Description:

HARRISON DILLARD OLYMPIC AND ATHLETIC GROUPING
WILLIAM HARRISON 'BONES' DILLARD (1923–2019) American track and field athlete, the only male in the history of the Olympic Games to win gold in both the 100 meter (sprints) and the 110 meter hurdles, making him the 'World's Fastest Man' in 1948 and the 'World's Fastest Hurdler' in 1952. Dillard was inspired by Jesse Owens, who, like him, was from Cleveland and had attended East Technical High School. He won the NCAA and AAU 120-yard and 220-yard hurdles in both 1946 and 1947, tying world records in both events with a 22.3 in the 220 in 1946 and a 13.6 in the 120. Between June 1947 and June 1948, he remained unbeaten in 82 consecutive finals, a record until broken by Ed Moses. In all he would be awarded four Olympic gold medals. An extraordinary collection of historic documents and relics related to African-American Harrison Dillard's record-setting athletic career. Most important are Dillard's two 1952 Helsinki Olympics Gold Medal Award Certificates with text in Finnish. Each measures 14 x 19.5 in. and shows at top a runner before a Greek column behind the text: 'XV OLYMPIA HELSINKI 1952' Dillard's name has been hand-applied to each, with the notation below: 'IP.', presumably indicating the award of a gold medal. Both certificates also indicate the event for which Dillard's gold medal was presented, namely: '4 x 100 m. relay race' and '110 meter hurdles'. Beneath appears also the facsimile signatures of the chairmen of the International Olympic Committee and the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Organization Committee, these above a skyline of Helsinki. A number of additional important items are present, including: Dillard's cloth '1002' imprinted cotton runner's number, 90.75 x 6 in., the edges folded in with holes from previous sewing evident, marked 'Dillard' in ink; his 1948 London Olympics 'United States Olympic Committee Handbook of Information and Instruction', 38pp. 12mo., rules and regulations for competitors with seven various oaths, entries etc. within signed by Dillard; Dillard's 1953 United States Olympians Midwestern Chapter membership card; two of Dillard's 7 x 5 in. cloth embroidered AAU All-America chest patches; two Amateur Athletic Union of Canada awards given to Dillard, each 1p. oblong 4to., Montreal, Sep. 18, 1950, for setting Canadian indoor records for the 50 yard hurdles and the 50 yard dash; two Amateur Athletic Union Certificates of Selection, both naming Dillard, each 1p. sm. folio, one each for 1951 and 1952; and Dillard's personal high school yearbook from East Technical High School in Cleveland, 1941, picturing him in a senior portrait and as a member of the track team. Accompanied by three original mailing tubes for his awards and related ephemera. An important athletic archive.

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April 2, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000