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Lot #3041
Frederick Rubien's Watch Fob and Letter from Douglas MacArthur

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Estimate: $200+
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Description

Two items from the collection of Frederick Rubien: his personal gold-tone watch fob, marked inside the latch, "Kreisler Quality USA, Gold Cont .025," measuring 18″ long, featuring art deco block letters along the chain, "F. W. Rubien"; and a TLS to Rubien from Douglas MacArthur, who served as president of the American Olympic Committee during the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, one page, Headquarters Philippine Department letterhead, October 28, 1929, in part: "I have just received your letter of September 20th embodying the report of the final action taken by you in winding up the affairs of the Olympic Committee. You have handled this as you have handled everything else—in a splendid and efficient manner—and deserve great praise for the thoroughness with which you have settled all of the final annoying details. I thought the report was very fine, and the expense was well justified by the result. I was sorry indeed to hear of the death of Colonel Mills. He was a splendid gentleman and the Olympic Committee has lost a good friend. Let me take this opportunity to once more thank you for the able, loyal, and devoted help which you have so unstintedly given me during my connection with the Olympic Association. Without your help I would have had the greatest possible difficulty in fulfilling my functions." The letter has been laminated and sealed against a wooden 10 x 12 plaque, which has a warped and peeling top layer. Frederick W. Rubien was the longtime secretary of the American Olympic Committee and a leader in the promotion of amateur athletics in the United States; he helped to compile the 1928 American Olympic Committee Report, which features short prefatory articles by both Rubien and MacArthur.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Olympics
  • Dates: #520 - Ended January 18, 2018