A very rare bearer's torch for the first ever relay at a Winter Olympic Games in Oslo, 1952, maker's mark of Adolf Thoresen, Oslo, stamped to the unde

A very rare bearer's torch for the first ever relay at a Winter Olympic Games in Oslo, 1952, maker's mark of Adolf Thoresen, Oslo, stamped to the underside of the base, the design mindful to cope with any weather condition that the relay team would face, the cylindrical handle surmounted by a large, shallow oval collar, engraved with Olympic rings, the year, and an arrow pointing from the start and end points of the relay, Morgedal and Oslo, 23cm., 9in. high, 32cm., 12 1/2in. wide the design was mindful to cope with any weather condition that the relay team would face, the cylindrical handle surmounted by a large, shallow oval collar, engraved with Olympic rings, the year, and an arrow pointing from the start and end points of the relay, Morgedal and Oslo, 23cm., 9in. high, 32cm., 12 1/2in. wide Whilst the torch relay had begun at Berlin for the 1936 Summer Games, it was not until Oslo in 1952 that a winter equivalent was inaugurated. However, instead of the Olympic flame being lit in Olympia, the starting point of Morgedal in Norway was chosen, in recognition of the birthplace of competitive skiing. Moreover, the Norwegian Olympic Committee were keen to stress that this was not the traditional transfer of the Olympic Flame but a separate event that symbolised the use of torches while skiing in the dark. The fire was lit in the house of the 'father of skiing', Sondre Norheim (1825-1897), and carried through Kongsberg, Drammen, the Huseby Hill at Oraker where skiing competitions had been held since 1897, to Oslo. Eigil Nansen, grandson of polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen, lit the fire in Bislett Stadium at the Opening Ceremony on 15th February. These torches are rare as only 94 bearers took part in the relay. Compare this figure to the 3,840 who carried the flame along the route from Olympia to Berlin in 1936.