The Berlin Games of 1936 can be considered the first true “modern” Olympics. The event featured the inaugural Olympic Flame relay and the pomp and ceremony orchestrated for the games became the yardstick that all subsequent games tried to surpass. The popularity of the ’36 Games gave birth to a whole industry of commemorative books, souvenirs and films that documented the athleticism and excitement surrounding the games. Shortly after the closing ceremonies, German cigarette company Altona-Bahrenfeld produced a two-volume set of books entitled “Olympia 1936.” These two lavish volumes featured a running text (in German) describing the games and illustrated with hundreds of tipped-in photographs. The set proved so popular that a companion set was produced featuring the Winter Games, also held in Germany that year in the Bavarian region of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

While these books occasionally come on the market, this group is unique in that they belonged to Jesse Owens, the runaway star of the 1936 Games. Many photographs of Owens can be found throughout the Summer Games volumes, along with all the other participants of this first modern Olympics. This group consists of three Summer Games volumes (there are two versions of Book II) and one of the Winter Games volumes (Book I). As they must have been something Owens and his family looked at often, the books have aged significantly and display a lot of wear. The bindings have come loose and the spine is split in some places. Several of the tipped-in photographs have been removed and there is some water damage to the edges. A much-sought after commemorative set of Olympic books that comes from the estate of the man who was its biggest star.

Includes LOA signed by each of Jesse Owens' three daughters.