This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/16/2022
In addition to the many medals and documents in this collection are dozens of fascinating original photographs depicting Luz Long doing what he did best: competing in either the long jump or the triple jump. They come directly from the Long family and several were submitted to PSA/DNA for Type I authentication. Offered here is a fantastic shot of the German track star relaxing on the Olympiastadion track infield during the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
The unique angle of the photo shows Long being filmed by Walter Frentz, one of the main cameramen who shot Leni Riefenstahl’s acclaimed film Olympia. Released in 1938, the German sports documentary about the 1936 Berlin Games is both renowned for its incredible advancements in the art of filmmaking and notorious for the Nazi propaganda that it sought to spread. Hitler hand-picked a 34-year-old German filmmaker named Leni Reifenstahl to direct a film that properly documented his Olympics, one that captured the best moments and highlights so that the world would know what a great host he was. Olympia made Riefenstahl famous at home and abroad, her work becoming a major influence in modern sports photography. The two-part documentary – Part 1: Festival of Nations | Part 2: Festival of Beauty – is widely regarded as the one of the greatest films of all time and is among Time magazine’s top 100 list.
It is unclear which day this photo was taken, but the Olympia-Film stamp on the reverse credits it to photographer Arthur Grimm who was heavily involved in the making of the film. “1936 Olympische Spiele Ruhepause” [Olympic Games rest break] is handwritten on the reverse in blue ink. The photo measures approximately 7” by 9” (17.5 x 23.5 cm) and comes in outstanding condition, the only blemish being a small wrinkle crease running horizontal off Frentz’s camera. It comes encapsulated in a PSA/DNA Type I jumbo holder with a separate letter from PSA/DNA noting the pedigree from the Luz Long Collection.