Card Olympia, Cortina d'Ampezzo, H. Brenden, 1956, 22

Product detailed description

Condition: Good

Dimensions: 8 cm x 6 cm

A Norwegian champion who beat both illness and his rivals! A collectible GDR cigarette card from the series on the 7th Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, picture 22 of 100, devoted to Hallgeir Brenden. The front shows a black and white photo of him wearing start number 36 in heavy snowfall. The German text on the reverse notes that after winning the 18 km at Oslo 1952, he took gold again over the short distance in Cortina, although illness had long seemed to rule out any return. Published by VEB Volkskunstverlag Reichenbach.

Facts at a glance

• Item: collectible cigarette card
• Series: VII. Olympische Winterspiele in Cortina d’Ampezzo, 100 pictures
• Number: Bild 22
• Subject: Hallgeir Brenden, Norway, cross-country skiing, start number 36
• Publisher: Volkseigene Zigarettenindustrie (GDR state cigarette industry), printed by VEB Volkskunstverlag Reichenbach/V.
• Markings: III 18/97, A 246/56 DDR
• Reverse text: German; collecting album available from Buchhaus Leipzig for 4.20 DM

Expert note – FAQ

Who was Hallgeir Brenden?
Hallgeir Brenden was a Norwegian cross-country skier and two-time Olympic champion. He won gold in the 18 km at the 1952 Oslo Winter Olympics and in the 15 km at Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956, where he also took relay silver. He came from Trysil and also competed in athletics.

Which cross-country skiers appear in the Cortina 1956 card series?
The GDR’s 100-card series on the 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics gave cross-country skiing plenty of space. Pictures 22 to 24 feature Hallgeir Brenden, Veikko Hakulinen and Vladimir Kuzin in turn, the main stars of the cross-country events at those Games.

How do I complete a cigarette card series?
The picture number on the reverse and the uniform markings, here A 246/56 DDR, help when completing the series. Consecutive numbers are best collected together, as they form a coherent themed block. A collecting album could also be ordered for the cards and is valued in its own right today.