Scarce American ‘Reception Committee’ badge for the London 1908 Olympics. Gilt bronze, 113 gm, 76 mm x 165 mm, made by Union Novelty of New York. The badge features a bottom medallion with an embossed design of Hermes, the god of travelers, next to the Great Seal of the State of New York, an American flag, and a scroll that reads “Worlds Champions.” The medallion is suspended from a gold-tone chain that contains a series of three plaques with raised text, “Alderman,” “Reception Comm.” and “Welcome Home Aug. 29th, 08,” with the uppermost plaque bearing a solid white ribbon that extends to the bottom of the medallion. The ‘welcome home’ reception committee was organized by New York Mayor George B. McClellan, Jr. An impressive and very rare badge honoring an Olympiad that extended for over six months—the longest in modern history.
