CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone:
Facsimile:
61-3-9864-9999
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Media Release
October
21st, 2008
1956 OLYMPIC VISITORS BOOK ‘ONE OF A KIND’
Philip Miskin was no ordinary autograph
hunter. As ‘mayor’ of the Olympic Village in
Melbourne he had access to some of the most
powerful people in politics, sport and the arts
as confirmed by this extremely rare Visitors’
Book from the village. This is the first time
that this extraordinary document has been
offered for sale.
There are more than 2,000 signatures featured
including Prince Phillip, Sir Robert Menzies, Sir
William Slim, Sir Dallas Brooks, IOC
President Avery Brundage (who was so
concerned about Melbourne’s preparedness
that he wanted the Olympics moved to
Rome), and officials and competitors from
nearly every country represented at the Games.
The visitors’ book complete with suede covers
and enamelled crest is being offered for sale
by Leski Auctions on Thursday, November
6th at 5.30pm. It has a pre-sale estimate of
$20,000 - $30,000.
“Some of the greatest athletes of our time are
represented in this book as are some of the
most powerful political figures,” says Charles
Leski.
“For Melbourne the Olympic Games was a ‘coming of age’ and nothing demonstrates this more eloquently
than the Visitors’ Book.”
NB: The 1956 Olympic Village visitors’ book is part of an extraordinary collection of Olympic
memorabilia from the estate of Philip Miskin, Commandant (mayor) of the Olympic Village. The
Miskin Collection comprises 64 lots with a pre-sale estimate of $50,000 - $70,000 and is regarded as
the most extensive collection of its type in private hands.
CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone:
Facsimile:
61-3-9864-9999
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
About Leski Auctions
Leski Auctions was established in 1973 and is one of Australia’s leading auctioneers of Sporting Memorabilia,
Australiana, Collectibles and World Philately.
Leski Auctions is a recognised leader in the area of early photography, art, wine, cameras, books, autographs,
entertainment memorabilia, medals, coins, stamps, aerophilately, cigarette and trade cards, maps, railway
memorabilia, advertising artwork and posters, and the Olympics, football and cricket..
It was the first auction house in Australia to introduce an on-line, real-time bidding system ‘Live Bid Online’™,
which allows participation from anywhere in the world. It currently runs 22 auctions per year.
Leski Auctions has previously sold many significant collections, including those of Shirley Strickland, Ron Clarke,
Sir Reginald Ansett and former RSL President, Bruce Ruxton. It has sold more ‘baggy green’ caps than any other
auction house in the world, and is one of the largest auctioneers of cricket memorabilia by value and volume.
Leski Auctions recently sold the newly-discovered Phar Lap horse tonic recipe book. It recently achieved a world
record price for a Bradman bat.
Managing Director Charles Leski is a registered valuer for the Cultural Gifts Program through the Department of
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. He is also the valuer of the displayed items at the National Sports
Museum at the MCG, Melbourne.
The company is located at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123 Australia. Telephone +61-3-864 9999 and
Issued by:
Charles Leski, Leski Auctions
Michael Krape, Michael Krape Consulting
Tel: 61-3-9864 9999
Tel: 0403 135 880
charles@leski.com.au
michaelkrape@krape.com.au
NEWS 
