A 16-Page, Single-Frame Exhibit

Synopsis

"Dressed To Win" identifies and traces the development of attire and other personal equipment worn by male gymnasts. In ancient Greece where gymnastics was born, the sport was performed naked. In more modern times, regulations governing the type of apparel to be worn in competition were codified. Over time – driven by cultural norms, the mechanics of the sport, commercialism and politics – men’s apparel evolved from the standard recreational clothing worn in the 18th and early 19th centuries, to the highly specialized form-fitting, but elastic, uniforms of today. To tell the story, a number of unusual, hard-to-find pieces of gymnastics philately are shown.

Exhibit Highlights

1909    Swiss Postal Stationery Card for the Fété Fédérale de Gymnastique: Extremely rare postal card from Switzerland, used to Belgium in June 1909.

1898    German IX Deutsche Turnfest PTPO Card: Rarely seen commercially mailed with matching Turnfest commemorative cancel during the event.

1936    German Olympic stamp booklet: Scarce “red stripe” variety printed with postage rates in English, French and Spanish for foreign Olympic visitors.

1931    Bulgarian Balkan Games: Series of 5 color proofs of the first stamp depicting gymnastics.

1939    Swedish Die Proof, Per Ling, 5 øre value: One of only 3-5 known copies.

1930    Belgian Postal Check Advertising Envelope: Rare used example; most such envelopes were disposed of by recipients.

1938    Sudetenland Provisional Cancel: Very early use of a seldom seen provisional cancel from Bad Schlag on 13 October 1938. Czech postal items, including the highly political 10th Sokol Games stamps, were only valid for use in German-occupied Sudetenland from 1-19 October.

1943    Norwegian Footwear Ration Application Card: Postal stationery used during WWII to apply for a permit to purchase shoes. Used cards (typically without postmarks) are exceedingly rare as they were usually disposed of after processing.

1944    Deutscher Turnerbund Feldpost Cover: Rare feldpost cover showing the Turnerbund's wartime ties to the National Socialists.

1980    Ivory Coast Miniature Sheet Error: Significant color and perforation error.

Bibliography

Goodbody, John. The Illustrated History of Gymnastics,1982.

Maestrone, Mark. “Sports-Related World War II Ration Application Postal Cards of Norway,” The Journal of Sports Philately, Vol. 32, #6 (July/August 1994), pp. 14-19.