The 1852 Harvard-Yale Trophy Oars: The Birth of American Intercollegiate Sports
The 1852 Harvard-Yale Trophy Oars: The Birth of American Intercollegiate Sports
Lot Closed
May 24, 07:01 PM GMT
Estimate
3,000,000 - 5,000,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
The 1852 Harvard-Yale Trophy Oars
Trophy Oars presented to Harvard University, for victory in the inaugural Harvard-Yale Regatta, on 3 August 1852
Two black walnut oars (each 6.8' long), with metal grips and with engraved silver plaques, one reading "Won at the Regatta between | Harvard and Yale, | by the Harvard Club, Oneida. | Class of 53." and the other reading "1st Prize | Lake Winipiseogee | Aug. 3d 1852."; two chips to the blade of one oar, some light scratches and wear commensurate with age.
REFERENCE
Mendenhall, Thomas C. The Harvard-Yale Boat Race 1852-1924. Mystic, Connecticut: Mystic Seaport Museum, 1993; Smith, Ronald A. Sports & Freedom: The Rise of Big-Time College Athletics. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988