Jim Thorpe

Sportsman2000 · #1 10-08-2019, 03:32 AM

I am a keen collector of 1912 Olympic memorablia icluding Jim Thorpe. I have a very nice book printed in 1912, in fact an extra copy if someone would be interested. I also have a booklet with Jim Thorpe.

Jobu · #2 04-07-2024, 10:33 AM

Hopefully ok to bump this thread once --- I sent two of the three items I posted in post 87 in 2019 to the current REA, along with another RPPC of Fred Broker.

https://bid.robertedwardauctions.com...?itemid=177691

https://bid.robertedwardauctions.com...?itemid=177685

https://bid.robertedwardauctions.com...?itemid=177686

cfhofer · #3 04-13-2024, 10:06 AM

Just received a signed copy of �Fabulous Redmen� by John Steckbeck which I purchased off Amazon without a picture. Was pleasantly surprised to see someone else scribbled their name too.

Mark

jefferyepayne · #4 04-14-2024, 07:29 AM

Very nice, Mark! Congrats.

jeff

Exhibitman · #5 04-18-2024, 08:18 AM

Gotta wonder how that came about. Not exactly two guys you associate with one another.

jefferyepayne · #6 04-18-2024, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Gotta wonder how that came about. Not exactly two guys you associate with one another.

Why?

jeff

cfhofer · #7 04-19-2024, 08:39 PM

Maybe a picture of the book cover will help�.

Roadrunner · #8 06-25-2025, 11:14 AM

Jim Thorpe's roommate aboard the Finlandia en route to the 1912 Olympics was John Oliver Johnstone, at the time the youngest athlete to participate in the Olympics (20 years old). I recently met with Johnstone's granddaughter, who said as the youngest of the group, he was the one who had to bunk with Thorpe. He was harassed by others on the ship for this, but developed what became a life long friendship with Thorpe and was an adamant supporter of reinstating his medals. I was told the bib in the image below was the one Johnstone wore for the Olympic high jump where he placed sixth. Comparing it to photos of bibs from the Olympics, however, I am doubtful this hand drawn number is the real deal. The program for the tryouts at Harvard runred41 posted above lists his number as 91, so it couldn't be the one worn for the trials either. Does anyone here think it's possible this could have been worn at the Olympics, or is it just family lore? I imagine if there is a program the bib numbers may be listed, and perhaps get me closer to a conclusion.

Brent G. · #9 06-25-2025, 04:21 PM

Does anybody know runred41 in this thread? Looks like he hasn't been on since last year. He's got some great stuff I'd like to talk to him about.

runred41 · #10 06-25-2025, 07:53 PM

I know runred41! Feel free to send me a message if you'd like.

Roadrunner · #11 06-26-2025, 07:38 AM

To correct the historical record as reported in my post above for those who are interested:

John Johnstone was not Jim Thorpe's cabin mate for the entire trip, if he was for any portion of it. Abel Kiviat, generally documented as being Thorpe's roommate, in a 1984 interview with the NY Times described Thorpe being assigned to a different stateroom after arriving. See the link here: https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/13/s...ne-regret.html

The important line being, "Thorpe was assigned to Kiviat's stateroom for two nights until: "Let's say he got very happy, and they moved him down the hall, away from young guys like us.""

Also, the contemporary claim that Johnstone was the youngest to compete in the Olympics to 1912 is again disproven by Abel Kiviat. Johnstone was born in January 1892 and Kiviat in June.

butcher354435 · #12 07-10-2025, 11:07 AM

Here's a card I've posted before but I was able to add an exciting piece a couple of years ago. What I believe is a Type 1 Brown Brothers photo that was used when creating the card. The card is from the Capital Candy & Cracker issue out of Sacramento, CA and based on the 1912 Olympics. To date, this is the only copy known to exist to the best of my knowledge. The set is very rare with an incomplete checklist and last time I did any research only 10-12 subjects have been check listed.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/201243...es-R70h3jKjRz/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/201243...es-R70h3jKjRz/

jefferyepayne · #13 07-20-2025, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butcher354435

Here's a card I've posted before but I was able to add an exciting piece a couple of years ago. What I believe is a Type 1 Brown Brothers photo that was made when creating the card. The card is from the Capital Candy & Cracker issue out of Sacramento, CA and based on the 1912 Olympics. To date, this is the only copy known to exist to the best of my knowledge. The set is very rare with an incomplete checklist and last time I did any research only 10-12 subjects have been check listed.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/201243...es-R70h3jKjRz/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/201243...es-R70h3jKjRz/

Very very cool Brent! As you know, I covet that Thorpe card, and this type 1 photo is also awesome.

jeff

Leon · #14 07-20-2025, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butcher354435

Here's a card I've posted before but I was able to add an exciting piece a couple of years ago. What I believe is a Type 1 Brown Brothers photo that was made when creating the card. The card is from the Capital Candy & Cracker issue out of Sacramento, CA and based on the 1912 Olympics. To date, this is the only copy known to exist to the best of my knowledge. The set is very rare with an incomplete checklist and last time I did any research only 10-12 subjects have been check listed.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/201243...es-R70h3jKjRz/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/201243...es-R70h3jKjRz/

Neat card, Brent. DO you remember when you gave me some toothpaste at the National, about 17? yrs ago? BTW, Capital Candy, also made this 1913 set...

Brent G. · #15 07-20-2025, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butcher354435

Here's a card I've posted before but I was able to add an exciting piece a couple of years ago. What I believe is a Type 1 Brown Brothers photo that was made when creating the card. The card is from the Capital Candy & Cracker issue out of Sacramento, CA and based on the 1912 Olympics. To date, this is the only copy known to exist to the best of my knowledge. The set is very rare with an incomplete checklist and last time I did any research only 10-12 subjects have been check listed.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/201243...es-R70h3jKjRz/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/201243...es-R70h3jKjRz/

My goodness � that�s amazing.

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