Rare belt buckle produced for the Helsinki 1952 Summer Olympics, 51 mm x 38 mm, with enameled buckle featuring the Olympic rings and reading: “XII, 1940 Helsinki.” In fine condition, with some scuffing to buckle. The start of the second Sino-Japanese War on July 7, 1937, raised the question among both the Japanese and the international community whether Tokyo still remained a logical Olympic host city. As the Japanese war effort continued to mount, the Games were forfeited to Helsinki, Finland, the runner-up in the original bidding process, but were soon suspended indefinitely following the outbreak of World War II.
