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Atlanta, 1996 Olympics, opening ceremony
Larger (6-3/4″ x 4-5/8″) card mailed from Atlanta in 1996 with 50-cent stamp and mostly readable postmark. Normal postal bumps, nothing major. Grade: 2
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Munich, 1972, Deutsche Welle QSL
It’s a postcard, but on very thin paper stock, and would not have well survived the postal system so it was mailed in an envelope. If you don’t know the term, a QSL card is a verification from a radio station to a listener who claims to have heard the transmission. Reception details are written in. Recall that this was a star-crossed year for the Olympics. Grade: 1
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Innsbruck, Olympic Stadium views
Note that we’re saying these are views of the 1976 venues and not the actual games–sort of. Card was mailed in 1987, with two stamps and full Innsbruck postmark. Grade: 1
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Los Angeles, 1984 Olympics, Anaheim Convention Center
And the connection is that the Convention Center was the site for wrestling events. Unused card. Grade: 1
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Los Angeles, 1984 Olympics, cycling
Unused, official card from the XXIIIrd (sic) Olympiad. Grade: 1
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Los Angeles, 1984 Olympics, skyline
The L.A. skyline at sunset on this official Olympics-sanctioned card. Unused. Grade: 1
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Vancouver, skyline and Olympics logo
From 2010, this officially licensed XXI Winter (Olympic) Games card was mailed with a C$1.70 stamp and has full postmark. Grade: 1
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Visa Moving Images Competition (Singapore)
Unused 2007 card promotes a photography contest and a chance to win a trip to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Too late. Grade: 1
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Torch relay of Beijing 2008 Olympics (PRC)
An extraordinary card on several levels: the message, the condition, the three large stamps (one of them being an Olympics stamp), the three fully legible postmarks, and the unique subject. The price could be much higher. Grade: 1
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Los Angeles, 1984 Olympics, skyline
Unused official card under license from the Olympic Organizing Committee. Reverse is stained on the upper right corner. Grade: 3
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Paavo Nurmi, Olympic Stadium, Helsinki (Finland)
Everything you would ever want to see of Helsinki, and–believe it or not–every one of these photos is explained in three languages in the caption on the reverse. Mailed in 2011, the stamp and Priority label are there, but no postmark at all. Grade: 4
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Beijing 2008 Olympics pre-issue Maximum Card set (folio)
Four of these sets, issued in 2007, are available. In their case, each set measures 5-5/8″ x 8-1/4″ (the cards are not this big) and each case is made so that it can sit upright on a table, like a picture in a frame. Each set contains six different cards, similar to what you see here. They are “Maximum Cards” because the affixed stamps represent the same sport as the card they are on, even if the artwork is different. Unused and in exactly the same condition and wrapping as received from China Post. Official Olympics logo on a sticker on the back of each case. Remarkable postcards. Grades: 1
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Closing Ceremony of 1988 Seoul Olympics
Two cards are available, both mailed from Seoul in 1989. One has one stamp and partial postmarks, minor postal battering (Grade: 2, $14). The other has two different stamps and faintly visible postmark (Grade: 1, $18).
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Hotel Lotte, Posuk-Jung (Seoul, South Korea)
Mailed in 1989, this card shows the “Colorful display of traditional Korean dance … adding to the memories of ’88.” “BRING HOME THE GOLD!” We assume this refers to the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Of note, the cable address printed at the bottom of the card is “HOTELOTEE” and we wonder whether they meant to spell it that way. Stamp is here, but no legible postmark. Grade: 2
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Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta (Georgia, USA)
This entry in the popular series was mailed from Wisconsin (not Georgia) in 2012, with four different stamps (two of them uncancelled, readable postmark on the others), and postal barcoding at the bottom. Yes, this is the place of the bombing on 27th July 1996. Grade: 1
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Sydney 2000 Paralympics (Australia) (Maximum Card)
On the front: as you see in the scan, more or less Maximum Card design with official postmark at time of issue (2000) and then more in 2012 when the card was mailed. On the back: pre-printed pre-paid Australia worldwide postage, and address label taped on. Grade: 4
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Sochi Olympics 2014 – ski (Russia)
Four of these are available. One was mailed in 2012 with two very large stamps and full, large Ekaterinburg postmark. The writing extends on to the stamps, though (Grade: 3, $3). Two were mailed in 2013, each with stamp and postmark. One of them has a blurred purple airmail chop (Grade: 1, $4) and the other has a smaller stamp with no extra chop (Grade: 1, $3). Finally, one more was mailed in 2014, with one large stamp adjoining the B&W pre-printed postage; also a full Moscow postmark (Grade: 1, $4).
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2012 London Olympics (Australia Maximum Card)
On the front, a maximum card with clear postmark, nearly matching stamp, and two rows of orange postal barcoding. On the reverse, “Postage pre-paid Australia for posting in Australia and delivery worldwide,” postmarked. Grade: 3
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Little Expert of London 2012 (PR China) (set)
We often refer to “innovative products from China Post,” and this is one of them. We almost need a YouTube video to describe it. First, it’s “IOC Authorized Product of London 2012” Olympics. Now, as you see the photo, imagine lifting up the string and unfolding the red cover to reveal four attached postcard cartoon-type drawings of London landmarks, each with a PRC stamp affixed. Then there is a page of four extra stickers that children “should be guided by adults” to place on the cards; and, finally, one more page with a mint British stamp. Definitely one of a kind. Unused. Grade: 1
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Olympic Games (book of cards) (PR China)
The photo you see is a softcover book of 27 postage-preprinted cards, each one representing a different Summer Olympic Games, beginning with Athens in 1896 and ending with London in 2012. Each card is attached to a perforated stub giving details of the opening and closing dates, and host country. The photos on the cards are typical scenes of the country, not sporting events. Covering all this is a white cardboard sleeve/container with light gold printing–that doesn’t scan well at all. Unused. Grade: 1
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Beijing, National Aquatics Center
Very nice card issued by China’s State Postal Bureau. The pre-printed (Beijing 2008 Olympics) postage of this Olympics arena has been supplemented by an additional, real Olympics stamp. So this card is 2008 Olympics all the way, mailed in 2012 however. Grade: 1
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London Olympics 2012 – Fencing
Mailed in 2012, but despite four different stamps (including one of Olympics Fencing), the only proof of mailing is the orange postal barcoding. Address label affixed. Grade: 3
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Vancouver 2010 Olympics, ski slopes (Canada)
Issued and pre-printed postage paid by Canada Post “For mailing in Canada and delivery worldwide,” along with the part of the pre-printed postmark you can see in the scan. This 4-5/8″ x 6-3/4″ card has no conventional postmark, as it was mailed from the USA, but it has written message and address. Grade: 4
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Vancouver, Richmond Olympic Oval
Not postally used and would be “mint” except that it has a number written on the back. Grade: 3
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Olympic Stadium, Helsinki
Mailed in 2012 with three different stamps, postmark, and Priority label. Grade: 1
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London 2012 Olympics Cyclist and London Eye
A postcard covering several specialised topics, this was mailed just after the Olympics, with four stamps, blurred postmark, orange postal barcoding, and a blue bilingual By Air Mail sticker affixed. Grade: 2
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National Aquatic Center, Beijing
The water sports stadium built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics on a card mailed from Beijing in 2012 with stamp, full postmark, and red “Par Avion” chops. Captioned in seven languages, this is about as good an example of contemporary Chinese postcards as you can find. Grade: 1
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London 2012 Olympics
Official card with hologram seal, mailed in 2012 with stamp and blue By Air Mail sticker along with postmark. Grade: 1
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Pierre Leuders on bobsled (Canada)
Official card issued by Canada Post on 16th January 2012 and mailed from Canada (pre-printed stamp) with full postmark and blue Air Mail sticker in December of the same year. If you collect Olympics postcards, this is a nice, recent one. Grade: 1
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Melody of the Olympic Sports – cover (PR China) (not postcards)
Please note carefully: these are stamp cards, not postcards. The cover measures about 8-3/4″ x 11-5/8″ and the four cards themselves (see 37100030B) just slightly smaller. The cards represent Basketball, Fencing, Sailing, and Artistic Gymnastics. About half of the reverse of each card (which, you’ll see, are designed as Maximum Cards) is taken up with captions in Chinese and English about the history of this 2006 stamp issue, and of the individual sport. You may also see two small parallel red lines on the top part of the cover. That is the original price sticker with the RMB price deleted. We don’t want to disturb the cover by trying to remove the sticker, but you might. Hard to grade, but to be safe we will call these Grade: 2.
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Vancouver 2010 Olympics, MIGA Mascot, Whistler (Canada)
Not postally mailed, but with a message nearly filling the reverse. Grade: 4
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Athlete Heart – The Best of Us
An official International Olympic Committee postcard, thanking (and listing) its sponsors. Mailed from Ukraine with a “Europa” stamp and postmark, in 2013. Minor abrasions all around. Grade: 2
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Vancouver, Richmond Olympic Oval (Canada)
Mailed in 2013, the card has its stamp, blue Airmail label, large long postmark, and address label taped. Grade: 4
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Your contribution makes the Olympic Games possible.
Though this is the ultimate advertising postcard, it is also an official Olympics card entry, mailed from Wales in 2013 with two stamps, postmark, orange postal barcoding, and blue Post Awyr label affixed. Colourful, if just a bit flimsy. Grade: 2
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London 2012 Paralympic Games
Mailed in 2013 with five different stamps, postmark, Air Mail label, orange postal barcoding, and address label affixed. Grade: 4
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Beibei, 2008 Olympics Mascot (PR China)
As originally issued by China’s State Postal Bureau, this card has pre-printed Olympics postage, then two more real stamps added for mailing in 2013. Two postmarks also. This must have been some kind of lottery card, as it also has a serial number. The front art is printed with a motion effect: not 3D, but a sort of holographic rotating stars. Grade: 1
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Laoshan Velodrome (PR China)
Stadium used during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, on a card mailed from Beijing in 2013 with pre-printed Olympics stamp, extra “real” stamp, and postmark. There’s also a tiny Olympics logo printed on the back of the card. Grade: 1
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National Stadium and National Aquatics Centre (PR China)
Two Olympic stadiums in one 2009 lottery card, mailed however in 2013 with one pre-printed and one “real” stamp and multiple postmark and other “chop” and mailing marks. Issued by China’s State Postal Bureau. Some corner creasing during transit. Grade: 2
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16th Asian Games, Guangzhou 2010 (series of 42 – cards #25-28)
For a full explanation of this entire series, which is not primarily about the Olympic Games, see our entry 20307529 and subsequent. One of the 42 cards (Card C, in this scan) is about the Olympics, though. Unused. Grade: 1