Olympia card, Cortina d'Ampezzo, V. Hokulinen, 1956, 23

Product detailed description

Condition: Good

Dimensions: 8 cm x 6 cm

A Finnish cross-country skiing legend in a collection of Olympic cards! A collectible GDR cigarette card from the series on the 7th Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, picture 23 of 100, devoted to Veikko Hakulinen. The German text on the reverse names him, together with Vladimir Kuzin, among the top favourites in cross-country skiing, a role earned at the Falun World Championships, and notes that he lived up to it over 30 km, where he won Olympic gold in Cortina. 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 23
• Subject: Veikko Hakulinen, Finland, cross-country skiing
• 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 Veikko Hakulinen?
Veikko Hakulinen was a Finnish cross-country skier and three-time Olympic champion. He won gold in the 50 km at Oslo 1952, the 30 km at Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956 and the relay at Squaw Valley 1960. At the 1954 World Championships in Falun he won the 15 km and the relay.

How can I tell that cards belong to the same series?
Cards from the same series share numbering style, publisher and print markings, here A 246/56 DDR, and differ only in picture number and text. When collecting a set, compare the markings on the reverse to be sure the cards belong to the same issue. Differences may indicate a different print run.

Why collect neighbouring cards from one series?
Neighbouring cards in a series often follow on from each other, here picture 23 with Hakulinen and picture 24 with his rival Kuzin. Selling them in pairs or small blocks makes completing a set easier and tells a coherent story, in this case the duel of the cross-country favourites at Cortina 1956.