The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The record and sleeve below came with a bunch I bought some time ago. The interesting bit it that it advertises the 1940 olympic games, that never took place - it does not indicate the location, which was initially planned for Tokyo, then replaced with Helsinki and finally cancelled due to the outbreak of the WWII, but the stadium shown in the drawing is Helsinki's. The record bears no relation to anything olympic, but on the other hand I cannot tell if the sleeve was original to it.

Very nice Carlos. I have a few of these sleeves but unsurprisingly, they're pretty uncommon!

This cover turns up fairly regularly. Like King Edward VIII Coronation souvenirs, many were produced before the event was cancelled following his abdication.

epigramophone wrote:This cover turns up fairly regularly. Like King Edward VIII Coronation souvenirs, many were produced before the event was cancelled following his abdication.

Which period do you date them, Roger? 1938-39?

I think no later than 1938 or possibly early 1939.

Following the 1936 Berlin Olympics Japan was chosen to host the 1940 games, but several countries planned to boycott the event because Japan was at war in Asia.
The Japanese themselves cancelled the event because they decided that the games would be a distraction from their military goals.

Helsinki was then chosen to host the games, but when WW2 started they were abandoned.

epigramophone wrote:I think no later than 1938 or possibly early 1939.

Following the 1936 Berlin Olympics Japan was chosen to host the 1940 games, but several countries planned to boycott the event because Japan was at war in Asia.
The Japanese themselves cancelled the event because they decided that the games would be a distraction from their military goals.

Helsinki was then chosen to host the games, but when WW2 started they were abandoned.

Thanks, Roger. Coincidentally, 80 years later the Tokyo olympics was cancelled again, or for now postponed. Maybe in the future people will collect 2020 cancelled Tokyo olympics souvenirs.