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
June
16th, 2008
OLYMPIC POSTER EXCELS IN COMPETITION
A rare Olympics poster that set two ‘records’ will be auctioned in Melbourne on June 25th by Leski Auctions.
The official poster created for the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm is credited as being the first to
aggressively promote the Olympics internationally. As such it is regarded as one of the benchmarks for
future marketing of the Games.
In 1911 the Swedish Olympic Committee held a competition which was won by Professor Olle Hjortzberg
of the Royal Academy. Hjortzberg was also responsible for the design of the 1912 Olympic Diploma which
is given to every medal winner.
In another milestone, it is the first poster to appear on a stamp issued by Sweden Post.
The seven colour lithograph (73 x 101cm) was originally printed in eight different languages, but expanded to
16 languages after a huge demand. It is believed that very few original posters exist.
The poster has a presale estimate of $10,000 - $12,000. (Image attached)
“It is fascinating to think that the philosophy that inspired the poster ultimately informed Olympic sponsors
like McDonalds, Visa and Coca Cola,” says Charles Leski. “This is arguably ‘ground zero’ of Olympics
marketing.”
The Auction will be held at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn on Wednesday, June 25th at 6.30pm. The 1912
Olympics Poster is one of 471 lots of sporting and related memorabilia.
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.
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 
