Card Olympia, Cortina d'Ampezzo, W. Kusin, 1956,24

Product detailed description

Condition: Good

Dimensions: 8 cm x 6 cm

The 1956 Olympic winter in a smoker’s pocket! A collectible GDR cigarette card from the series on the 7th Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, picture 24 of 100. The front shows a black and white photo of Soviet cross-country skier Vladimir Kuzin wearing start number 45 on the course. The German text on the reverse says the double 1954 world champion, after illness, finished 10th over 15 km and 5th over 30 km, but as anchor of the Soviet relay was decisive in its Olympic victory. 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 24
• Subject: Vladimir Kuzin (Wladimir Kusin on the card), USSR, cross-country skiing, start number 45
• 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

What are cigarette cards?
Cigarette cards were collectible pictures included in cigarette packs, with albums available to collect them in. In the GDR they were issued by the state cigarette industry, and series were often devoted to sport, such as the Olympic Games. Today they are a popular record of sports history.

Who was Vladimir Kuzin?
Vladimir Kuzin was a Soviet cross-country skier who won two world titles at the 1954 World Championships in Falun, Sweden. At the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo he anchored the Soviet relay team to the gold medal.

How should cigarette cards be stored and collected?
Store cigarette cards in an album with polypropylene pockets or in acid-free sleeves