Pierre de Coubertin, handwritten postcard with his abbreviated signature "PC”, with "COMITÉ INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIQUE” imprint on the reverse, sent from "MAYENS 17 III 22” to the president of the Netherlands Olympic Committee in Vogelenzang. Light vertical crease of no significance, still fine and fresh. A rare card.

1896, Olympic Games 5 l. lilac (2), 10 l. grey and 40 l. violet, tied by cds "ATHENS 7 APR. 1896” to registered envelope to Malta, with reverse transit cds Syracuse (22 April) and arrival marking. The 40 lepta with a couple of minor perforation faults, the envelope with some light toning, still fine. An attractive and very scarce early usage, being sent within the first two weeks of issue and only five days after the conclusion of the Olympic Games.

Get Market Data for [Worldwide Michel 98-99, 102] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

1900, Olympic Issue with red overprint, 25 l. on 40 l., three singles, together with 50 l. on 2 dr. (narrow "O”), two singles, neatly tied by cds "ATHENS 6 JAN” (1901) to parcel card of glass samples weighing 1100 grams sent to Triest, with reverse arrival marking (29 January). A couple of short perforations, otherwise in fresh and very fine condition. A rare and attractive franking.

Get Market Data for [Worldwide Michel 119, 120I] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

1906, Intercalated Games 25 l., used fiscally together with Educational Revenue 2 dr. on an illustrated 1907 diploma issued by the Greek Polytechnic institute. The 2 drachme with fault, the diploma with a vertical archival fold, otherwise a most attractive document in very fine condition.

Get Market Data for [Worldwide Michel 150 + Revenue] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

"ATHENS ACROPOLIS 17 APR. 06”, special cancellation for the Intercalated Games, neatly struck on 1906 20 l. with additional franking, correctly paying the 50 lepta registered foreign rate, to registered envelope to Karlin, Austria, with reverse arrival cds (5 May). The envelope with a light horizontal crease well clear of the adhesives, otherwise very fine. A lovely and scarce usage. 

Get Market Data for [Worldwide Michel 144-145, 148-149] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

"SPORTS d"HIVER CHAMONIX MONT BLANC JANVIER 1924 / -5.II.24 17H" (Official Closing Ceremony of the Games), superb strike of the machine cancel on pre-printed envelope from the Chamonix games, addressed to Dijon, with arrival cds on reverse (6 February). Reverse flap endorsed "brigade de réserve télégraphique détaché aux Olympiades Chamonix”. An extremely rare usage associated with the official closing ceremony.

"SPORTS d"HIVER CHAMONIX MONT BLANC JANVIER 1924/ 26.I.24 11H" (First Day and First Hour of the Games), machine cancel on postcard to Neuilly; the adhesive with a corner fault, the card with a light diagonal crease, otherwise very fine. Interesting text "The Olympic Games have just begun…”. Apparantly unique, ProFi records no other first day and first hour of use.

1924, Olympic Games 10 c.-50 c., collective proof, minor paper imperfections at the edges, otherwise fine. An extremely scarce proof. Certificate Trachtenberg (1970)

Get Market Data for [Worldwide Michel 169-172P] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

1924, Olympic Athlete 10 c., deluxe definitive proof in issued colours, negligible gum spots on obverse, clear of the design, still fine. Rare, with only 25 printed.

Get Market Data for [Worldwide Michel 169P] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

1924, Olympic Athlete 10 c., two horizontal halves, tied by cds "PARIS R. LEGENDRE 22 - 6 24” and affixed on either side of the indicium of the "Jeux Olympiques Paris 1924” (type Aviron) Pasteur 15 c. illustrated postal stationery card. Some light toning, otherwise very fine. Probably a protest franking, intended to draw attention to the tariff increase from 10 to 15 centimes and the consequent replacement of the 10 c. Athlete stamp by the 15 c. Pasteur. A dramatic and most unusual early usage of the Blanche stationeries series (Yvert-Nr. 183 var, 171)

Get Market Data for [Worldwide Michel 169 var, 154] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

1924, Olympic Milo of Crotone 30 c., proof in brown-orange/black on glazed paper, tiny production archival pin hole, very fine. Scarce.

Get Market Data for [Worldwide Michel 171P] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

1924, Olympic Athlete 50 c. imperforate, good to huge margins all round, used together with additional Pasteur 10 c., both tied by cds "ÉPINAL R. THIERS 4 - 7 24” to small registered envelope to Jussey, correctly paying the 60 centimes rate, very fine. Very rare, being one of only five recorded single frankings of that striking variety. Certificate Behr (2019) (Yvert-Nr. 186a, 170)

Get Market Data for [Worldwide Michel 172U, 153] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

50 c., vertical imperforate pair, good to huge margins all round, displaying the upper left sheet corner, fresh colours, neatly tied by cds "BRIEY 21 - 9 224” repeated alongside, to overfranked registered envelope to St Nicolas du Port, with reverse arrival cds (22 September). The envelope with a vertical archival fold well clear of the adhesives, very fine. A lovely and remarkable semi-modern franking of the highest rarity, being the only recorded multiple of this imperforate variety on cover. Signed Calves. (Yvert-Nr. 186a)

Get Market Data for [Worldwide Michel 172U] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

"VIIIe OLYMPIADE PARIS 1924 COMITÉ OLYMPIQUE FRANCAIS / COMITÉ EXÉCUTIF”, illustrated printed heading in orange and dark blue on official envelope of the Executive Committee, bearing 25 c. with machine cancel "JEUX OLYMPIQUES PARIS MAI-JUIN-JUILLET 1924” (31 May) and sent locally, very fine. A very rare usage, especially with the orange and dark blue heading.

Get Market Data for [Worldwide Michel 170] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

"VIIIe OLYMPIADE PARIS 1924 COMITÉ OLYMPIQUE FRANCAIS / COMITÉ EXÉCUTIF”, illustrated printed heading in red and dark blue on official envelope of the Executive Committee, bearing 25 c. and 50 c. with machine cancel "JEUX OLYMPIQUES PARIS MAI-JUIN-JUILLET 1924” (28 June) and sent to Luxembourg, reverse arrival marking (29 June), very fine. A rare usage. Certificate Behr (2018)

Get Market Data for [Worldwide Michel 170, 172] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census

"* P.P * 10 JUIN 24 PARIS / XIV JEUX / OLYMPIQUES PARIS MAI-JUIN-JUILLET 1924”, an excellent strike of the postage paid roller publicity cancel on commercial envelope to Bazas, France, with "ÉTABLISSEMENTS WANDER” imprint on the reverse flap. Minor overall toning and some peripheral wear, nevertheless fine. An extraordinary and highly important postmark, introduced for bulk advertising mailings, this being the earliest recorded ususage and unique thus. Certificate Sinais (2014).