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Harold M. Abrahams - Athletics Archive image 1
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Lot 35*

Harold M. Abrahams - Athletics Archive

25 July 2012, 14:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £6,500 inc. premium

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Harold M. Abrahams - Athletics Archive

Comprising: Harold Abrahams' pigskin leather dressing case and collar bag, by Finnigans of Bond Street, the watered silk case interior containing two dress shirts, both gilt embossed on the exterior H.M.A. 15.12.23 (probably a present for Abrahams' 24th birthday, the year before the Paris Olympics), with a framed set of memorabilia, containing GB blazer badges for the 1920 & 1924 Games, a copy photograph of the finish of the 100 metres in Paris, a family photograph and three cards, also including a family photograph album covering the period 1917-1919, containing portraits and views, with a small number of sporting photos including Abrahams, David Burghley and Vic D'Arcy, fellow competitors; together with a small collection of Christmas cards, newspapers and magazines (small quantity)

Footnotes

Son of a Jewish immigrant from Poland, Abrahams (1899-1978) was educated at Bedford School and Repton College before going up to Cambridge in 1920. A keen sprinter and long jumper, he competed for the University and took part in the 1920 Olympiad, in the 100 and 200 metres as well as the 4 x 100 metres relay. Considered an outsider for the 1924 Games, he was taken under the wing of coach Sam Mussabini at the suggestion of fellow sprinter, Eric Liddell, and made outstanding progress, setting a new British long jump record before the Games which stood for 32 years. In the Olympiad at Paris Abrahams won the 100 metres in a time of 10.6 seconds, beating all the strongly fancied American contenders. He also gained a Silver Medal as part of the relay team. His exploits were later immortalised in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire.

Additional information

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