Rare 1956 France NOC Olympic |
Olympic memorabilia prized by collectors
-by John Syratt
During its 106 day journey through close to 1,000 communities, 12,000 people will have carried the Olympic Torch as it travels towards the site of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Unlike previous Olympic flame relays, a torch is carried by a runner for each leg of the relay and just the flame is passed along, not the torch. The bearers could pre-purchase their own torches for $350 and about 60 per cent did so.
Olympic memorabilia collectors have been waiting in the wings for these events, so it’s no surprise just days after the run began, to see some of these torches up for sale on sites like eBay and Craigslist. The average prices being fetched for the sleek white torches range from $1300 to $2500.
In November, CTV News reported that Vancouver Olympic Committee president John Furlong said he couldn't imagine anyone wanting to part with their Olympic torch for profit. |
“Olympic memorabilia heats up in the three months leading up to a summer or winter games and reaches a fever pitch as soon as athletes start racking up gold medals,” Stacey Bradford wrote in the Wall Street Journal.
"Not a chance, not ever" would he do something like that, Mr. Furlong said. "That's not a profit I would ever want." But, as will all sports collectibles, the memorabilia market is thriving and Olympic items have been collected for close to 100 years.
Since the athletes and their achievements are soon forgotten in the years between Olympic Games, most mementos don't appreciate in value that much. Some exceptions include items considered particularly rare or ones that tell a good story.
No one in Alberta can forget the frenzied buying, selling and trading of collectible pins during Calgary’s 1988 Winter Olympic Games
Olympic torches, pins, tickets, posters, medals, coins, stamps, sports cards, programs, apparel, and even phone cards are all eagerly sought after and collected by Olympic fans.
In December 2009, the Olympic torch from the 1948 Summer Games in London, UK fetched over $10,000 on eBay.
Here are prices of some recently sold Olympic collectibles:
PINS: A 1948 London Olympic Games pin: $86.12. Rare 1956 France NOC Olympic Pin Cortina d’Ampezzo: $521.59
TICKETS: 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team gold medal game victory tickets: $323.39. Two Vancouver 2010 Olympic hockey tickets to the men’s gold medal game: $4500.
APPAREL: A Roots Team Canada gold medal leather/wool hockey jacket: $276.44.
MEDALS: A participant medal from the 1900 Paris Olympics: $813.70. A 1984 Los Angeles Olympics winning athlete’s silver medal: $3,129.60.
COINS: A 1976 Montreal, Canada Olympic $100 Gold Coin: $573.76. A 2008 Beijing China Olympic kilo silver proof coin: $1126.66
SPORTS CARDS: A 2008 Donruss National Treasures card featuring gold medal sprinter Jesse Owens’ cut autograph with an inscription from the 1936 Germany Olympics: $2008.16.
PROGRAMS: A 1960 Olympics Squaw Valley Official Daily Program: $25.17. A 1948 London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony Program: $20.85.
POSTERS: A 1972 Munich original poster #8 of 14 different ones: $10.42 to $54.25. A 1936 Winter Olympics 40.25” by 25” poster: $1053.62.
STAMPS: 1964 Russia Olympic Stamp, unused: $206.08. A 1928 Netherlands Olympic Games special postmark, stamp/card: $75.11. |
Olympic torch carried to 1948 Olympic Summer Games in London, UK. – photo courtesy Artonel
Cortina d’Ampezzo pin sold for $500
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Victoria’s Quilts Canada helping cancer patients
Calgary, AB – Every month, the volunteers of Victoria’s Quilts Canada (VQC) make and distribute close to 300 quilts free-of-charge across Canada to individuals diagnosed with cancer.
Every quilt is made of a cotton top, soft flannelette backing and a thin layer of batting. And each represents a virtual hug, giving spiritual comfort with the stress and anxiety of a cancer diagnosis, and physical comfort as it provides warmth during chemotherapy.
The quilts are handmade by close to 1,000 volunteers located in communities across Canada. In many cases, groups will get together to work on a quilt, similar to the quilting bees of days gone by.
VQ members with quilts donated by the Fabric Stashers Guild.
From Left: Sharron Blaine, Joyce Brenton, Donna Sandy, Laurel McLennan,
Marilyn Lichtenstein, Bev Maxwell, Ruth Hildebrandt and Laura Deschner
In other cases, individuals work on their own and donate the finished product. In Western Canada, branches in Calgary, Drumheller, Okotoks and Rocky Mountain House distribute quilts in their communities.
In the nine years that Victoria’s Quilts Canada has been in operation, over 16,000 quilts have been distributed to every province and territory.
With the number of people stricken with cancer continually rising, VQC has seen a marked increase in the demand for quilts, and this trend is expected to continue.
VQC is actively looking for new people interested in sewing or quilting, or any of the non-sewing positions that need to be filled. VQC’s many volunteers find it a most rewarding and fulfilling experience. And people who have received their quilts attest to the spiritual and physical warmth they provide.
Donna Sandy with a completed quilt
For more information, to request a quilt, or to make a donation, please contact: Calgary@victoriasquiltscanada.com or visit www.victoriasquiltscanada.com. Anyone interested in starting a branch in their community can call 613-843-9212 or email betty@victoriasquiltscanada.com.
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| Vintage sheet music easy to collect |
by Lorraine Syratt |
Cover art big factor in collecting sheet music |
Sheet music was mass produced from the late 19th century well into the 20th century, but with the advent of radio and television, the piano was no longer the key feature in a room and the popularity of sheet music fizzled out in the 1940s.
Today, sheet music from the past is highly collectible, some valued in the hundreds of dollars if not over a thousand. Cover art is generally the most important consideration in investing in sheet music. They make perfect artwork framed and hung on a wall.
The most valuable pieces of sheet music are those featuring stars of the silver screen, historical photos or events and ones signed by famous songwriters or film stars.
A hand-signed Frank Sinatra sheet was recently valued at $1500.
Values for these rare pieces can be quite high, but they must be in very good condition. Examples of the most popular or easily found vintage sheet music may only be worth a few dollars.
Sheet music by Sidney Bechet seems to be valuable now. Ghost of the Blues, 1924 recently sold on eBay for $470 CAD. And Who'll Chop Your Suey When I'm Gone sold for $315.
Scott Joplin and George Gershwin sheet music have always been sought after with sold prices from $200 and higher.
Sheet music featuring black-face musicals as well as those with Al Jolson usually fetch $100 or more. Hand-signed Al Jolson pieces can sell for $200 or more.
Vintage sheet music can be found everywhere – antique shops, auctions, online, at thrift shops, yard sales and flea markets.
If buying only for the artwork, compare the price to the condition.
If buying as an investment or to enhance a collection, do a little research to ensure a fair deal. |
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Sheet music of the past displays artistic charm. |
