Scott #716 is described incorrectly in the Scott Catalogue as "skier." The artist had been charged with designing a ski jumper. His design incorrectly has the jumper equipped with poles -- as opposed to the illustration on cover which correctly depicts arms flailing in the breeze. In an apparent fashion travesty, the ski jumper in the illustration is wearing plaid pants. And a long scarf, an apparent mockery of aerodynamics.
The weather was unseasonably warm, so much so that the Bobsled competition had to be held after the official closing of the games. Sonja Henie, ice skating, won a gold medal, her second of what would be three.
716. is carmine rose in color and valued at .40 unused.
716a is lake in color and valued at $500 (Unhinged $1000)
Phil, I like that cover. Again we see the scarf blowing in the breeze. I prefer scarves to latex body suits, but clearly there was a disdain for the science of aerodynamics. "Streamlined" not a word in use at the time, though I am not sure about that. And the person sitting at the end is waving, also not aerodynamic.
"... but clearly there was a disdain for the science of aerodynamics ..."
Not sure about 'disdain', so much as an absence of appreciation.
Look at the images of olympic swimmers one hundred years ago. You don't see any speedos on the men, perhaps as more of a public modesty statement than anything else. You also don't see a lot of chest hair on the men, but that might be good taste rather than engineering.
I wonder if a study of the, say, ten best times in this or that swimming event - or ten best distances in the ski jump - would show the gaps narrowing and, therefor, attention to detail becoming more critical.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey (who suspects that Olympic competition one hundred years ago was an extension of gentlemanly collegiate sporting culture) (and who also grabs covers willy-nilly)
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"I collect stamps today precisely the way I collected stamps when I was ten years old."
"I wonder if a study of the, say, ten best times in this or that swimming event - or ten best distances in the ski jump - would show the gaps narrowing"
I believe the answer is "Yes" and you could see evidence very early in the bobsled event that technological innovation takes over when physiological limits are approached.
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