Deutsche Bundespost 100th Birth Anniversary of Chancellor Ludwig Erhard

DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST on 4th February 1997 issued a commemorative stamp to mark the 100th birth anniversary of former Federal Republic of Germany Chancellor Ludwig Erhard. This 100 Pf postage stamp showed a portrait of Ludwig Erhard and the iconic federal eagle. Shown here is a maxicard, first day cover cachet and folder with the postage stamp affixed to each item. Postmark cancellation originated from Bonn.

Ludwig Wilhelm Erhard was a German economist and politician. He was born on 4th February 1897 and died on May 5th, 1977. He was Federal Minister of Economics from 1949 to 1963 and was considered the father of the "German economic miracle". From 1963 to 1966 he was the second Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Établissements De L'Oceanie Tahitian Girl

ETABLISSEMENTS DE L'OCEANIE  (French Oceania - Polynesia) issued a series of twelve stamps from 1913 till 1930 depicting a "Tahitian Girl". The stamps ranged in denomination, colour (shades) and over-prints during these years. These bi-colour designs were among the first issues to feature local portraits/scenes. The engraver was M.L. Emasson.

French Oceania was a French colony formed in 1903 from several groups of South Pacific Polynesian islands. The islands included the Marquesas, the Tuamotu Archipelago and Gambier, and the Austral and Bass groupings. The most important group was the Society islands; and above all Tahiti with the Capital Papeete.

The French Oceania colony stamps began in 1892 with the familiar "Navigation and Commerce" issue. They were imprinted as "Établissements De L'Oceanie". French Oceania continued until 1946, when the Polynesians were granted French citizenship.

During WWII, stamps were issued by the Vichy regime between 1941 and 1944 – even though French Oceania had joined the Free French in 1940. As these were never put to use in French Oceania, only mint issues are cataloged. The Free French issued stamps for French Oceania from 1941. French Oceania also joined in a number of the ‘Grands Series', of the French colonies. The issues of French Oceania were superseded by the stamps of French Polynesia in 1958. Then the islands status became an overseas territory, and the name was changed to Polynésie Française.

Source: Stamp World History

USPS Broadway Songwriters

USPS on 21 September 1999 issued a series of six stamps entitled "Broadway Songwriters". The stamps featured George and Ira Gershwin, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, Meredith Willson and Frank Loesser. The cancellation postmark for first day cover originated from New York, NY. A total of 6,375,000 stamps were printed by Sterling Sommer for Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd, using a lithographed method with 11 perforations. Shown here are four used stamps from this series.

Lorenz Hart (1895-1943) created the lyrics to some of the greatest popular songs. He became famous for the songs that he and Richard Rodgers wrote for musical comedies. Their 25-year partnership produced over 1,000 songs, including “With a Song in My Heart,” “The Lady is a Tramp,” and “My Funny Valentine.” Hart worked as a German translator while attending Columbia University in New York City. At the age of 23, Hart met Rodgers, who was 16. They began writing and composing numbers immediately. “The Garrick Gaieties” (1925) was their first successful Broadway musical. Other works by Hart and Rodgers are “Peggy Ann” (1926) and “A Connecticut Yankee” (1927). In the early 1930s, Hart and Rodgers were drawn to Hollywood, where they composed songs for motion pictures. They returned to Broadway in 1935, and continued to write musicals. A few of their works from this time are “The Boys From Syracuse” (1938) and “Pal Joey” (1940), which was perhaps their biggest hit. Throughout their professional relationship, Rodgers remained a reserved and disciplined worker, while Hart was the gifted amateur. The last show Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers created together was “By Jupiter” (1942), which added to the duo’s long list of musical hits.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II created productions that took musical theater to new levels. Rodgers (1902-1979) began composing songs as a youth. A few of his numbers appeared on Broadway when he was just a teenager. In 1918, Rodgers partnership with Lorenz Hart ended in 1943 with Hart's death. Oscar Hammerstein (1895-1960) studied law at Columbia University before his career in the theatre.  He wrote many musical dramas for stage, television, and film before becoming Rodger’s partner in 1943. The first product of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s relationship was “Oklahoma!” (1943). The musical was a huge hit and ran on Broadway for over 2,000 performances. It won a Pulitzer Prize in 1944. The duo won a second Pulitzer in 1950 for “South Pacific.” Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 17-year relationship produced such songs as “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” “The Surrey With the Fringe on Top,” and “Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’.” Their three other successful musicals were “Carousel” (1945), “The King and I” (1951), and “The Sound of Music” (1959), which was their last show.

Meredith Willson (1902-1984) distinguished himself as a writer of symphonic works and popular songs. He earned lasting fame for his series of Broadway hits, especially “The Music Man” (1957). The idea for the show began in 1949, when he was reminiscing with friends about his childhood years in Mason City, Iowa. Willson proved to be a talented musician at a young age. Early in his life he studied the piano, piccolo, and flute. He attended the Institute of Musical Art (later called the Juilliard School of Music) in New York City, and was a flutist in John Philip Sousa’s band. He also played with the New York Philharmonic, and worked at the National Broadcasting Company. “The Music Man” is Willson’s most famous musical. The story centers around an unscrupulous con man named Harold Hill, who tries to sell non-existent musical instruments to the citizens of River City, Iowa. But he ends up falling in love with the town librarian. After it opened on Broadway in 1957, “The Music Man” ran for a marathon 1,375 performances. Willson’s award-winning score includes the songs “Seventy-six Trombones,” “Trouble,” and “Till There Was You,” which was a hit for the Beatles in 1963. Willson also wrote the musical “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” (1960).

Frank Loesser (1910-1969) was one of Broadway’s best composers, lyricists, and producers. Born in New York City, Loesser left college in 1926 and took a variety of odd jobs, including newspaper reporter. He also wrote sketches and lyrics for vaudeville acts. Loesser was a singer at a New York City nightclub in the early 1930s. A few of his songs were included in the revue “The Illustrator’s Show” (1936). This earned Loesser a contract with Universal Pictures. He later joined Paramount, and spent 11 years in Hollywood.  While serving with the Army during World War II, Loesser had a hit with the song “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition.” After he returned home, Loesser wrote the music and lyrics for “Where’s Charley?” which opened in 1948 and ran for nearly 800 performances. The lyricist’s next undertaking was based on the short story “The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown.” The title of the musical became “Guys and Dolls” (1950). Ranked as one of the finest in history, the musical was performed over 1,200 times in its original run on Broadway. Loesser’s successful musical career culminated with his blockbusting satire, “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” (1961). He received the Pulitzer Prize in 1962 for the show.

Source: Mystic Stamps

Schleswig Plebiscite 1920

SCHLESWIG PLEBISCITE  was actually two referendums, organised according to the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, with the purpose of determining the future border between Germany and Denmark. The referendums were monitored by representatives from France, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Sweden.

Schleswig, located at the southern end of the Jutland Peninsula, had originally been a Danish province. Following the War of Schleswig in 1864, the territory was awarded to the Kingdom of Prussia by the Treaty of Vienna. It eventually became part of the Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein. In 1871, Schleswig-Holstein became part of the newly founded German Empire.

After World War I, the Danish, who were neutral during the war, divided the province into three zones, in which separate referendums would be held.

Zone I - encompassed the northern and largest part of Schleswig. Zone I was about 75% ethnic Danish and 25% ethnic Germans, but some towns in the zone did have majority ethnic German populations. The referendum for Zone I was held on 10 February 1920, and it voted to become part of Denmark, which now is  the Danish Province of South Jutland.

Zone II - was formed from the central part of the province. Zone II was about 80% ethnic German and 20% ethnic Danish. The referendum for Zone II was held on 14 March 1920, and it voted to remain part of Germany. The stamps shown here were postmarked 14 March 1920 and originated from Flensburg.

Zone III - was the southernmost part of the province, and it was almost entirely ethnic German. No referendum was held in Zone III, as the outcome was obvious.

Through these referendums, Denmark was able to reclaim a substantial portion of the province that they had lost to Prussia in 1864. The outcome of the referendums was peaceful, and the border between Denmark and Germany that was established in 1920 remains to this day.

Fourteen stamps were issued in January 1920 to publicise the upcoming Schleswig plebiscites. The stamps depict the Arms of Schleswig on the lower denominations and a pastoral scene on the higher denominations. The legends are in Danish, consisting of "PLEBISCIT" and "SLESVIG", but the stamps are denominated in German Pfennig and Marks.

In May 1920, after the conclusion of the two plebiscites, an identical set of stamps was issued for use in the now Danish Zone I. They were overprinted "1. ZONE" and the stamps were now denominated in Danish Øre and Kroner.

These stamps were valid for use through the end of June 1920, when the stamps of Zone I were replaced by those of Denmark, and the stamps of the other two zones were replaced by those of Germany.

Polynesie Francaise Poste 1983 Bangkok Philatelic Exhibition

POLYNESIE FRANCAISE POSTE on 4 August 1983 issued a first day cover stamp to mark the 1983 Bangkok Philatelic Exhibition. Both the stamp and cachet depicted Polynesian and Thai dancers in traditional attire as well as cultural landmarks.   This multicoloured stamp was priinted using an Offset lithography method. Face value of the postage was 110 F - CFP franc.

Polynesie Francaise Poste SYDPEX 1980 & "Young Girl of Bora Bora" 1955

POLYNESIE FRANCAISE POSTE on 29 September 1980 issued a first day cover stamp to mark their participation in the SYDPEX 80. The Australian National Philatelic Exhibition was held at the Sydney Town Hall from 29 September till 6 October 1980. The French Polynesian stamp depicts the Sydney Town Hall and the 1955 French Polynesia stamp of a woman from Bora-Bora. Cancellation postmark originated in Papeete, Tahiti. 

After WWII, the road of tourism opened and the film industry took hold of the wonderful beaches and of the island of Bora-Bora's breathtaking lagoon. People came from the four corners of the world to shoot a documentary or a film sequence.

A young girl named Tumata Teutau appeared in a documentary by Landry, the brother-in-law of the French Overseas Ministry of the time. Like many young girls of Bora Bora, she was part of a dance group which kept winning prizes at the July Festival in Tahiti and in which Tumata particularly stood out.

In 1955, she was a model for photographer Adolphe Sylvain but it was a photograph extracted from Landry’s film that called the attention of engraver Pierre Gandon, who exquisitely drew the famous “Young Girl of Bora Bora”, a stamp (shown here) which received the Philatelic Art Grand Prize in 1955 was first issued on 1 October 1955.

Allied Commission Plebiscite for Marienwerder District 1920

COMMISSION / INTERALLIEE (Allied Commission) after WWI designated a plebiscite be held in the Marienwerder District  on 11 July 1920.

Between March and May of 1920, a series of fourteen postage stamps, ranging in denominations from 5 Pf. through 5 Mk., was issued to publicise the upcoming referendum. Four of those stamps are shown here:

10 Pf. - Red
15 Pf. - Green
40 Pf. - Taupe
50 Pf. - Violet

"COMMISSION / INTERALLIEE", or "Allied Commission" is inscribed at the top and "MARIENWERDER" at the bottom. The designs featured an allegorical figure representing the Allied Commission, flanked by the flags of the Allied nations.

In July 1920, the fourteen values of the Allied Commission definitive set were again issued. These stamps were identical to the previous issue, except that the inscriptions now read "PLEBISCITE" at the top and "MARIENWERDER / KWIDZYN" at the bottom. Four examples are displayed here.
30 Pf. - Yellow
75 Pf. - Light Brown
2 Mk. -  Brown
5 Mk. - Ultramarine and Rose

The name 'Marienwerder', in German, literally means 'Mary's Little Island'. The town was founded in the 14th Century by Teutonic Knights and was used as the seat of the Bishops of Pomerania within Prussia.

Following World War I, the Marienwerder District, southeast of Danzig, was disputed between the new Second Republic of Poland and the German Weimar Republic. Marienwerder was the capital of the district, which also included the urban districts of Graudenz (Grudziądz) and Thorn (Toruń) before 1920. Rural districts in the region included Briesen, Kulm, Deutsch-Krone, Flatow, Graudenz, Konitz, Löbau, Rosenberg, Schlochau (Człuchów), Schwetz, Strasburg, Stuhm, Thorn, and Tuchel.

From the 1700's, the Marienwerder District had been part of the German Imperial Province of West Prussia. Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, the greater portion of West Prussia was ceded to Poland. However, due to the overwhelmingly large ethnic German population in the Marienwerder District, the area was allowed to have a plebiscite.

In the plebiscite, more than 93% of the electorate voted to join Germany, and as a result, the Marienwerder District became part of the Weimar Republic.

After WWII, the territory reverted to Poland. The entire German population was relocated and Poles in the Soviet Union were settled here.

Freistadt Danzig - Second Overprints 1920

FREISTADT DANZIG (Free City of Danzig) in 1920 issued several stamps. The year 1920 was a banner-year for the new City / State of Danzig, with nearly every conceivable denomination of Weimar Republic postage stamps being overprinted and / or surcharged in varying styles.

In August 1920, a new style overprint was introduced by the Freistadt Danzig. This very attractive overprint, in carmine or blue, featured the word "Danzig", diagonally oriented in script lettering, with a colored bar below, obscuring the inscription "Deutsches Reich". 

The Michel catalog presents these new overprints in three groups. The stamps in the first (and second - 40 Pf) groups, are as follows:

    05 Pf.  (1920 - Mi. #21, Sc. #34) - Green.
    15 Pf.  (1920 - Mi. #22, Sc. #37) - Dark Violet.
    20 Pf.  (1920 - Mi. #23, Sc. #38) - Blue Violet.
    25 Pf.  (1920 - Mi. #24, Sc. #39) - Orange & Black on Yellow.
    40 Pf.  (1920 - Mi. #38, Sc. #42) - Lake & Black.
    75 Pf.  (1920 - Mi. #25, Sc. #45) - Green & Black.

Reichpost Bismarck Postcard of Schloss Friedrichsruh and 5 Pfennig Stamp

REICHPOST (Imperial Germany) issued a 5 pfennig stamp in 1889 like the one this postcard of Schloss (Palace) Friedrichsruh, Friedrichsruh (Aumühle), in Schleswig-Holstein 1898, the home of Prince Otto von Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg. The cancellation postmark originated from Friedrichsruh, Schleswig-Holstein, dated 16 March 1899.  An estimated 10,000 postcards were printed in Germany -- one year after Bismarck's death.

 

Prince Otto von Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg (1 April 1815 - 30 July 1898) was a German statesman and diplomat. From his origins in the upper class of Junker landowners, Bismarck rose rapidly in Prussian politics, and from 1862 to 1890 he was the minister president and foreign minister of Prussia.

Before Bismarck's rise to the executive level, he was the Prussian ambassador to Russia and France and served in both houses of the Prussian Parliament. He masterminded the unification of Germany in 1871 and served as the first Chancellor of the German Empire until 1890, in which capacity he dominated European affairs. He had served as the chancellor of the North German Confederation from 1867 to 1871, alongside his responsibilities in the Kingdom of Prussia. He cooperated with King Wilhelm I of Prussia to unify the various German states, a partnership that would last for the rest of Wilhelm's life. The King granted Bismarck the titles of Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen in 1865 and Prince of Bismarck in 1871.
 

Bismarck provoked three short, decisive wars against Denmark, Austria, and France. Following the victory against Austria, he abolished the supranational German Confederation and instead formed the North German Confederation as the first German national state, aligning the smaller North German states behind Prussia, while excluding Austria. Receiving the support of the independent South German states in the Confederation's defeat of France, he formed the German Empire – which also excluded Austria – and united Germany.

Most historians agree that Bismarck was undoubtedly a man of great skill but who left no lasting system in place to guide successors less skilled than himself. Being a committed monarchist himself, Bismarck allowed no effective constitutional check on the power of the Emperor, thus placing a time bomb in the foundation of the Germany that he created.


Source: Wikipedia

Deutsches Reich 25th Anniversary of Kaiser Wilhelm II

DEUTSCHES REICH in 1913 issued postcards marking the 25th anniversary of Wilhelm II as Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia. This particular postcard bears a 10 pfennig denomination without cancellation.

 

Wilhelm II or Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert (1859 – 1941) was the last German Emperor (Kaiser). He reigned from 15 June 1888 until his abdication on 9 November 1918 shortly before Germany's defeat in World War I.

 For most of his life before becoming emperor, he was second in line to succeed his grandfather Wilhelm I on the German and Prussian thrones after his father, Crown Prince Frederick. His grandfather and father both died in 1888, the 'Year of Three Emperors', making Wilhelm emperor and king. A few years later, in 1890, he dismissed the country's longtime Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck.

Upon consolidating power as emperor, Wilhelm launched Germany on a bellicose 'New Course' to cement its status as a world power. However, he frequently undermined this aim by making tactless, alarming public statements without consulting his ministers. He also did much to alienate his country from the other Great Powers (most notably Britain and France) by initiating a massive build-up of the German Navy, challenging French control over Morocco, and backing the Austrian annexation of Bosnia in 1908. His turbulent reign ultimately culminated in his guarantee of military support to Austria-Hungary during the crisis of July 1914, resulting in the outbreak of World War I.

A lax wartime leader, he left virtually all decision-making regarding military strategy and organisation of the war effort in the hands of the German General Staff. This broad delegation of authority gave rise to a de facto military dictatorship whose belligerent foreign policy led to the United States' entry into the war on 6 April 1917. After losing the support of the German military and his subjects in November 1918, Wilhelm abdicated and fled to the Netherlands, where he died in 1941.

Deutsche Post 50th Anniversary of the Kieler Matrosenaufstand

DEUTSCHE POST of Demokratisch Republik (DDR) on 5 September 1967 issued three stamps commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Kieler Matrosenaufstand (The Kiel Mutiny or The Revolutionary Sailors Movement). The three stamps depicted  the WWI battleship Prinzregent Luitpold  with the leaders of the revolt, Albin Köbis and Max Reichpietsch, as well as a group of sailors, soldiers and civilians in another stamp.

In the summer of 1917, Max Reichpietsch and Albin Köbis  (crewmen of the dreadnought Prinzregent Luitpold) became  the leaders of a movement of 350  sailors from the German Imperial Fleet, whose complaints about food and other conditions soon developed into agitation against the war. On 26 August 1917, they were arrested, court-martialed by death for being the "main ringleaders" for the  "complete uprising"   along with accomplices Sachse, Weber and Beckers.

Max Reichpietsch had previously received a total of fourteen disciplinary and court-martial terms for various offenses including lateness, absenteeism, disobedience and theft. The death sentence imposed on him was one of 150 during the entire war in the German Reich, of which only 48 were carried out.

The death sentences imposed on Sachse, Weber and Beckers were eventually commuted to prison terms of 15 years each. On 5 September 5, 1917, the death sentences against Max Reichpietsch and Albin Köbis were carried out at the Wahn shooting range near Cologne. Today the Wahn Air Force barracks are located there

These executions were denounced as naval judicial murders by Marxist politicians and newspapers, and helped trigger the Naval Mutinies of 1918, which led to the German Revolution of 1918–1919. This event made Köbis and Reichpietsch heroes of the German socialist movement, hence the DDR commemorative stamps.

Ultimately the revolt  triggered the 1918 German revolution, sweeping aside the monarchy of Kaiser Wilhelm II and the Kingdom of Bavaria within a few days. This led to the end of the German Empire and to the establishment of the Weimar Republic.  

Since this incident a number of streets in Germany, books and films have been dedicated to them. Even German military barracks were named after them.

Source: Wikipedia

Bayern Post of Peacetime Printings of King Ludwig III

BAYERN POST issued in 1914 a series of stamps dedicated to the Prince Regent Ludwig of Bavaria, son of former Prince Regent Luitpold, who deposed the ailing  King Otto I of Bavaria in November 1913 and declared himself King Ludwig III.

In March of 1914 this series of definitive postage stamps featured a  portrait of King Ludwig III ( the last king of Bavaria). The Pfennig denominations were all perforated 14 x 14 1/2, and the Mark denominations were all perforated 11 1/2. All the stamps were printed on paper with the horizontal wavy lines close together watermark.

The first issues of the Ludwig III definitive stamps were called the  Peacetime Printings. This first printing included sixteen stamps, ranging from the 3 Pf. denomination through the 20 Mk. denomination   Most of the Pfennig denominations of the Peacetime Printings are shown here

The colours on these Peacetime Printings are bright and the impressions are clear. They were produced and used from the end of March 1914 through the end of 1915, though remaining stocks of them were probably used beyond that date. The Scott Classic Catalog suggests collecting these 'used', with cancellations dated before the end of December 1915, which is a good idea, as the Mark denominations of the Peacetime Printings, in 'used' condition, are very expensive.

Shown here are cancellation postmarks originating from Munich, dated 1 April 1914, although the registered sticker states March. So, these would have been amongst the earliest stamps released.

Deutsches Reichpost Nothilfe German Regional Costumes

 

DEUTSCHES REICHPOST on 4 October 1935 issued a set of ten "Nothilfe" semi-postal stamps.  The surtax amount on the stamps went to charitable organisations. The theme of these stamps was "German Regional Costumes", and, by denomination, from lowest to highest, they depict women in regional styles of dress for East Prussia, Silesia, Rhineland, Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Black Forest, Hesse, Upper Bavaria, Friesland, and Franconia. These stamps were based on photographs by H. Retzlaff. 

Shown here is a se-tent strip of Rhineland and Lower Saxony women in traditional 'trachten'.

US Summer & Winter Olympic Games of 1932

UNITED STATES POSTAL DEPARTMENT on 15 June 1932 released two first day cover stamps to mark the X Summer Olympic Games which were held in Los Angeles. A runner (in violet colour) and classical Greek sculpture called Discobolus (in blue colour) was depicted on individual stamps. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing used a Rotary Press to print 168,885,300 stamps of the 'runner' and 52,376,100 stamps of the 'discus thrower'. Perforations measured 11 X 10½. Cancellation postmark originated from Los Angeles, California. The cachet on each envelope dates from 1932 and is unique to these games as well. 

The release date was delayed because the first class rate was scheduled to be changed. The increase to 3¢ was signed into law on 6 June 1932, and it was issued the following week. There was large demand for this stamp, so they were on sale for just a short time.
 

The Games of the X Olympiad opened on 30 Jul 1932. Los Angeles was the only city to submit a bid to host the 1932 Olympics, so they were selected by default in 1923.  The start of the Great Depression in 1929 led to many cost-saving measures.  Most of the facilities used during the games were existing structures, with the Swimming Stadium being the only new construction.

The opening ceremony was the largest of any Olympics up to that time. Due to the Great Depression, many countries could not afford to send athletes to the games, but a total of 37 countries did participate.  A total of 1,332 athletes competed in 117 events. The United States dominated the events and won a total of 103 medals. Italy placed second with 36, followed by Finland with 25 medals.

Interestingly, the 1932 Summer Games were the only time Japan won a gold medal in the equestrian show jumping individual event. Takeichi Nishi – now known to history as Baron Nishi – was the gold medalist with his horse Uranus. Nishi died in 1945 as an officer defending the island of Iwo Jima and is the main character in the Clint Eastwood film, Letters from Iwo Jima.

The organising committee of the games didn’t keep accurate financial records, but newspapers from the time claimed the games made a profit of US$1 million.

 

 

1932 Winter Games 

The 1932 Winter Games were held earlier in the year, from 4 to 13 February 1932. These games, the third Winter Olympiad, took place in Lake Placid, New York. A 2 cent rose coloured stamp of a ski jumper was issued. A total of 51,102,800 stamps were printed and first day covers bore the cancellation postmark from Lake Placid, New York and Washington, D.C.

Postal officials were soon embarrassed to learn the stamp design contained an error. Ski jumpers don’t use poles, but the athlete pictured on the stamp is clearly grasping a pair as he flies mid-air. Additionally, this particular stamp contains a printing error -- the illustration is offset to the right so that the perforation cuts into the margin.

Again, due to the Depression, there was a relatively small turnout.  Just 17 nations participated in the games, with a total of 252 athletes (231 men and 21 women).  They competed in 14 events in four sports.  One of the highlights of the games was Eddie Eagan winning a gold medal as a member of the four-man bobsled team. Eagan had previously won a medal in the 1920 Antwerp Olympics as a light-heavyweight boxer. Eagan remains the only person in Olympic history to win gold medals in both Summer and Winter sports.

The US team won a total medal count of 12, with six of those being gold.  The games closed on 15 February, with New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker presiding.  While the games weren’t financially successful, they did show the world that the US could put on the Winter Olympics just as well as European nations.  The US would hold the Winter Olympics three more times.

HERE is a silent film showing try he highlights of the 1932 Winter Olympics.

Source: Mystic Stamps