An extremely rare official's medal for the Anthropology Days of the 1904 Olympic Games in St Louis, in bronze, stamped Dieges & Clust, N.Y., the obver

An extremely rare official's medal for the Anthropology Days of the 1904 Olympic Games in St Louis, in bronze, stamped Dieges & Clust, N.Y., the obverse inscribed 1904, ST LOUIS, UNIVERSAL EXPOSITION, ST LOUIS USA, 1904, suspended from blue ribbon inscribed ANTHROPOLOGY DAY, AUG 11TH, terminating with a bronze brooch fitting inscribed OFFICIAL, ribbon detached from medal The 1904 Olympic Games were held in conjunction with the St Louis World Fair. Representatives of what the official report refers to as ''savage tribes'' were brought to the Fair and lived in compounds similar to those in their homelands. Included were the native peoples of Patagonia, Turkey, Africa (Kaffir, Bacuba, Pygmies, American Indians (Sioux), the Philippines (Moros, Igarot), Mexico (Cocopa), Syria and Japan (Ainu). At the time this concept was thought to be enlightening and even scientific in nature, but now shows itself as being perhaps the most embarrassing episode in Olympic history. Because of stereotypical beliefs, startling rumours and hearsay about the speed, stamina, strength and natural athleticism of the native tribes housed at the Fair, it was decided to inaugurate a two day athletic programme for them. Thus, the 1904 Olympic Games Anthropology Days were born. 18 events were contested, seven running, six throwing, two jumping, archery, tug-of-war, and pole climbing. The natives were only given minimal practice time and instruction in the finer points of the various disciplines and consequently the performances were inevitably disappointing. The official report expresses its dissatisfaction with the competitor's inferior efforts in no uncertain terms and with no apparent context of the lack of tuition. The official report notes that two individuals were appointed as Anthropology Day officials - Luther H. Gulick of New York and Martin Delaney of St Louis. An identical medal to the present example is in the collection of the Missouri Historical Society and it is their belief that it was the medal presented to Delaney. It is therefore believed that the medal being sold here is the only other example, the one issued to New Yorker Luther H. Gulick. With the other medal being in a museum collection, it is highly likely therefore that this will be the only opportunity to acquire a medal relating to an unfortunate episode of Olympic history.