The 30 Minute Rule begins January 16 at 7:00 PM EST. An Initial Bid Must Be Placed By January 16 at 6:00 PM EST To Participate After 6:00 PM EST
Exceedingly rare original 4.25 x 6.5 cabinet photograph of American track and field athlete Ellery Harding Clark (1874-1949), who was the first modern Olympic champion in high jump and long jump at the Athens 1896 Olympics. Clark is portrayed practicing the hammer throw during pre-trials, an event which would not debut at the Olympics until 1900. The reverse is beautifully imprinted with an "Olympic Games, 1896, Athens" backstamp—the only known such example. In very good condition, with soiling and slight fading to the image, and old clear tape along the top and bottom edges. Encapsulated as authentic by SGC.
Ellery Clark holds the distinction of being the only man to win both the Olympic high jump and long jump. As a 22-year-old Harvard grad, he claimed this double feat at the first Modern Olympics with marks of 5´ 11½˝ (1.81 m) and 20´ 11˝ (6.37 m). On his return from Greece, Clark developed into a highly versatile athlete, winning the National All-Around Championship in 1897 and 1903. In 1904, the American and Olympic All-Around Championship were one and the same event, but Clark was seriously weakened by bronchitis in St. Louis and in his second Olympic appearance he placed no better than fifth in the event that was the forerunner of the modern decathlon.
In his professional life, Clark showed all-round talents that even exceeded his sporting versatility. He wrote 19 books, ranging from railway accident law to religious philosophy, and two of his novels were adapted into Hollywood films. He was an alderman of the city of Boston, an assistant track coach at Harvard, a teacher of English composition in Cambridge, and a prominent Boston lawyer.
