Holiday Auction Closing December 3
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/4/2016
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Jim Thorpe (1887-1953) was the subject of a celebration at Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1933, an occasion commemorated by this fascinating and rare souvenir that was produced as a lapel decoration. The specific festivities held during the three-day event are thought to have been various sporting contests conducted at Carlisle Indian Industrial School. (Thorpe attended the institution during the early 1900's – playing football for Coach Glenn "Pop" Warner at the school – and he remained a favorite son of the community.) This splendid survivor consists of a 1-3/4"-diameter cello button suspended by a metal loop beneath an elaborate and wide, pinbacked brass bar. On the button's face, the extraordinary Olympian and star football player is depicted in a post-kick action photo, surrounded by the legend, "Jim Thorpe / Former Carlisle Athlete / Carlisle, Pa. / June 13-14-15, 1933." The 2-1/4"-long, horizontally oriented bar features a figural scene picturing a Native American in full head-dress rowing a canoe. On the side of his craft is an abbreviation of a fraternal lodge title, "Improved Order of Red Men." The button retains its bright white, backpaper insert identifying the item's manufacturer as prominent button-maker Whitehead & Hoag. This is a fragile and seldom-seen artifact, boasting essentially Mint preservation quality.
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