Known as the austerity Olympics, this international multi-sport event was held in London, England after a 12-year hiatus due to World War II. The 1948 London Summer Olympics were the first Olympics since the 1936 Games held in Berlin. With the post-war rationing and world economic climate, no new venues were built for the games. In addition, athletes were housed in existing accommodation instead of an Olympic Village. Due to their roles as aggressors in World War II, Germany and Japan were not invited to attend. Russia was invited, but the USSR chose not to send any athletes. The United States team won the most total medals, with a count of 84, and the most gold medals, with w count of 38. England won 23 total medals, three of which were gold.
AN OFFICIAL BLUE OLYMPIC MEDAL CASE FROM THE 1948 LONDON GAMES, STILL IN PRISTINE CONDITION 60 YEARS LATER
Dutch sprinter Fanny Blankers-Koen was a star of these Olympic Games. Nicknamed “The Flying Housewife” the 30 year old mother of 3 children won four gold medals in athletics. She won four gold medals: 1) in the 100 meters, 2) 200 meters, 3) 80 meter high hurdles, and 4) the 4 x 100 meter relay. In the decathlon, American Bob Mathias (see image of Mathias below) became the youngest male to ever win an Olympic gold medal at the tender age of 17. The most individual medals won at these games were by Veikko Huhtanen of Finland. He took 3 golds, a silver, and a bronze in men’s gymnastics.
AMERICA'S HARRISON DILLARD - EN ROUTE TO WINNING ANOTHER OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN LONDON
It was at the 1948 London Summer Olympics that Olympic pictograms were first introduced. In total, there were twenty of them – one for each individual Olympic sport and then three separate pictograms for: 1) the arts competition, 2) the opening ceremony, and 3) the closing ceremony. The pictograms’ intended use was for the event tickets. 16 years later, Olympic pictograms would appear again and have been featured at every Summer Olympics since then. The arts competition took place at the Victoria and Albert Museum and since then, there has not been an arts competition affiliated with the Summer Olympics since the 1948 London Summer Olympics.
THE LEGENDARY BOB MATHIAS - A TWO-TIME DECATHLON CHAMPION - MATHIAS LATER SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS
The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx collection is proud to offer a gold medal (51 mm) which is exactly like the one Harrison Dillard earned in the “Olympic Games London 1948.” At the 1948 London Summer Olympics, Dillard reached the final in the 110 meter hurdles even in what seemed to be a dead heat between Dillard and American Barney Ewell. The finish photo showed Dillard had won and also achieved the new World Record. He also won an additional gold medal as a member of the 4 x 100 meter relay team in the London Summer Olympic games. By owning this piece of memorabilia, you have the same gold medal which the “world’s fastest man in the 100 meters” owns.
A STUNNING OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL FROM THE 1948 LONDON GAMES - THE RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX COLLECTION
The 1948 London Summer Olympics was also the very first Olympics to have a political defection. Marie Provaznikova, the 57-year old Czechoslovakian President of the International Gymnastics Federation refused to return to her home country. She cited “lack of freedom” which occurred after Czechoslovakia’s inclusion in the Soviet Bloc.
THE LEGENDARY HARRISON DILLARD IN THE 1948 OLYMPIC GAMES - A MASTER HURDLER
The austerity Olympics were a refreshing comeback for the city of London and world cooperation. With the launch of the 1948 Olympics, the world was reassured that things were getting back to normal and peace restored.
HISTORIAN & COLLECTOR - RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX
For additional historical facts that may be of interest see: www.AmericanHeritage1.com
Raleigh DeGeer Amyx is an American historian and collector. His full biography can be read on his Wikipedia page.
The 1908 London Summer Olympic Games were originally slated to be held in Naples. Unfortunately, Mount Vesuvius erupted on April 7, 1906, devastating the city of Naples. Funds originally slated for the Olympic development were diverted to the reconstruction of Naples and a new venue of London was selected. Games were held in White city in tandem with the Franco-British Exhibition. Berlin and Milan were other top candidates.
The White City Stadium was built in record time for the games. It held 68,000 and was widely considered a technological marvel of the time period. The stadium track was three laps to the mile (not the modern standard of 400 meters). In addition, there was a swimming pool with diving boards and platforms for the wrestling and gymnastics events in the middle of it.
1908 Olympics - Women Were, "Permitted - if properly dressed", To Compete In The Archery Events
A controversy of the games was the American shot putter and American flag carrier Ralph Rose’s refusal to dip the American flag before the Royal Box during the opening ceremony. As a result of his actions, the King “felt compelled to restore the importance of the monarchy” by changing the original marathon race distance of 25 miles to 26 miles. That way, the marathon could start at Windsor Castle and finish in front of the King. Due to these changes, the marathon covered a distance of 26 miles 385 yards which would become the standard marathon length beginning with the 1924 Summer Olympics.
A Stunning Specimen of the 1908 Summer Olympic Contestant's Silver Badge in Absolutely Splendid Condition
One of the most famous incidents of the games came at the end of the marathon. Dorando Pietri of Italy was the first to enter the stadium. As he entered, he collapsed several times and even ran the wrong way. Near the finish line, two officials took him by the arms and brought him to the line. As a result of the official’s actions, he was disqualified and the medal went to American Johnny Hayes. Since he had not been responsible for his disqualification, Queen Alexandra awarded him a gilded silver cup the very next day.
From the Amyx collection, we are proud to present a mint 1908 Silver Medal presented for Racquets from these Summer Olympic Games held in London. The presentation case is black leather trimmed in gold and the medals themselves are in pristine condition.
A Gorgeous and Finely 3-D Created 1908 Olympic Silver Medal A Truly Rare and Magnificent Item in Pristine Condition
The Gilt-Trimmed Case to accompany the 1908 Olympic Silver Medal -- It is a true Rarity to find both a Century-Old Olympic Winners Medal along with it's Original Presentation Case.
Racquets was just one of many interesting events in the 1908 Summer Olympic games. Tug of War was included in the athletic events as was water motorsports (speed boating), lacrosse, and jeu de paume.
Though the events for the upcoming London Olympics are vastly different from the 1908 events of Tug of War and speed boating, learning about the 1908 Olympics shows just how far athletic competition in the Olympics has come. To learn more about Olympic history, please contact us.
For additional historical facts that may be of interest see: www.AmericanHeritage1.com
Raleigh DeGeer Amyx is an American historian and collector. His full biography can be read on his Wikipedia page.
Sixty years ago this fall, a five-star general in the US Army, originally from Abilene, Kansas, made a calculated and 20th-century-changing decision to run for President of the United States. Carefully noticing the national and international circumstances of his time, his warfare and wartime experience, and the popular public support for a run for office, Dwight Eisenhower realized that his chances for success and the chance to make his mark were unusually high. As he served as the 34th President from 1953 to 1961, Ike ended the Korean war without getting into any others, stabilized the Soviet-American rivalry at the time, maintained conservative principles without offending liberal sensibilities, played a role in facilitating the civil rights movement, and warned us all of the dangers and concerns of an all-powerful 'military-industrial-complex'. Distinct points of achievement most often remembered from his Presidency are the creation of the Interstate Highway System, containment and control of the New Deal coalition, deposing the leader of Iran in a 1953 Coup D'etat, and using nuclear threats to end the Korean War, to name an essential few. For these aforementioned things he was remembered as President, but what about Eisenhower the general? Eisenhower the man?
Dwight Eisenhower Waving To Public With Classic Hat In Hand - Note Ike's Rolex on his left wrist as he waves to fans
The mid-western town of Abilene, Kansas in 1910 was a quiet place where decent people tolerated each other's peculiar differences, were slow to become angry or judge others, possessed a certain faith in the decency of human beings, and were undistracted and untempted by the selfish ambition of pushing one man's ideas out in order to have their own accepted. Such an upbringing might seem pale in terms of preparing him for some of the later, more challenging decisions he would have to make, such as planning and supervising the invasion of South Africa in Operation Torch, and figuring out how best to deploy a massive number of troops, ships and bombers during the invasion of Normandy in 1944. How was Eisenhower able to achieve so much, and with so much support from the American public?
An imposing Portrait Of President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Eisenhower the man brought with him a mid-western easygoing nature, friendliness, and proverbial outlook on life that always focused on how to solve serious issues and problems, rather than get entangled with the people or personalities that complicated those problems. He was concerned with addressing the ideas of key contributors to an issue or situation, but without trying to please any one person's particular goals or ideology. Ike could chair and govern meetings with wisdom and ease, coaching individuals to work towards a compromise between conflicting views. Eisenhower the man, who at home liked to watch Westerns and sometimes eat TV dinners after a long day of work, brought this background with him as he helped later building his army career, waged war, and fervently worked to remake the face of Europe.
An education from West Point, early recognition by officers of his organizational skills, and strategic, fortunate placements at certain army bases and post assignments all set the stage for his military career from the 1920's all the way to the Presidency. Along the way Ike developed a keen discipline of reading military history and studying military strategy - alongside the habit and practice of writing (proposals, opinions, journals (which later became his memoirs), and speeches — some of which were for General MacArthur while serving as his top-aide in the Phillipines. Probably the most pivotal points in his career, ones that set the stage for his highest military achievement as Supreme Commander of Allied Forces for the invasion of Normandy on D-Day, were the relationships (and accompanying teachings) he built with various Generals. Fox Conner, John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, and George Marshall were among the fine generals that he served, Conner being the most impactful and influential on Ike's military thinking. "Fox Conner was the ablest man I ever knew", he was quoted as saying, among other praises of General Conner. But Historians give the primary nuturing credit of Eisenhower to General George C. Marshall.
Eisenhower The General: Supreme Commander of The Allied Forces during WWII - Note, Ike's leather World War 11 Jacket which is now in The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection
Eisenhower's achievements in World War II were recognized by more than just the American public and military/government officials. One lesser known event that memorialized Ike's achievements as a world military leader and United States president was the unique creation and issuance of a finely crafted Rolex Yellow Gold Datejust watch — the 150,000th made in fact — which Rolex designed especially for General Eisehower, which they presented to Ike in late 1950. This watch and the circumstances in which it was created all contributed to the image of the Rolex President. Coincidentally, Ike played a huge role in the rebranding of Rolex, and among elites who recognize the meaning and impact of owning a Rolex watch, Eisenhower came to represent a very rare international mark of achievement at that time. Other than Churchill and a couple other world leaders, most recipients of Rolex watches up to that time were known for their business or personal successes rather than achievements, particularly achievements of the magnitude and nature of Eisenhower's.
Eisenhower With His Rolex: The International Mark Of Achievement - This Rolex is currently in The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection - where it has been since 1983
As a young military graduate with firm yet docile midwestern sensibilities, a military officer — and later, general — with an ocean trench of understanding of modern warfare and strategy, a politican sensitive to the american public's fears and concerns but without ideological favoritism, Eisenhower is now being recognized by historians as one of the top ten presidents of all time. Perhaps the recent resurgence of Eisenhower's legacy and its accompanying nostalgia can help both voters and all government officials come to a better understanding of the leadership we need in these times of politial discontent.
President Dwight David Eisenhower At his Oval Office Desk
Few presidents in recent history can match the timeless impact of Eisenhower's own words:
"We look upon this shaken Earth, and we declare our firm and fixed purpose — the building of a peace with justice in a world where moral law prevails. The building of such a peace is a bold and solemn purpose. To proclaim it is easy. To serve it will be hard."
For additional historical facts that may be of interest see: www.AmericanHeritage1.com
Raleigh DeGeer Amyx is an American historian and collector. His full biography can be read on his Wikipedia page.