This torch was used in the 1968 Summer Olympics relay that brought the flame to Mexico City. There were five different variations and this is the scarce 'Type C' version. The relay began on August23 1968 in Olympia Greece and retraced the route taken by ChristopherColumbus to discover the New World traveling through his birthplace in Genoa as well as where he initially setsail from Palos in Spain to the first land he reached in SanSalvador. In all the flame traveled 13620 km over 25days through the hands of 2778 torchbearers before arriving at OlympicStadium where Norma Enriqueta Basilio de Sotelo of Mexico became the firstwoman to ever light the Olympic cauldron.

Constructed of a silver-white cast metal with a wrapped rope handle its rather primitive look features anartistic top with "MEXICO 68" creatively craftedtwice around the rim. The torch has a compact size of 17 1/2" (44 cm) long 4"(10 cm) in diameter at the flame opening and weighs 3 lbs. Itshows appropriate use from the relay and remains in EX overall condition. This Type C example rarely comes to public auction especially in complete form with its original roped handle. The last one we found sold for just under $5000 in the winter of 2016. An iconic memento from the Games that showcased perhaps the most important Civil Rights demonstration in sports history: the famous Black Power Salute by African-American 200m medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos.