Versatile Native American athlete (1887–1953), widely regarded as the finest all-around athlete of the twentieth century, who won two Olympic gold medals and excelled in football, baseball, and basketball. His Olympic medals were stripped from him for an ostensible violation of the amateur status rule (Thorpe had earlier played minor-league baseball) but were posthumously restored to him in 1983. Vintage glossy 8 x 10 photo of Thorpe talking to two other gentlemen, signed on the reverse in blue ballpoint, “Property of Jim Thorpe, Helms Hall, Los Angeles 1951.” In good condition, with scattered creasing, surface marks, and emulsion loss to image side, and scattered staining, creasing, and a couple small tears to reverse, resulting in some bleeding of ink to first name of signature. Auction LOA Steve Grad/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
