Local Olympic History Found at RR Auction

RR Auction has made a name for themselves as a source of authentic artifacts and autographs all over the world, but they are also becoming known for the light they shine on local histories with their auctions. Again this auction house is showing that they are a fantastic source for pairing collectors with famous historical mementos from their hometowns with the attention they are receiving in local newspapers across the country.

This July, RR Auction’s Olympic Memorabilia features a number of items that have history in cities across the United States. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote specifically on a gold-plated brass and aluminum replica torch signed by the late and great boxing legend Muhammad Ali. The torch, with a Georgian pecan hardwood handle, was lit by Ali in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics.

The item at auction is not the exact torch used by the legend to spread the Olympic flame, but a replica. Several thousand were produced to be distributed as gifts. However, Ali certainly didn’t sign that many --- only a few. And one of those few has made it to RR Auction.

An accompanying photograph with this lot shows Ali with the torch.
Other impressive and rare Olympic items available throughout the next few days include:

·         A silver-colored brass and steel alloy 1952 Oslo Winter Olympics torch, estimated to auction for $75,000+.

·         The 1988 Calgary Olympics torch, constructed from aluminum with a maple handle, the handle decorated with pictograms and the ball at the bottom bearing the engraving “Citius, Altius, Fortius,” the Olympic motto. This torch is estimated to auction for $50,000+.

·         A rare gold medal from the 1908 London Summer Olympics, featuring an engraving of the image of St. George, England’s patron saint, slaying a dragon. This medal is estimated to auction for $15,000+.

·         A silver medal from the 1912 Stockholm Summer Olympics, engraved with the image of Ling, the founder of Swedish gymnastics, is estimated to auction for $20,000+ due to these medals’ scarcity.

·         A bronze medal from the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics Ice Hockey World Championship is estimated to auction for $4,000+.

There are many more examples of Olympic memorabilia for auction and the local history of American cities being featured on RR Auction’s website.

For continued updates on rare and historic documents and artifacts for auction, please follow RR Auction’s Twitter at https://twitter.com/rrauction and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rrauction/.