olympic Games Mexico 1968 - Royal Belgian Athletic League." x04b: OLYMPISHE SPELEN MEXICO 1968 at top; KONINKLIJKE BELGISCHE ATLETIEKBOND at bottom. Like x04a but Flemish text, and sheet is colored light reddish gray. x04bb. Background is beige. Various "errors," inverts, color varieties, and overprints were created - a few are shown at left. This same organization issued souvenir sheets for the 1960 and 1964 Games - see 1960-2 and 1964-86&87.
1968-x05			1968-x05 Italian Label with Olympic rings at top, "CERIMONIA D'APERTURA 1 GIUGNO 1968" at bottom, vignette in middle, stamplike image of sombrero, rings, steeplechase runners, "VERSO 1968 MEXICO" in large type, illegible tiny type and small "RICCIONE" Size - see image at far left Another product of those very active erinnophilatelists in Rimini and Riccione, I'd say - see 1968-54 to 56, above. CERIMONIA D'APERTURA 1 GIUGNO 1968 translates OPENING CEREMONY June 1, 1968. Sports stamp exhibition in Riccione.
1968-x06			1968-x06 Howard Johnson's Self-adhesive sticker - US Olympic shield - U.S. OLYMPIC BOOSTER US Olympic shield in red and blue, Olympic rings on top (top three rings are blue), "U.S. OLYMPIC" curving over top of shield, "BOOSTER" curving around bottom. Size: - 3.5" square I love this one. I assume it was handed to patrons of Howard Johnson's in the mid-to-late months of 1967. Everyone got a sticker, and if you filled out the postcard and mailed it in, you could win a trip to the Games (or one of many other prizes)!
1968-x07			1968-x07 DuBois lists this in his 1972 section, though he concedes it belongs here. DuBois text: 1972 - MUNICH 67. An Erinnophilie (Cinderella Philately) International Souvenir Sheet: ERINNOPHILIE INTERNATIONAL/ across top of sheet, in red; JUBILAUMSAUSSTELLUNS HAMBURG-HARBURG/2. - 3. NOVEMBER 1968/ across bottom of sheet, in red. The four labels on this sheet are now described. All are colored blue. 67a. 20 JAHRE EUROPAISCHE BEWEGUNG 1948-1968 / across top; INTERNATIONALES JAHR DER MENSCHENRECHTE/ across bottom. Vignette: the U.N. flag. 40z03mm, imperf (three following labels are the same) (20 Year European Movement, 1948 - 1968; International Year of the Rights of Man) 67b. - XX. OLYMPIADE 1968-1972 MUNCHEN -/ across top; SPORT - EIN WEG ZUR VOLKERVERSTANDIGUNG/ across bottom. Vignette: hockey player on left; soccer player on right; athlete's legs at lower center, beneath Olympic rings to which are assigned the continents EUROPA, AFRIKA, AMERIKA, ASIEN & AUSTRALIEN. (20th Olympiad 1968-1972 Munich; Sport - One Way to People's Understanding) 67c. FUR DIE EUROPAISCHE EINHE1T/ up left side; EUROPAISCHER JUGENDAUSTAUSCH/ down right side. Vignette: two flags at upper left corner; a boy scout, on the right side; a relief map of Europe in background. (For European Unity; European Youth-Exchange) 67d. 1968 - ACHTZIG JAHRE PRIVAT - / up left side; MARKEN - SAMMLER - VEREINIGUNG/ down right side. Vignette: Seit 1904/ above; double-barred T.B. cross in middle; a 1967 German T.B. seal/ at lower left; Kampf/der/Tuberkulose/ at lower right (since 1904, the T.B. cross has been fighting tuberculosis). (1968 - Eighty Years, a Private Stamp Collector's Association) ... $3.00/sheet This souvenir sheet was issued in 1968 but is listed here because the second label commemorates the XXth Olympiad (The Olympic Summer Games of 1972, at Munich, Germany) Label two errs in assigning the years 1968-1972 to the XXth Olympiad. The Olympic Games always occur during the first year of a four~year 01ympiad period; in this case, in 1972. Interestingly, label two correctly indicates the continent that each Olympic ring represents (See page 8 of catalog for "color-continent" designations - such assignment of ring colors to continents is not official and is no longer commonly done.)
1968-x08 a,b,c,d,e			1968-x08 Mexican decals/labels, multicolored x08a: "1968" at top in flag that sticks out of main part of decal, a circle with flags around the edge and diver in the middle, text: "XIX Mexico" - exact size unknown, but probably about four inches tall. x08b: Oval label, flags around outer edge, gymnast on left, diver on right, MEXICO XIX 1968 in center. Size: 4" wide x 2.5" high. x08c: Oval label, flags around outer edge, XIX on left, 1968 on right, discus thrower above, "MEXICO" below in center. Size: 4" wide x 2.5" high. These showed up on ebay recently. They look like they were produced by the same manufacturer, so I am listing them as a set. What's with the German text on the back? 6/29/19 - New variety, d - the sticker on the left at bottom has its text reversed from the one on the right above. 8/31/19 - New variety, e - torch - note packaging, with postage stamps. Was this an official product of the Mexican post office, or commercial?
1968-x09	1968-x09b 1968-x09d 1968-x09e 1968-x09f 1968-x09a 1968-x09c	1968-x09g 1968-x09h 1968-x09i 1968-x09j a,b,c (02/18/2022) 1968-x09k,s,t (02/18/2022) 1968-x09l&m   1968-x09q (06/16/2020) and r (02/15/2022)	1968-x09 a thru m Self-adhesive stickers/labels with peel-off backing paper. I found the image of 1968-x09a first, and was not sure what it was, but the rest of these just popped up on eBay (4/18/18, seller aeronavesdemexico), described as self-adhesive stickers, and that convinces me the first one is a foil sticker like the others. The same design as x09a was produced as a postcard and as a window label (postcard shown immediately below, see x15d for window label/decal) I have arranged them for symmetry of display, NOT according to their relative sizes. They all look like they had the same origin, so I am listing them as a set. SIZES are as follows: x09a = unknown, but I think about 6x3" x09b = 5x6.8" x09c = 7.4x3" x09d = 5x3.3" x09e = 5x3.3" x09f = 3x5.2" x09g = 8.3x2.2" x09h = 8.3x2.2" x09i = 8.3x2.2" x09j = 3.2x5.2" x09k = 3.2x6.6" 5/13/18 - Two more from eBay, x09l and x09m, both 5.5 x 3.5" 10/31/18 - still more from eBay via Worthpoint - see below. The long strips look like they could be very worn/faded examples of the other strips at left. 02/18/2022 - a few more from eBay, etc. POSTCARD
1968-x10 thru x13			1968-x10 thru x13 INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC PHILATELIC EXHIBITION MEXICO 1968 SHINKICHI TOKOHAMA DE SUGAHARA 4 rather crude labels - in English - referring to an exhibition, presumably in Mexico City, and in 1968, but no mention of a location or dates. I did find this pdf of a very glossy and elaborate brochure (in Spanish) for the exhibition (and it mentions renowned collector Shinkichi Tokohama de Sugahara as one of the exhibitors), but again, no dates or location - Odd! ????
1968-X14			1968-X14 COMITE OLIMPICO MEXICANO citius altius fortius Card or label from the Mexican Olympic Committee Size unknown
1968-x15	x15a&b   x15c&d   x15e&f	x15h   x15ci&j 15g has been removed, since I realized its text was French, and discovered it was intended for decoration on a bicycle!	1968-x15 a thru k Assorted decals - (window labels) 4/18/18 The last three (h,i,j) showed up on eBay today, and are the only ones I have sizes for, as follows: 15h = 5x3.4" 15i = 5.9x7.2" 15j = 5x3.6" I'm betting the others are in that same range of sizes - 3 to 5 inches in the shorter dimension, and 5 to 7 inches in the longer one. 4/18/18 - NOTE THAT I HAVE RENUMBERED ALL OF THESE DECALS, as well as everything from here down on this page. It just made more sense to me to give all the decals of a similar type one number, with letters for the separate designs, so it will be easier to add new finds to the series.   10/31/18 - New find - x15k - 5.25 x 3.5 inches.
1968-x16 and x17		1968-x16 1968-x17	1968-x16 & x17 x16: Mailing label from the Organizing Committee of the Games of the 19th Olympiad. x17: ? Mailing label from the Organizing Committee of the Games of the 19th Olympiad ?
1968-x18	7/18/18 eBay lot of Polish stamps and labels, including 1968-x18	7/18/18 Note image to the left, of an eBay lot of miscellaneous Polish stamps, and including this label. The four larger, multicolored stamps to the right of the label were issued on dates from 1961 to 1969, and that helps to confirm the date of this label. Right?	1968-x18 Wspomóz Poiski Fundusz Olimpijski NOTE MISSPELLING - "Poiski" rather than "Polski" "Support the Polish Olympic Fund" 51 Claybrook Road, London W 6 Square label, rouletted, white paper, yellow background, red & black text, brown flame Torch runner, Olympic rings Size: unknown The eBay seller of this item knew nothing about it. The address is part of a medical center now. 3/12/18 - MYSTERY SOLVED Dr. Roman Babut, Polish philately expert, wrote to tell me that he thinks this was created to raise funds for the 1968 Games in Mexico, so I am listing it here. Here are his comments: Poles in Great Britain conducted a fund raising campaign for the Polish Olympic Team at the Olympic Games in Mexico under the slogan "Do you want fame for Polish sport in Mexico? Purchase Olympic materials". Possibly, the vignette was given as a souvenir after purchasing other goods? Fundraising was organized under the patronage of the Polish Olympic Fund in Great Britain. The campaign at U.K. was described in the Polish press (Głos Wybrzeża, a magazine of the Polish Communist Party) in 1966.
1968-x19			1968-x19 Label? - TRETORN tennis balls. Above: OFFICIAL BALL MEXICO 1968 Below: image of tennis ball with text TRETORN CONFORMS I.L.T.E. MADE IN SWEDEN Matchbox label size, it appears. Source image shown - Feldman auction Could be a card, not a label
1968-x20			1968-x20 a thru o Fifteen souvenir cards, Café a la Crema Marcilla premiums Fifteen small cards, each with one of the sports event pictograms created for these Games on the front, and on the back, information about the events in that sport. These were in a recent ebay auction. The seller did not have much information about them, but my research on the www discovered that they were premiums distributed with a Mexican packaged coffee - Café a la Crema Marcilla. Another seller said fifteen is a complete set. Size (each) = 1.5" x 2" These are not labels or stickers or stamps, so do not really belong here, but I like them, so am showing them. Why only fifteen? There should be at least twenty (see 1968-x01). What were they for? Too small for coasters. Just collectibles, like trading cards, I suppose.
1968-x21			1968-x21-1 thru x21-5 A set of 5 East German Olympic matchbox labels Each label is numbered within its set - 5/1, 5/2, 5/3, 5/4, 5/5 Dein Herz dem Sport (Give) Your heart to the sport DDR and Olympic rings KONSUM-ZÜNDWARENWERK RIESA Safety Match Cooperative Riesa According to Wikipedia: Riesa is a town in the district of Meißen in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is located on the Elbe River, approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) northwest of Dresden.
1968-x22			1968-x22-1 thru x22-5 A set of 5 East German Olympic matchbox labels Each label is numbered within its set - 5/1, 5/2, 5/3, 5/4, 5/5 Werde Foerderer der Olympischen Gesellschaft der DDR Become a sponsor of the Olympic Society of the GDR DDR and Olympic rings KONSUM-ZÜNDWARENWERK RIESA Safety Match Cooperative Riesa According to Wikipedia: Riesa is a town in the district of Meißen in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is located on the Elbe River, approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) northwest of Dresden.
1968-x23			1968-x23 a thru g Sportvereinigung Dynamo Donation Stamps Fund-raising stamps for East German sports organization The athletes shown all participated in the 1968 Games According to Wikipedia: The Sportvereinigung Dynamo (Dynamo Sports Association) was the sport organization of the security agencies (Volkspolizei, Ministry for State Security and customs) of former East Germany. East Germany was obsessed with fund-raising stamps and other non-postal labels. Visit ddr-spendenmarken.de for an illustrated catalog of over 13,000 "Contribution, donation and fee stamps of the SBZ and the GDR." All of the East German stamps on this page are listed there. Navigation is a bit tricky, but it's well worth the effort to figure it out. The site's author has done an excellent job.
1968-x24			1968-x24 a thru n Armeesportvereinigung Vorwärts(ASV) Donation Stamps (Army Sports Club Forward) Fund-raising stamps for East German sports organization showing 1968 DDR Olympic medal-winners - Each of the fourteen stamps at left was issued in five colors and denominations - black, brown, red, blue, violet and .20, .50, 1-, 2-, 3-. Full details HERE. According to Wikipedia: The Armeesportvereinigung Vorwärts (Army Sports Club Forward), was the sport organization of the German Democratic Republic's National People's Army (NVA) and its predecessor, the Barracked People's Police (Kasernierte Volkspolizei). Together with the sport clubs and the Sportvereinigung Dynamo, the ASV was one of the most important supports of the GDR's achievement sport system. From their clubs in Potsdam, Frankfurt (Oder), Neubrandenburg, Stralsund or Rostock emerged well-known sportsmen like the boxer Henry Maske or the canoeist Birgit Fischer. In almost every city with barracks or other army installations the ASV kept a training center. Apart from providing the training equipment, the most important task of the local sections was the promotion of youth sports. The uniform ASV tracksuit, brown polyamide with yellow and red stripes on the arms and the oval ASV emblem on the left chest, attained very popular cult status amongst youth after the German reunification. East Germany was obsessed with fund-raising stamps and other non-postal labels. Visit ddr-spendenmarken.de for an illustrated catalog of over 13,000 "Contribution, donation and fee stamps of the SBZ and the GDR." All of the East German stamps on this page are listed there. Navigation is a bit tricky, but it's well worth the effort to figure it out. The site's author has done an excellent job.
1968-x25		On a cover postmarked May 11, 1968.	1968-x25 SCHON RECHTZEITIG SPAREN 1972 ZUR OLYMPIADE FAHREN SAVE AHEAD FOR THE OLYMPIAD IN 1972 The next Summer Olympics, in 1968, had been awarded to Munich, so this label was distributed in 1968 in Germany to start the advance publicity. DuBois lists it in the 1972 (as 1972-29) section, but I think it belongs here. DuBois text: 29. SCHON RECHTZEITIG SPAREN / across top; 1972 ZUR OLYMPIADS FAHREN / across bottom. Vignette: 11.5mm diameter Olympic rings, coin-like in appearence in that each ring has laurel leaves and a large "1" over "DEUTSCHE / MARK / 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 & 1971 (latter year-dates in ring nos. 1, 2, 5, 4 & 5, respectively). 44z01mm (overall), black on silver background. ... $3.00 (Save ahead/ in 1972, go to the Olympiad)
1968-x26			1968-x26 (4/15/18) OLIMPHILEX 68 label, Mogliano, Italy Olympic rings in lower half, red flame rising from center ring. Blue background on left, black on right. Background text, in small type, runnning diagonally from top left to bottom right: VIII MOSTRA FILATELICA MOGLIANO V. - OLIMPHILEX 68 - ESPOSIZIONE DEL FRANCOBOLLO OLIMPICO - 24 NOVEMBRE - 1 DECEMBRE - 1968 Approx size of vignette - 41z01mm (based on known sizes of other labels in 2nd image) Issued in sheetlets of four, with text around 1/4" selvage: CIRCOLO FILATELICO MOGLIANESE - OLIMPHILEX 68 - CIRCOLO FILATELICO MOGLIANESE - OLIMPHILEX 68 Issued both perf and imperf.
1968-x27 a,b,c	(12/28/19)		1968-x27 a,b,c,d 5/19/18 and 12/28/19 - New listings on eBay - self-adhesive labels Size: about 3.5" square I would think these were part of a larger set commemorating Olympic history, but the Spanish text on the back of the one label persuades me these were created for the Mexico Games. Note that each has printed "perforations" so that it looks like a stamp. I am including the last item as part of this set because it has the same printed perfs, though it has a different shape - its size is 75mm x 55mm. DISEÑO OFICIAL DESPRENDA EL PAPEL FIJESE SOBRE UNA SUPERFICIE LIMPIA OFFICIAL DESIGN DETACH THE PAPER USE ON A CLEAN SURFACE
1968-x28			1968-x28 (9/28/18) Philatelic Exhibition label, THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF PITTSBURGH (PENNSYLVANIA) "NOV. 2-3, 1968, IN HONOR OF THE 19th OLYMPIAD" Hand holding torch on back-ground of globe in green & brown on white, with black printing. Imperf/ungummed. SIZE: 111 X 77 MM Listed in the Fields-Picklo Catalog of Philatelic Exhibition Seals.
1968-x29			1968-x29 (10/31/18) MORE DECALS! The Mexicans seem to have adored decals. Here are still more, and I don't have the dimensions for most of them, but you can guess. I found the images on Worthpoint, from old eBay auctions. One of the two above is shown (twice) in the second group image at left, the other is new. Both are 3.5 inches diameter. Source is eBay seller helpmepayforcollege428 (!)
1968-x30			1968-x30 (10/31/18) eBay description: OLYMPIC 1968 - MEXICO - ARGENTINA Autoadhesive Cinderella VF Sold Date: Jul 23, 2014 No dimensions given.
1968-x31	Hungary 1924 Hungary 1301-1306, B217 Hungary 1772-1779, B258		1968-x31 (01/20/19) Set of 16 Hungarian matchbox labels plus packet label. 7 of the small labels plus the packet label depict Olympic stamps of Hungary. (The rest depict soccer stamps.) The issue date of the Olympic stamps on the small labels was 1960, to commemorate the Squaw Valley Winter Olympics. The issue date of the souvenir sheet of the packet label was 1968, to commemorate the Mexico City Games. The soccer stamps were issued in 1966. So, based on all of that, and the auction listing on delcampe where I found the images, I think this belongs here, with the 1968 material.
1968-x32			1968-x32 (02/20/19) 1968 MEKSIKO GRENOBL OLIMPIJSKA NEDELJA 1968 Mexico Grenoble Olympic Week Yugoslav label in Serbian No dimensions given.
1968-x33			1968-x33 (03/01/19) eBay auction - description = "ORIGINAL QANTAS AIRLINES MEXICO 1968 OLYMPIC GAMES FLIGHT BAGGAGE LABEL" I emailed the seller to find out its size, and whether there was anything on the back, but no reply. I assume it has water-activated gum on the back, and is about 4" in diameter. It sold for AU $25 (about USD $18).
1968-x34			1968-x34 (03/13/19) eBay auction - description = Canada Montreal "Olympic Fund" Flags Poster Label Nice Canadian flag and Olympic flag fund raising label. approx. 1 3/8" x 2 1/8" NO DATE, so I googled the text on the label - "We take pride, we take part" and found the medal shown in column two, with a nice clear "1968."
1968-x35			1968-x35 (04/01/19) Ile Roy label on card - MEXICO Jeux Olympiques 1968 Ile Roy is a fantasy post office created by a French Chef to promote his restaurant, and to share his love of stamp collecting. Why not?
1968-x36			1968-x36 (05/13/19) Rectangular decal with 19 / 68 in red at top sandwiching image of Aztec god's face in black. Below, MEXICO, and Olympic rings in proper colors. ON BACK - CALCOMANIA MEYERCORD Yet another decal/window label. Size = 3" x 4.5"
1968-x37			1968-x37 (05/19/19) Hotel luggage label SIZE: 11.5x7.5 cm, glue Oval gummed label with silhouette of discus thrower, "Hotel Olympic" in red script EGNATIAS 25 THESSALONIKI PHONES 76.254 76.315 I had this on the UNSOLVED MYSTERIES PAGE, with the following musings: I do not think this is connected with a specific Olympiad, but it does have the Olympic rings, and the discus thrower, so a nice item. The hotel is still in business at that same location, but looks modern, 1970 or later - Google streetview snapshot at left. That phone number looks like a very old one (current number = 056.6871) so I think it's much earlier than the 2004 Games in Athens. 5/19/19 - Nick Dandoulakis of Athens wrote to tell us the following: This label was printed sometime between 1949 and October 1969, because on 23 October 1949 Hellenic Telecommunication Org. was founded. Thessaloniki, a big city in northern Greece, went to six digits telephone numbers on 11 October 1969, as I found in a local newspaper records. They keep records way back to 1953 and until then telephone numbers were 5 digits. Thanks, Nick. So I think this page is where this now belongs.
1968-x38			1968-x38 (12/27/19) USSR matchbox labels with reproductions of stamps issued for the 1964 Olympics. Labels are dated 1967 and 1968. Part of a set dedicated to Philately, and sold in government smoke shops. Russian text in main design: СОЮЗПЕЧАТЬ МАРКИ ДЛЯ ПРОДАЮТСЯ В МАГАЗИНАХ СОЮЗПЕЧАТИ ФИЛАТЕЛИЯ Translation: UNION PRINT STAMPS FOR SALE IN UNION PRESS STORES PHILATELY
1968-x39 a thru h			1968-x39 (12/27/19) - eight circular souvenir cards from cheese packages These are not labels, so they are entirely optional, but I like them. They are souvenir cards that were distributed in France in packages of "La vache qui rit" cheese at the time of the 1968 Olympics. Each one depicts a sport on one side, and on the other side is a discussion of the history of that sport in the Olympics. Each label is 100 mm in diameter (about 4 inches).
1968-x40 and x41			1968-x40 and 41 (12/28/19) a self-adhesive (75mm x 75mm), and yet another decal (150mm x 95mm).
1968-x42 a thru f			1968-x42 a thru f (12/29/19) Self-adhesive labels advertising ELF motor oil. There is no date, but I found a seller on delcampe who claims they date from 1968. The brand was founded in 1967, so 1968 is the earliest they could have been issued. There are two sizes, 15 x 10.5 cm and 8.2 cm x 9.8 cm. As far as I can tell, there are only 6 designs. Each is numbered.
1968-x43			1968-x43 (06/16/2020) Water slide / decal / transfer SIZE: about 2.8" across American Olympic team shield in red, white and blue, OLYMPIC BOOSTER at top, 1968 Independent Press-Telegram over stripes Long Beach, CA In 1968, the Independent was the morning paper, the Press-Telegram was the evening paper. The Press-Telegram survives.
1968-x44a thru d			1968-x44a,b,c,d (06/16/2020) Self-adhesive labels, "Cécémel" at top, "Mexico 1968" and a sports image below Chocomel (known as Cécémel in Belgium) is a Dutch brand of chocolate-flavoured milk, produced by Campina in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. The brand's trademark is owned by FrieslandCampina. SIZE: 8 x 6 cm
1968-x45			1968-x45 (06/16/2020) A black self-adhesive with the Mexico Olympic medallion at center, MEXICO and the rings at top, 1968 at bottom, a card with Hungarian text" "A sport kedveloinek es minden kedves vevonknek szeretettel" "To sports fans and all our dear ones with love" VIDEOTON 1968 Mexico Olympics TV and Radio Music Video and Video Broadcasting, Video SIZE: ???
1968-x46a & b			1968-x46a & b (06/16/2020) Foil self-adhesives with Mexico 68 and a black silhouette sports image. There could be many more. SIZE: each about 4" square
DECORATIVE POSTAL LABELS NOT IN DUBOIS "z" labels numbered "z01" through zzz These are labels with postal origin, from sheets of postage stamps issued during the period of the other labels on this page. A purist might consider them outside the bounds of this collection. Or one might create a specialized collection of JUST labels like these. The choice is yours. 3/10/2019 - I have decided to give these a separate numbering sequence, since they are borderline entries in this catalog, so today I have renumbered them, and renumbered the "x" series entries above.
New number	Related images & text	Images of actual label(s)	Description and comments
1968-z01 a,b,c,d,e	At left: Full sheet progrssive proof of Scott 260 without black; At right: Full sheet progrssive proof of Scott 260, Black only Singles of Scott 260-264 & C88-C92	1968-z01a,b 1968-z01c   1968-z01d,e	1968-z01 a,b,c,d,e (7/13/18) Decorative labels from 1968 Burundi postal issue, Scott 260-264 & C88-C92, issued October 24, 1968. Each sheet contains 20 identical postage stamps plus five labels. z01a,b,d,e: "MEXICO 68" at top in font created for these Games; "XIX OLYMPIC GAMES" in French/English/Spanish/German beneath; Runners in profile from ancient Greek pottery at center; "12-27 OCTOBER 1968" in French/English/Spanish/German beneath; "MEXICO 68" at bottom z01c: Olympic rings at top, Aztec shield in center, MEXICO at bottom Since they have a postal origin, I consider these optional or borderline entries in this catalog, but am including them so that a collector who runs across them will know what they are, and can decide whether or not to collect them. NOTE: There are other, similar decorative labels on postal issues of Olympic stamps, such as the gold medals on sheets of Poland Scott 1355-62 (see the 1964 Tokyo page of this exhibit, 1964-x12). I found all the images for this entry on delcampe.net - check out delcampe if you have not before. It is an excellent source of poster stamp - as well as philatelic - material.
1968-z02			1968-z02 (7/15/18) Decorative label from Cook Islands postal issue, Scott 237-242. Issued in sheetlets of 10 stamps plus two decorative labels, one with an Olympic theme. Since they have a postal origin, I consider these optional or borderline entries in this catalog, but am including them so that a collector who runs across them will know what they are, and can decide whether or not to collect them. NOTE: There are other, similar decorative labels on postal issues of Olympic stamps, such as the gold medals on sheets of Poland Scott 1355-62 (see the 1964 Tokyo page of this exhibit, 1964-x12). Images from delcampe.net.
1968-z03	In full sheets of stamps As proofs		1968-z03 a through h (7/15/18) Decorative labels from fantasy issue for Aden/South Arabia - Kathiri State in Hadhramaut (not listed in Scott) Issued in sheetlets of 8 stamps plus two decorative labels. South Arabia did issue valid postage stamps from 1942 through 1964, but unscrupulous exploiters distributed other stamps such as these for several years after. These were "issued" in 1967. Considering how well designed and printed the stamps are, I am surprised the central labels are so boring. Since they have a pseudo-postal origin, I consider these optional or borderline entries in this catalog, but am including them so that a collector who runs across them will know what they are, and can decide whether or not to collect them. NOTE: There are other, similar decorative labels on valid postal issues of Olympic stamps, such as the two entries immediately above this one, and the gold medals on sheets of Poland Scott 1355-62 (see the 1964 Tokyo page of this exhibit, 1964-x12). Images from delcampe.net.
1968-z04			1968-z04 (9/9/18) Decorative labels from Grenada postal issue, Scott 280-285. Issued in sheetlets of 9 stamps plus central decorative labels. Since they have a postal origin, I consider these optional or borderline entries in this catalog, but am including them so that a collector who runs across them will know what they are, and can decide whether or not to collect them. NOTE: There are other, similar decorative labels on postal issues of Olympic stamps, such as the gold medals on sheets of Poland Scott 1355-62 (see the 1964 Tokyo page of this exhibit, 1964-x12). Images from OWLS AND BOOKS ON STAMPS.
1968-z05 a,b,c,d			1968-z05 ab,c,d(9/28/18) Decorative labels from Paraguay postal issue of 1965, Scott 858-865, Olympic medals. Issued in sheetlets of 25 stamps plus decorative labels, four showing the emblem of the Tokyo Olympics. Since these have a postal origin, I consider them optional or borderline entries in this catalog, but am including them so that a collector who runs across them will know what they are, and can decide whether or not to collect them. NOTE: There are other, similar decorative labels on postal issues of Olympic stamps, such as several higher on this page, and gold medals on sheets of Poland Scott 1355-62 (see the 1964 Tokyo page of this exhibit, 1964-x12).
1968-z06			1968-z06 (02/20/19) Decorative label in sheets of Polish stamps: Poland 1502-1509, issued 1967. The design is the symbol of the Polish Olympic Committee. Note that in the current version of the symbol, the eagle has a crown, but in the version on the stamps - no crown. Here's the story: After World War II, the communist authorities of the Polish People's Republic removed the "reactionary" royal crown from the eagle's head. UPI Archives - Feb. 9, 1990 - Poland restores crown to white eagle - By BOGDAN TUREK WARSAW, Poland -- The Polish Parliament restored a gold crown Friday to the white eagle -- a symbol of independent statehood for nearly nine centuries until its crown was removed by communist authorities after World War II. The Parliament debate sparked a temporary controversy when communist deputies nearly walked out of the session because a Solidarity deputy said they had 'no moral right' to take part in the vote. The vote in the Sejm, or lower house, was 316-3 with 52 abstentions.
1968-z07			1968-z07 (04/01/19) Decorative labels in sheets of postage stamps: Panama Scott 456 thru 456J, issued 10/14/64, depicting medals of 1964 Winter Olympics, Innsbruck. As I say over and over, these are borderline entries for this catalog, since they have a postal origin. It's up to you.
1968-z08			1968-z08 (04/01/19) Decorative labels in sheets of postage stamps: Israel Scott 361 As I mention elsewhere, these "tabs" on Israeli stamps are NEVER separated from their adjoining stamps, which are worth considerably more with tab attached.
1968-z09			1968-z09 (04/01/19) Decorative labels in sheets of postage stamps: New Zealand Scott B75 & B76 Individually, the stamps sell for 25 cents apiece. As miniature sheets, the two shown catalog $20. So I doubt you will see the labels on their own!
DANISH MÆRKAT LABELS
1972-x01	VARIETIES AND THEMES OF DANISH MÆRKATER - MAERKAT LABELS Die-cut (small) Extra-Large hotel labels Bicycles Scouting Fairy Tales	1972-x01 Maerkat #14673 1974 label - Maerkat #15066   Andersen & Bruun / Andersen & Blaesbjerg Mærkater Bording   F.E.Bording / BPI DENMARK MAERKAT STAMPS DENMARK MÆRKAT STAMPS	1972-x01 Danish Maerkat label - Olympic archery sporten for hele familien - hele året! BPI MÆRKAT 14673 - DANSK BUESKYTTEFORBUND the sport for the whole family - all year! BPI MAERKAT 14673 - DANISH ARCHERY This label was issued no earlier than 1970, so it belongs in the 1972 section (which I may get around to some day), but I am including it here to provide an excuse to share some information about the Danish Maerkat labels, two others of which I have shown on these pages ( 1940-F-23 and 1944-x1). First, the Danish word Mærkat means "tag" or "sticker," so "mærkat label" is redundant. Sorry. These labels were produced in Denmark from 1931 to 1978, and especially from the 1930's through the 1950's they were a popular collecting area in Denmark. There were clubs, magazines, markets - I don't think it an exaggeration to call it a craze. Most of the Maerkat labels have the same rectangular shape and size - about 35x55mm, either vertical or horizontal - about the same as a matchbox label; but some were larger, and some were diecut in various shapes. Most were unperforated, but a few did have perforations. They were issued mostly as single designs advertising a product or business, but there were sets on themes like scouting and topics such as bicycles as well. One thing that contributed to their popularity was their labelling system. Each maerkat has a unique number in tiny print at the bottom, plus the word MÆRKAT and the name of the manufacturer. The numbers were issued sequentially/chronologically, starting with number 1 in August 1931, through about 2100 in December 1938 (produced by Andersen & Bruun, who trademarked the term), then starting over from number 1 in January 1939 through 5157 in December 1948 (F. E. Bording) and continuing from 5159 in January 1949 through 15428 in 1978 (Beckers PapirIndustri - BPI). The numbers and producer names made it easy to know which labels one had, and which one needed. Given this numbering system, one can date labels to within a year or two fairly easily, since many of them commemorated events. For example, I dated this archery label from the elephant label - it has a date of 1974, and a number 15066. We know that label 15428 was issued in 1978, 15066 is about 400 less than 15428, and 14673 is about 400 less than 15066, so 14673 must have been issued about 1970. (That black and white VW label in the last image is numbered 14708, and dated 1971, so that pins it down even better - probably 1971.) There are catalogs as well, in Danish, so if you read Danish (or don't mind using online translator pages like Google's) HERE is an excellent web site about the F. E. Bording Maerkat labels, complete with a catalog of their labels 1 through 5008. P.S. - you will see labels with names of producers other than the three listed above (for example Andersen & Blaesbjerg or Merkatbyrået), or no name at all. Some of these were authorized, some are pirates. This just adds to the enjoyment of collecting, of course. FINALLY, in the second and third columns are images of small collections of various types of these fascinating labels. As usual, click on any of these images to open an enlargement in a separate window/tab.

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Created -- 03/21/2018
Revised -- 08/10/2023