This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/24/2018
On the afternoon of August 5, 1936, Jesse Owens won the Olympic gold medal in the 200-meter dash. His hand-held time of 20.7 seconds edged teammate Mack Robinson, the older brother of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. It was the third of what would be four golds Owens took home in arguably the greatest performance in sports history, certainly of any Olympic Games. This First Place Winner's Diploma accompanied the traditional gold medal awarded to Owens after his win.
The 1936 Olympics were one of the first to feature carefully designed graphic elements. Everything, from the grand stadium and elaborate opening ceremonies down to the posters and medals were created with careful attention to detail meant to impress. Created by eminent German graphic artist Professor Ernst Boehm, the 17" by 12.5" diploma is printed on heavy white card stock and features the Brandenburg Gate and Olympic Bell embossed on its gilt background. The Olympic Stadium is embossed into the white surface above “XI. OLYMPIADE BERLIN 1936” engraved in red. “JESSE OWENS, U.S.A.” and “SIEGER 200m-LAUF” is engraved in the white panel below. The diploma is completed with the Olympic rings engraved in full color flanked by facsimile signatures of the Presidents of the International Olympic Committee and Organizing Committee.
Produced by Erasmusdruck G.M.B.H. of Berlin, only 1,500 of these intricate diplomas were created for medal recipients, and certainly nobody as prestigious as the athlete who received this one. A beautiful and rarely seen companion piece to a 1936 Olympics gold medal, it is professionally matted and framed under glass to dimensions of 20.5” by 16”. The display remains fully intact and as-issued.
Jesse Owens' 200 Meters diploma along with his Long Jump diploma in Lot 1 are without question the two most important and valuable Olympic diplomas ever offered. And because the whereabouts of Owens' other two winner's diplomas is unknown, the opportunity to own one or both cannot be understated. Both come directly from the Owens family estate.
Includes letter of authenticity signed by each of Jesse Owens' three daughters.