Presented here is an important original Type I photograph of USA Track & Field sprinter Jesse Owens aboard the S.S. Manhattan while on his way to the 1936 Berlin Summer Games. Of course, we know what transpired: a record-setting four Olympic gold medals in front of Hitler’s Germany and a name synonymous with athletic dominance forever.
On July 15, 1936, the massive, 705-foot ocean liner left New York Harbor with over 300 U.S. Olympians on board, arriving in Hamburg, Germany, a few weeks later. A smiling Owens, shown wearing his U.S. Olympic singlet jersey, had apparently just finished a workout on the ship somewhere in the Atlantic, according to the caption on the reverse. Less than three months after establishing four world records at the Big Ten Championship meet (all in a span of just 45 minutes), Owens won individual gold in the long jump, 100 meters and 200 meters before leading the U.S. to victory in the 4 x 100-meter relay for Olympic gold medal number four.
Aside from a tiny (<1 cm) piece chipped off the upper right, the photo remains in fantastic condition for its age with few blemishes. We’ve never seen this image before. Rare chance to own a museum-worthy piece of American/world history.
DATE/YEAR/ERA: July 27, 1936
GENERATION: First (original negative)
ISSUER: International News Photos
CAPTIONED: Yes
DIMS: 6.5” x 8.5”
Encapsulated by PSA/DNA, Type I