Lot 875

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Description:

MEDAL AND LETTER GROUPING OF AUSTRIAN JEWISH PENTATHLON CHAMPION GERDA GOTTLIEB
(1916 - ?) Oustanding grouping of medals, pins and letters given to Jewish -Austrian athlete Gerda Gottlieb, a pentathlon and swimming champion who held both the world and American records in the standing high jump. Included in this important grouping is a steel and enamel cased medal: "For the victory in the 2nd Makkabi Games 1935", 3" x 3", the medal bearing the emblem of Austria with a Star of David beneath. Also present are Gottlieb''s five consecutive gold medals issued to her in Vienna as "Winner" of the 1933-1937 National Pentathlon. Each of the cased medals is identical, 2" wide with a winged "Victory" holding an upraised laurel wreath, the verso reading: "PENTATHLON OF THE AUSTRIAN HEAD ORGANIZATION FOR ATHLETICS". This organization was previously named: "The Austrian Olympic Committee" and it would revert to that name in post-war years. Also present is a smaller, uncased gold medal, 1 1/2" x 2" with an engraved Star of David, an enameled medal from the "II Makkabiah" games in Austria, Apr. 2-10, 1935, and a 1945 stickpin. Four letters are also present: one from the Jewish "Swim Club Hakoah", 1p. 4to., Jan. 17, 1938, congratulating her on being the "second Jewish athlete" to receive a pentathlon award; two letters from her Jewish employer Bauer-Schwarz in Innsbruck, Feb. 23, 1938 and a letter of reference as the firm was reducing its staff (probably due to the fact that Jewish firms were being persecuted); with another work-related note. Finally, included is Gottlieb''s 1936-37 pocket diary, partially written in shorthand and not translated. The original Maccabiah (or "Jewish Olympics") was held March 28 to April 6, 1932. Originally conceived as a quadrennial event, Maccabiah II was moved up a year to 1935 because of the rising influence of Nazism. World War II forced postponement of the third Maccabiah, this time for 15 years. An important grouping.

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September 14, 2017 11:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$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 + $10,000