Exceedingly rare International Fencing Federation [Fédération Internationale d'Escrime] "President" badge issued for the Melbourne 1956 Summer Olympics, 38 mm x 114 mm, with colorful enameled Olympic rings, torch, and image of Australia, and enameled white border with gilt text: "Olympic Games, Melbourne 1956." Reverse bears a "K. C. Luke, Melbourne" maker mark and is engraved "78." Suspended from the bottom of the badge is a pinkish beige ribbon marked "F.I.E.," and a shorter ribbon with Olympic colors bearing an enameled white-and-gold "President" pin. Catalogued as reference no. 1956-S-023 in the Official Olympic Badges Guide by Elbel/Vorontsov, p.117. According to the official report, only 20 badges for presidents of the International Federations were ordered, and just 14 were issued—making this an exceedingly rare example.
