Say ! Herr Meyer stage-manages the Committee

By Rüdiger Fritz and Volker Kluge

In front of the lens for the first time: the International Olympic Commitee, or more precisely, the seven members who took part in the second ­Session in 1896 in ­ (from left): Dr. Willibald Gebhardt (), General Secretary (), Jirˇí Guth (Bohemia), President Demetrius Vikelas (), ­Ferenc Kemény ­(), General Alexey Boutovsky ­() and Major Viktor Balck ().

Photo: Volker Kluge Archive

In his memoirs Pierre de Coubertin wrote about the 1896 assembly in Athens, where seven members in ‘Comité International des Jeux Olympiques’, the attendance discussed the present and future of their description of the IOC at its foundation on 23rd June 1894: committee. I was allowed a free hand in the choice of members The meeting on 9th April 18964, took place in a house of the IOC. Those proposed were elected without any belonging to German publisher Wilhelm Barth. Vikelas amendment; […] Nobody seemed to have noticed that had found lodgings there. It began with a proposal from I had chosen almost exclusively absentee members. the Hungarian Ferenc Kemény to have a photograph As their names figured on the long list of ‘honorary taken of the committee at its work.5 As the idea met with members of the Congress’, people were accustomed general approval, Vikelas asked the General Secretary of to seeing their names and readily assumed that they the Athens Organising Committee, Timoleon Philemon were staunch members always at their tasks. 1 to make the arrangements.

Of the 13 individuals whom Coubertin had announced, Rüdiger Fritz | 1952, a journalist since 1990, sports Special thanks to only six2 were in fact living in . Even so, by 1904 he editor and sports boss of the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung in Halle ­Johannes Gebbing, had started to describe this Congress as the first Session. (Saale); Turned freelance in 2011. Has reported on seven the grandson of Albert The late ISOH honorary member Wolf Lyberg, an expert ; co-author of the book PdC. Pierre de Coubertin und die Olympia-Philatelie (2015/with Volker Kluge), Meyer, who put some in the history of the IOC meetings took an alternative ISOH Lifetime member. Lives in Halle (Saale). of the documents at view and described this term as ‘very doubtful’.3 In our disposal. his opinion this numbering was not justified until the

4 For reasons that are no longer comprehensible today that he come at once. The gymnastics competitions the task did not fall to Philemon but Dr. Willibald in the stadium were due to begin at 2.40 p.m. From a Gebhardt, who in late 1895 had founded a German German point of view it was in these competitions that Participating Committee for the Games in Athens. On the greatest hopes rested. If an ‘alibi’ is needed to say 13th March 1896, he had been unanimously nominated where Meyer was at this time, then we have his well as its representative on the IOC. Coubertin had accepted known photos of the team competitions on the bars and this, although he had wished for a member with a more high bars. resonant title and greater social influence.6 Yet Meyer was also indispensable on the next day, Nonetheless on the same day the photographer Albert the 10th April (29th March) as a glance at the programme Meyer, who had travelled with the German team to proves. At 10 a.m. the gymnastics, dominated by the Albert Meyer (1857- Athens, he received via a messenger a hastily written Germans, was continued, and in the afternoon the 1924) went to America letter from Gebhardt, which stated: Games were moving towards their climax: At 2.30 p.m. as a 24 year old, and Dear Herr Meyer! came the 100 m final, at half past four wrestling, which trained as a photo­ Is it possible for you to take an immediate was finally interrupted at five o’clock when the Greek grapher there. photographic picture of the International Committee? runner Spyridon Louis was the first into the stadium in From 1883 he resided We will await you in the house of Mr. Vikelas, 53 the Marathon race. 70,000 people raised the roof with in Berlin, where he University Street 7 (in the house of our friend Herr the cry of ‘Hellas!’. And the wrestling competition was maintained two large Barth). Please give an answer to the messenger. – resumed the following day. photographic studios. Tomorrow the photographs cannot be taken, as Major Meyer was no ‘snapper’. Born in Dresden, he had Balck goes back to his home in Sweden. gone to the USA aged 24 to train as a photographer. With heartfelt greetings to you and your lady wife Resident in Berlin from 1883, he had succeeded in Your devoted gaining a splendid set of customers, to which the W. Gebhardt 8 portrait of his sovereign, the King of Saxony, during his visit to his health spa in Bad Ems, had contributed. Genesis of a perfect small work of art In thanks the King had appointed him subsequently as ‘court photographer’. Specialising additionally in Albert Meyer ran two well-known studios in Berlin theatre photography, Meyer knew very well how to put with branches on the Baltic. He was not content with prominent people in the ‘correct’ light. a mere snapshot. Rather, he placed the IOC Members When the photos he took in Athens are compared with at or behind a table according to their rank. Three were those of his Greek colleagues they reveal not only that seated – Vikelas, Coubertin and General Boutovsky –, the remaining four – Gebhardt, Guth, Kemény and On 9th April 1896 Ferenc Balck – stood. Kemény proposed that The picture is a perfectly arranged small work of the IOC should be art. The President looks intently into the lens. On his ­photographed at its right the General Secretary, who himself has the air work. In this letter, his of being very busy. Left from Vikelas – dignified – the colleague Dr. Willibald ‘aged president’ from Russia. The younger gentlemen Gebhardt asked the behind have a pose appropriate to ordinary members. photographer Albert The “outside players” – Gebhardt and Balck (his left Meyer to come to the hand grasping his sabre) – look interestedly over the house of the ­German shoulders at those in front of them. In the middle field publisher ­Wilhelm looking straight ahead are two teachers: Guth and Barth. Kemény. Illustration: Rüdiger Fritz th Lyberg believed that this photo was taken on 10 ­Archive April (by the Julian calendar on 29th March) which may be doubtful. It is known that Meyer had not travelled to Athens to photograph gentlemen in dark suits of whose importance few were aware. He was more enthusiastic about the athletes and the “Peace Games”, dressed up in antique costumes, as he depicted the Olympic Games in letters and postcards.9 If the messenger did indeed reach him on 9th April, the photographer certainly had better things to do that afternoon even though Gebhardt had asked

JOH 1 | 2016 Say cheese! Herr Meyer stage-manages the Committee 5 Meyer was in the habit the movement of the shadow, then it can be calculated of staging his pictures. that a photo showing Olympic champion Alfred Flatow One morning in the on the parallel bars was probably taken at some time empty stadium, he between 10 and 11 o’clock. photographed the Meyer was by no means as flexible as Gebhardt had German Olympic hoped because he worked with a fixed large format champion on the wooden camera. The size of the glass negatives, which ­parallel bars, Alfred had a light-sensitive layer, was 18 x 24 centimetres Flatow. If the shadow for the big plates and 13 x 18 for the small format.11 A of the gymnast is peculiarity was that these were developed on the spot ­compared with the in a bag impervious to light. position of the Among the equipment was a movable, heavy column ­stadium, the photo- stand on which the camera was mounted. To serve graph must have this monster and transport the heavy box with the been taken between glass negatives, Meyer required an assistant, who is 10 and 11 a.m. recognisable on a photo taken by his Greek colleague Pantzopoulos during the victory ceremony on 15th April.12 Photo: Volker Kluge Archive Diner or Royal Breakfast in the Palais

It is not yet clear when and how the IOC photo was created. As Balck was planning to leave at according to Gebhardt’s information at the latest on 10th April. The location might have been Barth’s house in University Street, where the IOC met on the 9th and 10th and then again on the 14th April13 – moreover until the end in the presence of Balck, who had probably reconsidered the length of his stay.14 Against this we have a second photo, sports reporting was still in its infancy, but also makes on which Meyer recorded not only the IOC Members but clear the different approaches. Meyer did not shoot also the Greek princes and with Dr. Georg Streit und action shots. In those days the technology made it Colonel Iphikratis Kokkidis leading members of the difficult to ‘freeze’ movement on film or plate. Instead Organising Committee.15 It seems unlikely that the IOC he followed the trend of his time and immortalized the would have suggested to their Royal Highnesses that athletes in posed positions, which even an experienced they should visit the business premises of a foreign German archaeologist like Paul Wolters, who under the publisher for a communal photo. leadership of Wilhelm Dörpfeld had excavated Ancient A comparison of the photos reveals that both were Olympia, regarded as “very instructive”.10 without doubt taken in the same place. The princes In order to find the necessary peace for such are shown sitting on the same chairs used by the photographs, Meyer took them at a time when there IOC Members in their photo, taken either before or was no competition, in the mornings of the days which afterwards. In the background a stairway draped with followed. On several photos it is possible to see an paper maché can be seen. In addition, the plaster – empty stadium and piled-up cushions. If one compares probably marble plates – and the edging to the left and the direction in which the stadium lies, and considers right of the stairway is identical. For the definitive certainty as to the place it is helpful Meyer’s invitation to to look at Gebhardt’s postscript, for he had scribbled on the Royal Breakfast the edge of the letter: “In emergency the photo could on 12th April 1896 also take place after breakfast in the Palais (1st Apr.).”16 (31st March). As can be seen from the invitation, King George I welcomed representatives of the foreign press and the Illustration: Rüdiger Fritz st th ­Archive foreign Olympic participants on the 31 March (12 April) in the great hall at his palace. There a table in the shape of a Greek “P” (Π) had been set up for 260 guests. Meyer was invited to this event as were the IOC Members. The dress code had been suspended particularly for the athletes, so that most appeared in normal suits;

6 The second photo of the IOC with the ­princes and repre- sentatives of the ­Organising Committee, which like the first was probably taken in the Royal palace and endorsed with the signatures of those photographed.

but some also like the Americans arrived in jackets, The care with which knickerbockers and one even in cycling trousers. Only Meyer made his the Hungarians thought a black suit appropriate.17 ­preparations is As everyone met in a relaxed mood, it is likely that d­emonstrated by the IOC photos were taken on that same day. An extra a scribbled plan indication is a third photo showing the Marathon ­detailing positions victor Spyridon Louis, who was the star attraction of the to be taken up by each reception. individual for the Directly after his triumph the Athenians had called in photo. vain for the new hero, who had in fact fled long before Photo: Volker Kluge Archive; to avoid the enthusiastic crowds. Louis travelled to his Illustration: Rüdiger Fritz home village Amaroussion that evening on the ‘Beast’18. ­Archive There he celebrated with family and friends. Two days later Louis reappeared – accompanied by his father – in a splendid fustanella, the traditional costume for Greek men. It had been presented to him to mark his success by the Ethnological Museum. There are strong indications in favour of the palace, What remains hidden on most prints prepared by but two alternative locations should not be ignored. Meyer from this negative, is made clear by an un- On the same day, before the Royal Breakfast, a concert retouched original. In the background it is possible took place at 10 a.m. in the Zappeion in honour of the to see not only the stairway already mentioned, but Olympic champions. Meyer was also invited to this. also a double-leafed portal leading to an imposing A further clue is to be found in a letter by Greek building. Whether this was a door to the Royal palace can marksman Dr. Georgios Orphanidis. Meyer had sent unfortunately no longer be established, as the palace Streit an album and in this the Olympic champion had burnt down at Christmas 1910.19 discovered a photo of himself and his equally successful

JOH 1 | 2016 Say cheese! Herr Meyer stage-manages the Committee 7 Olympic Marathon champion Spyridon Louis was photo- graphed by Meyer in front of the same stairs as the IOC – probably in the palace. On the right the ­original photo, on the left the more widely known but ­retouched image.

Photos: Volker Kluge Archive

compatriots Karasevdas and Phrangoudis, which he he wished his clients to adopt. The proof that Meyer wrote “you took of me in the courtyard of the German prepared the sketch on site is to be found in the upper school”20. third, on which a ‘second row’ of those photographed Even if the floor tiles and the edging strips – so far is endorsed with their autographs. It is quite clear. recognizable – are similar to those on the other three Meyer planned to increase the value of this print by photos, it is most likely that this picture was taken on the signatures. To avoid errors, he gave each person another day, as the competition won by Orphanidis on a number. For safety’s sake he had these once again 12th April did not end until 1 p.m. and had taken place at signed, and for this in the absence of paper he used the shooting venue in Kallithea.21 blank telegram forms.23 The meticulousness with which Meyer shot his The Princes did not sign which could be an indication pictures is reflected particularly in the less well-known that they were obviously in a hurry. Meyer asked Streit IOC photo with the Greek grandees. The three sons of for these retrospectively.24 After he had received them, the king sit according to precedence in the foreground: he copied them on to the glass negative and had copies in the centre Crown Prince Constantine, President of made. the Organising Committee.22 To his right is his deputy, Georgios (George), one year younger, who was also Meyer gives himself a task chairman of the commission for nautical contests. On the left the 24 year old Nikolaos, who had been charged Flashback: on 16th January 1896 Meyer had become aware with the shooting commission. of the second meeting of the German Participating The row behind also indicates that the photographer Committee. In the end, together with his wife Elisabeth had protocol in mind. Vikelas as President looks and around 80 other people, he had attended the through the gap between prince numbers one and two, committee, which was bound up with a financial Coubertin as General Secretary occupies the other gap contribution. It cannot be clearly stated when the between one and three. The tallest of the Olympians, couple made their decision to attend the Olympic Kemény, was placed in the centre. Balck, in uniform, Games – possibly when he photographed the gymnastic was on the right wing, the representatives of the team chosen for Greece in his studio.25 Accompanied organisation on the left – of course the colonel before by four athletes, the Meyers arrived in Athens on 3rd the civilian. April (22nd March). The travel costs of 231 Marks per The care with which Meyer proceeded is shown by person represented no great sacrifice for a prosperous his scribbled sketch, on which he outlined the poses photographer.

8 It was typical of Meyer’s self-confidence that he claimed to be a ‘delegate’ of the committee. The weekly publication Der Tag, published by Austrian Lloyd26 contained the following: Together with the friends of sport, the German court photographer will travel with his spouse. His task will be to prepare a photo album about the Games and to transmit this to the collective Royal houses as a gift.27

No great formalities were required for accreditation in Athens. A badge with Mayer’s name was sufficient. In addition General Secretary Timoleon J. Philemon wrote a letter of introduction on headed notepaper. This gave the couple permission to enter all Games sites unhindered.28 Spurred on by a distinct sense for business, which in ID card from 1896: on the Organising the past had aroused the suspicion of the Prussian Committee’s headed paper, General police – they were especially disturbed by his ­Secretary Timoleon Philemon certified supersized advertising –, Meyer took his the right of Herr and Frau Meyer to self-imposed task seriously. Even during free entry to all events. As a pass a the Games he offered the Athenian badge was used. publishing houses photos. In those days Top left: the Greek Olympic champions their newspapers predominantly line in shooting Pantelis Karasevdas, engravings. At least one drawing which Ioannis Phrangoudis and Georgios appeared in the Acropolis was based on his ­Orphanidis (from left), whom Meyer photos.29 photographed in the German School. Even the needs of the German media Orphanidis bought six copies at were reasonable. Only when the athletes had 2.50 Marks each. returned and reported enthusiastically on the Photo: Volker Kluge Archive Games did interest grow. The journal Sport im Bild,

JOH 1 | 2016 Say cheese! Herr Meyer stage-manages the Committee 9 time.32 Was there any moving film? No, for film had been invented by the Lumière brothers only the year before.33 The Allgemeine Sport-Zeitung34 in Vienna had used some of the images and the Official Report in 1897 was almost half-filled with Meyer photos, business declined.35 It only took off again a decade later, when in 1906 the IInd International Olympic Games were about to take place and in Greece postcards with the 1896 pictures were sold. By this point Meyer had long been a rich man. In 1901 aged 44, he was able to sell his Berlin business and live in Hanover as a man of private means.36 From his police file37 one can see that after the Games Meyer’s income – by no means by chance – had risen by leaps and bounds. For the year 1893 it was given as 12,500 to 13,500 Marks, four years later it was presented as 16,500 to 17,500.38 His fortune, which in 1893 consisted of 90,000 to 100,000 Marks, was estimated in 1897 as 110,000 to 120,000. Also as an entrepreneur Meyer was recognised, as he employed up to 15 people in his studios, including two female receptionists.

Photo caskets and photo albums for the Royals

The Meyers left Athens on 20th April 1896. Three days later they reached , where they stayed until Call for help from published by the Scot Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles had 3rd May39. Then they crossed to Constanta in Romania ­Berlin: “Can we at from the start supported Germany’s participation. They by ship. They boarded the ‘Orient Express’, stopped in once receive Olympia sent a telegram to Meyer, who had in the meantime Bucharest and Budapest and finally reached in Berlin on ­pictures without gone on to Constantinople and asked: “Can we at 16th May.40 charge?” Two weeks once receive Olympia pictures without charge?”30 As a In the event that work in Meyer’s studios at this point after the Games the precaution Meyer had already sent the glass negatives was not going ten to the dozen, then it certainly was journal Sport im Bild to Berlin. This was confirmed five days earlier by his after that. His laboratory workers prepared numerous telegraphed Meyer two laboratory.31 prints by the expensive platinotype method, a weeks after the Games. It is not known whether Meyer handed over the darkroom procedure, which at that time was especially By this time the photo­ photos in this case without charge. In any case one popular with pictorialists because of its artistic means of grapher had travelled month later, the concept of the journal published 15 expression.41 A specially installed bookbinder produced to ­Constantinople. At prints. The question of topicality was not so important. artistically bound leather albums and caskets for the that time the pace of The publication of these shots meant that images Olympic photographs. life was much slower. of events in Athens could be seen abroad for the first Before Meyer began to send off the collections, which he had intended for individuals of high rank, he sent Photography as hard the IOC photos to Coubertin, who had taken on the labour: Meyer (left presidency at the start of the new Olympiad. The baron with hat and coat) was very pleased and thanked him. Meyer had offered with an assistant who him the prospect of an album as well. Coubertin replied transported the photo that he would be pleased to present the album to equipment. the French President. But as he would be away in the following weeks, he suggested that it should be sent to Photo: Volker Kluge Archive; Illustration: Rüdiger Fritz the Chef de Cabinet Louis Le Gall, who could then pass it ­Archive to Felix Fauré.42 Obviously things happened differently, for two weeks later Coubertin got in touch from Munster, the home of the baroness, and reported on his pleasure that Meyer’s gift – an album casket – had given him.43 Give away or sell? Meyer was confronted by a dilemma, as requests began to pile up. On 5th August

10 Coubertin informed him that on the previous day the Whether payment was eventually made for the album A leather bound album intended for Fauré had arrived as well and that caskets cannot however be established. case containing he intended to hand it over himself after the summer Ignoring his empty account, Coubertin now got 34 Olympic photos holidays.44 His strategy was clear: Coubertin was working cracking. As he planned the leap over the Atlantic to from the estate of on persuading the President to take on the patronage organise the Games of the III Olympiad in the USA, it was Meyer’s wife ­Elisabeth of the planned for 1897, which was to also in his interest to introduce the committee in the (below), who was be an answer to the announcement of the Greek King New World. As a postscript to his third letter to Meyer, he also a photographer. that the Olympic Games would be permanently held in has asked him to send the IOC photo with the princes to Photos: Sportmuseum Leipzig, 45 Greece. Dr. Albert Shaw, in whose Review of Reviews Coubertin Rüdiger Fritz Archive Yet what importance did the IOC have at that time, as occasionally wrote.48 How seriously he took the it was described in the 1896 Official Report in a picture publication can be deduced from a remark two months caption as a committee “in Paris”46? Practically hardly later in which Coubertin complained: “I have still found anyone else knew of its existence. At the Royal Breakfast no copies of the photos in the Review of Reviews. I will George I had, to be sure, at thanked his sons, Philemon write to New York to enquire.”49 and the Greek Council of Twelve, but not mentioned Meantime the confirmation came from Streit to say the IOC at all. Even the IOC Members were not agreed on that the “splendid album” had arrived in Athens.50 A what the future was to look like. Should the committee second copy for the ‘Commission’ – what was probably be dissolved and reconstituted each time before the meant was the Organising Committee – he had given next Games? to Philemon. As Meyer was anxious about the reaction In that post-Olympic summer in Luttenbach, of the Royal family, Streit had hastened to the castle, Coubertin had enough leisure to reflect on the where he learned that “all the albums” had arrived.51 significance of public relations. And in Meyer he had The Crown Prince had also informed him that his father clearly found a congenial partner. On 26th August he had been very pleased. In strict confidence, Streit wrote to the photographer: entrusted the news that His Majesty had the intention I have had the thought of offering similar of honouring Meyer.52 Soon afterwards there followed collections to His Majesty the Kaiser of Germany, the Streit’s congratulations on his award of the Greek Cross King of Belgium and the Prince of Wales, the King of Redemption. of Sweden and Grand Duke Vladimir. I would very If he was to be believed, then the album created a much like them to look like the collection which sensation in Greece.53 Few who could afford it acquired you passed over to me, i.e. in the same casket, such a folio, which in the meantime could accept 25 to covered however with red silk and embossed with 30 photos. Meyer calculated the price by the number of the monograms of the distinguished recipients. motifs: at a unit price of three Marks per print a simply You would cause me great pleasure if you could presented album with 25 photos cost 80 Marks, whereby quote me a price for these five collections so that I five Marks were reckoned for the binding.54 The deluxe can have some idea whether financial means of the edition cost a good 120 Marks – at least that was the committee will permit it.47 price that the former IOC President Vikelas had to pay.55

JOH 1 | 2016 Say cheese! Herr Meyer stage-manages the Committee 11 As quid pro quo Meyer asked him for the ‘Olympic Medal’, by which he probably meant the gilded souvenir medal presented to the guests of honour by the Organising Committee in Athens.57 Coubertin had to admit that he had no influence in its distribution. However to show himself grateful, he intended to send Meyer the IOC commemorative medal, minted in connection with the 1894 Paris Congress: It is exlusively presented to people who were directly involved in the Congress. It is unique and special. We have decided to award two copies of this medal to Mr. Willibald Gebhardt and Mr. Meyer. I am very happy to send you this novelty.58

Clearly this was an isolated resolution, as the reaction of the surprised Willibald Gebhardt showed: Then I must thank you for the promised medal of honour; I am delighted with this distinction. In case you have already expressed the intention of presenting a second medal to Herr Meyer, the photographer, that is in order. If not, I would permit myself to advise you to dedicate the medal to the Hereditary Prince Philipp zu Hohenlohe, the son of our Reichskanzler, who was the first President of our Olympic Committee. – Herr Meyer has not done great service to the Olympic Games. He travelled to Athens to amuse himself, to photograph and incidentally earn money. He sent albums to the princes, in order to be decorated for it. He did not put a single Mark at the disposal of our expedition, and yet he is a rich man. I know you will treat this matter completely confidentially. 59

Gebhardt had scarcely a good word for Meyer, which one can sympathise with when one knows what efforts The Baron had an As can be deduced from Meyer’s correspondence, the were needed to ensure the financing of the first Olympic idea to publicise the photographer differentiated between the treatment of delegation. Gebhardt’s own economic situation was Olympic Games more his clients. While he only permitted reductions to prices also disastrous – later it contributed to his departure widely. He asked for less well-off clients in exceptional circumstances, he from the IOC. ­Meyer to send photo asked the crowned heads devotedly to accept a luxury Coincidence or not? After this letter the correspondence albums to the German album. These had been thought of by Meyer as gifts – between Coubertin and Meyer which up to that point had Kaiser, the Kings of as a reward he hoped for new distinctions, if possible been lively, came to an end the latter having meanwhile Belgium and Sweden, in the shape of an order or medal. A comparison of the delighted almost all the important dynasties of Europe the Prince of Wales back of his photographs, which were normally used with his Olympia albums.60 and Russia’s Grand as self-projection, shows after 1896 the considerable Duke Vladimir. lengthening of his list of orders. A fine job for the Olympic Movement It was strengthened by Coubertin, who began to Illustration: Rüdiger Fritz ­Archive recruit Meyer for his projects. He himself offered to Despite the generosity of the Greek Georgios Averoff, make approaches to the Parisian embassies of selected who lived in Alexandria and donated 1.92 million countries to see if their monarchs would be interested drachmae to his compatriots for the Olympic Games, in an album. However the priority for him was Fauré. Greece’s mountain of debt continued to rise in the And at last – after eight months delay – he could period which followed. As a rule those who took part joyfully inform Meyer: “I had the honour this morning in the Games, IOC Members included, were obliged to (forenoon) of handing over to the President of the bear their own costs. Only one person probably made a French Republic your beautiful album.”56 profit: Albert Meyer.

12 Yet despite Meyer’s eye for business interest so 1 Pierre de Coubertin, Olympic Memoirs, IOC, Lausanne 1997, p. 24. resented by Gebhardt, he did a fine job for the Olympic 2 Bulletin du Comité International des Jeux Olympiques, Vol. I, No. 1, July 1894, p. 1. In addition to Coubertin, who had secured for Movement. Without him (and his not quite so artistically ­himself the office of a General Secretary, other individuals present gifted Greek colleagues), we would know very much less included the Greek Demetrius Vikelas, who lived in Paris, the about “Athens 1896”.61 We would have had to depend Frenchman Ernest Callot, the Briton Charles Herbert, the Italian Count Lucchesi Palli and the American William Sloane. Vikelas was only on written reports and a few drawings in the press. elected President, Callot treasurer. Meyer’s fortune was to a great extent used up by the 3 Wolf Lyberg, The IOC Sessions 1894-1955, IOC, Lausanne 1989, Vol. 1, p. 2. First World War and the inflation which followed. He 4 28th March according to the Julian calendar, valid in Greece until died in Dresden in 1924, but left a treasure of around 60 1923, which differed by 12 days from the Gregorian calendar. Olympic photographs. Many make great use of these to 5 Minutes, 2nd IOC Session Athens, 9th April 1896, p. 9, IOC/OSC Archives. 6 Letter from Gebhardt to Coubertin, 14th March 1896, in: Carl-Diem- the present day – mostly without knowing whom they Institut, DOKUMENTE zur Frühgeschichte der Olympischen Spiele, should thank. Barz & Beienburg, Köln 1970, p. 83. Gebhardt – perhaps for reasons His inheritance has not even been thoroughly of modesty or economic weakness – had agreed under the condi- tion that he would represent Germany on the IOC as a “provisional researched. At present the existence of only eight member” until a “more worthy man” could be appointed. albums or album caskets is known.62 The evidence, 7 Οδος Πανεπιστημιου. 8 Letter from Gebhardt to Meyer, 9th April (28th March) 1896, Rüdiger mostly of thank you letters mostly composed by servants Fritz Archive (RFA). shows that that at least 42 were sent off by Meyer, 21 of 9 In his letters to highly placed individuals, to whom he offered his those alone to one emperor, to kings, dukes, princes photo albums of the Athens Games, he often used the expression “Olympic Peace Games”. and princesses as well as one president. 10 Postcard from Wolters to Meyer, 11th February 1897, RFA. Wolter Coubertin was guided in his reawakening of the wrote: “The picture of the runner’s start and of the discus thrower Olympic Games initially by pedagogical aims, but especially are very instructive for an archaeologist.” 11 Cf. Peter Frenkel, The successful attempt to freeze movement, in: in 1894 it did not seem to him important to have a Volker Kluge (Ed.), 1896 Athens, The Pictures of the First ­Olympiad photographic record of the Founding Congress in Paris. by Albert Meyer and other photographers, Brandenburgisches ­Verlagshaus, Berlin 1996, pp. 174-183. Meyer noted this measure- What was necessary was a meeting with Albert Meyer so ment on the back cover of the programme of 29th March (10th April) as to learn to appreciate the significance of publicity. • 1896.

Individuals and organisations who have been shown to have received a photo album or a photo casketx

Austria-Hungary Grand Duke Ferdinand of Tuscany Greece , former IOC President Belgium King Leopold II Timoleon Philemon, General Secretary of Prince Regent Ferdinand I the Organising Committee France President Felix Fauré Dr. Georg Streit, Secretary of the Organising Pierre de Coubertin, IOC President, Committee Count Alexandre-Léon Laborde, Colonel Iphikratis Kokkidis, Chairman of archaeologist the Reception Commission Germany Emperor Wilhelm II Olympic Cycling Commission Prince Friedrich Karl of Hesse Hungary Ferenc Kemény, IOC Member Heritage Prince Philipp Ernst zu Hohenlohe- Mecklenburg-Schwerin Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III Schillingsfürst, President of the German Russia Grand Duke Vladimir Olympic Participation Committee Alexey Boutovsky, IOC Member Dr. Wilhelm Barth, Editor Museum of the Directorate of the Russian Emil von Hirst, Editor Military Schools Hermann Weingärtner, Gymnastic Saxony Queen Carola Olympic champion* Saxony-Altenburg Duke Ernst I Paul Wolters, archaeologist Saxony-Coburg-Gotha Duke Alfred Hans von Schierstedt, Royal Court King Alexander I Pastor Dr. Milan Medovitchic´, Anne Dörpfeld, wife of the archaeologist Royal Cabinet Secretary Wilhelm Dörpfeld Major Rachitch, Royal Court Marshal Great Britain Albert Edward, The Prince of Wales Sweden and Norway King Oskar II Greece King George I Crown Prince Gustaf Crown Prince Constantine Viktor Balck, IOC Member Crown Princess Sophie Gymnastiska Centralinstitut Prince Georgios* Prince Nicholas* * uncertain

JOH 1 | 2016 Say cheese! Herr Meyer stage-manages the Committee 13 Orders and medals as 12 Ibid. 19 After its rebuilding in an altered form the castle on Syntagma 13 Cf. Lyberg. The meetings held on 4th 6th-7th and 12th April took place Square served as the formal residence of the Royal family until the advertising on the in the Hotel Grande Bretagne, where Coubertin was staying. On 4th temporary abolition of the monarchy. From 1929 it became the seat ­reverse of the photos. April Boutovsky, Gebhardt and Guth had not yet arrived, on the of Parliament during the Second Greek Republic. Top: the coats of arms 6th April Vikelas was not present. On the other days all seven were 20 Letter from Orphanidis to Meyer, 25th July 1896, (RFA). The photo was of three German present. also published in the Official Report, p. 71. A handwritten note by 14 According to information from ISOH member Ove Karlsson, Balck Meyer on the letter reveals the prices. Meyer charged 2.50 Marks per ­countries, among them published a chronological report in the newspaper Tidning för copy. For a further photo of the 100 m start he asked three Marks. the Kingdom of Saxony, ­Idrott. under the abbreviation “V.G.B.”. This appeared until the 21 A German school in 1896 consisted only of the name, as the private whose monarchs had end of the Games. establishment founded in 1872 only existed until 1888. To teach 15 Georg (Georgios) von Streit (1868-1948) was descended from a Ger- the more than 150 German children, there was created in late 1895 named Meyer as man aristocratic family. His grandfather, who came from Saxony, on the initiative of the publishers Emil von Hirst and Dr. Wilhelm “court photographer”. had once accompanied the Bavarian prince Otto to Greece, when Barth (1856-1940) a “union to found a German school in Athens”, In the second row prize the latter was crowned king. In 1896, the grandson – a ­lawyer – to preside over which they attracted the well-known archaeologist was one of the secretaries of the Organising Committee. In ­January Wilhelm Dörpfeld. As the new school could not be built until the ­medals from the ex­ 1914 he became foreign minister but was dismissed following winter of 1897, the children were temporarily taught in the house hibitions in Antwerp ­government pressure after eight months when he hesitated to of the German Society of Philadelphia, founded in 1837, in Homer (1884), Minneapolis ­enter the war on the side of Great Britain. Kokkidis (1833-1922), Street (Ομήρου/today the seat of the Goethe-Gesellschaft). who had been trained at the Prussian War Academy, functioned 22 The Organising Committee, whose official name was “Comité (1888) and Paris (1892). during the Games as President of the Reception Committee. ­Hellène des Jeux Olympiques”. Among them Meyer’s 16 Letter from Gebhardt to Meyer, 9th April (28th March) 1896, RFA. 23 Signature list, RFA. Coubertin’s signature is however missing – for various awards 17 Pierre de Coubertin, Timoleon J. Philemon, N. G. Politis and whatever reason. ­Charalambos Anninos, The Olympic Games, B.C. 776-A.D. 1896, Vol. 24 Letter from Streit to Meyer, 10th May 1896, RFA. ­including the Knight’s 2, Charles Beck, Athens, H. Grevel & Co., 1897, pp. 104-108. 25 The photo, later frequently reproduced, was first published in the Cross of the Order of The English and German texts published in the so-called Official journal Sport im Bild, No. 15, p. 235. the Redeemer of the Report in some cases vary. In the English version it states that the 26 Austria-Hungary was once a sea power. The in 1833 founded Royal Breakfast began at 10 a.m., while in the German report the ­Austrian Lloyd company owned at that time almost 100 steamships, Greek King, Officer’s correct time of 11.30 a.m. is given. In German we read of a ‘Dinner’, so that it was the largest shipping company in the Mediterranean. Cross of the King of which corresponds to the French ‘déjeuner’ of the invitation, while 27 Der Tag (Ημερα), 22nd March (3rd April) 1896. nd rd Serbia and Turkish in English the expression used is ‘Royal Breakfast’. 28 Certificate of the Organising Committee, Athens, 22 March (3 18 In 1896, Amaroussion (Marousi) had only a few hundred inhabit- April) 1896, RFA. Medal of Merit. ants. It had been linked with Athens by rail since 1885. The initially 29 Information from Valentine Tselika, former director of the Illustration: Rüdiger Fritz ­Archive frightening locomotive was referred to as the ‘Beast’. ­department ‘Historical Archives’ in the Athens Benaki-Museum.

14 30 Telegram, arrived 28th April 1896, RFA. London. Why Coubertin did not want one of the gifts to come to 31 Ibid, 23rd April 1896, RFA. Tsar ­Nicholas II, but to his uncle Vladimir (1847-1909) is not known 32 Sport im Bild, Vol. 2, May 1896, No. 20, pp. 310-311, 314-316. – perhaps on the advice of Queen Olga Konstantinova (1851-1926), 33 The film, not even one minute long entitled “La Sortie de l’Usine a cousin of the Russian Grand Duke. Also it has not been proved Lumière à Lyon“ (Workers leave the Lumière works in Lyon), was whether Kaiser Wilhelm II deigned to accept the “jewellery ­casket”, first shown publicly on 22nd March 1895. as no confirmation of receipt is extant. 34 Allgemeine Sport-Zeitung of Victor Silberer, Wien, 1896, Separat- 48 Ibid, 29th July 1896, RFA. To emphasise the urgency, an unknown druck. hand repeated the request on the fourth page in German. The 35 In the list of the illustrations of the Official Report, pp. 118-119, 34 journal was amalgamated in 1938 with Literary Digest and soon photos by Meyer were marked with a star. There are an additional afterwards ceased publication. eight at least which were not certified. 49 Ibid, 29th October 1896, sent off in Le Havre, RFA. 36 After the turn of the century Meyer mainly devoted himself to 50 Letter from Streit to Meyer, 19th June 1896, RFA. his private pleasures, among them hunting and travel, but ­after 51 It is not known what was understood by “all albums”. It is proven ­moving to Hanover he also opened a ‘Kunstanstalt’, mainly that the king, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Sophie (1870- ­dedicated to theatre photography, but also to portraits of promi- 1932), who was a sister of the German Kaiser, received them. nent people like General Field Marshal von Hindenburg. In 1901 ­Possibly the princes Georgios and Nikolaos did as well. he went into partnership with the photographer Hugo Julius, who 52 Letter from Streit to Meyer, 4th July 1896, RFA. ­became the sole proprietor in 1913. 53 Ibid, 11th July 1896, RFA. 37 Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv, Rep. 30 Bln C 11770. The 54 On a letter from the French archaeologist Count Alexandre-Léon Entry ticket for the Prussian Interior Ministry kept the file from 1887 to 1909. The Laborde (1853-1944) of 20th May 1896 Meyer noted: “on white fifth day of the ­dossier was produced when Meyer put in a request to be able to ­cardboard 75.-, per volume 5 M.” His colleague Pierre (Peter) Games – the day use the title of ‘Court Supplier’ granted by the Duke of Sachsen- ­Mavrocordato (1870-1948), who had written to Meyer from Odessa Meiningen. Despite the foundation of the Reich in 1871, the 25 Ger- and who later took part in the excavations in Pompeii, paid 90 of the Marathon. man federal states, which with the exception of the three free and Marks for a collection of 30 motifs. RFA. Top left can be read Hanseatic cities were ruled by monarchs, treated one another as 55 Letter from Vikelas to Meyer, 29th August 1896, RFA. Meyer had sent “Australasia”, written ‘abroad’, even if there were no frontier fortifications. an album to Vikelas in Paris on Streit’s recommendation, in which 38 Ibid, reports of 22nd April 1893 and 3rd January 1897. For comparison: however the two IOC photos were missing. Meyer had them sent to by Charles Perry, the the sums corresponded to twenty times the annual income of a him subsequently, whereupon Vikelas give him a cheque drawn on groundsman of the German skilled worker. a London bank for 120 Marks. London Athletic Club 39 Bill from the Pension ‘Kroecker’, Constantinople, 3rd May 1896, RFA. 56 Letter from Coubertin to Meyer, 8th February 1897, RFA. 40 The ‘Orient Express’, from 1883 owned by the French Sleeping- 57 Cf. Karl Lennartz, Andreas Höfer, Walter Borgers, Olympische Siege – (LAC), who noted his car Company (Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits/CIWL) Medaillen, Diplome, Ehrungen, Sportverlag, Berlin 2000, p. 106. address on the ­reverse, ­connected Paris with Constantinople. From 1888, with the inclu- 58 Letter from Coubertin to Meyer, 19th February 1897, RFA. perhaps to ­receive sion of the Bulgarian segment, the line was completely usable. In 59 Letter from Gebhardt to Coubertin, 27th March 1897, in: DOKUMENTE, addition there was an express train from Constanta once week with pp. 92-93. photos. The Greeks a through coach to Berlin. 60 There is no proof that Meyer had offered albums to the Queen of had brought Perry to 41 Pictorialism was an art-photographic style, oriented towards the as well as the monarchs of , Romania and ­Naturalism in painting and which flourished between 1880 and . Athens as the only 1914. Because of the rise in price of the platinum compound it 61 Apart from Meyer it has been proved that the Greeks Ioannis timekeeper. ­Another ­disappeared at the start of the First World War. The glass nega- ­Lambakis, Nikolaos Birkos, Paul Melas, Nikolaos Pantzopoulos und member of the LAC tives – often the positives as well – made an intensive finishing Ioannis Makropoulos took pictures. There are also exposures by the ­process possible. It was this technique that Meyer used for many of American Olympic champion over 110 m hurdles, Thomas ­Curtis, was double Olympic his ­Olympic photos. who photographed with a Kodak Personal Camera, which only ­champion E­dwin Flack, th 42 Letter from Coubertin to Meyer, 7 June 1896, RFA. came on the market in 1895. who led in the 43 Ibid. Postcard from Coubertin to Meyer, 22nd June 1896, RFA. 62 Beside Coubertin’s collection is held at the Olympic Museum in ­Coubertin’s late father-in-law Gustave Rothan, who served Lausanne, and the album casket (see footnote 47) in ­Leipzig. ­Marathon until 33 km. ­Napoleon III inter alia as Ambassador in Berlin and Constan­tinople, There are also collections in Sofia (probably from the estate of Exhausted, he had to had acquired the former Royal paper-making works in nearby Prince ­Regent Ferdinand I), in the Royal libraries of and give up three kilo­ ­Luttenbach and had it extended as a dwelling. ­Fredriksborg, , on the Coburg Veste, Germany (from the 44 Letter from Coubertin to Meyer, 5th August 1896, RFA. The IOC inheritance of Duke Alfred) as well as in the Benaki Museum, metres from the end. ­President spoke in this letter of two albums (his was probably an A­thens, in which Streit’s example is preserved. It is possible that Meyer album casket), to which he probably counted in the one he had was unaware of Flack’s already received. 45 Inspired by the success of 1896, according to Greek ideas ­Olympic nationality so Perry Games were to be held every two years alternately in Athens and added the ­details. in other great cities of the world. According to his plan, support- ed by Vikelas, the Athens Games were to bear the name “Inter- Illustration: Rüdiger Fritz ­ national Olympic Games”, the others were presented as “Games ­Archive of the ­Olympiad”. However after the defeat in the 1897 war with the 1898 Games were cancelled. On 22nd July 1899 George I promulgated a decree to arrange Panhellenic and Olympic Games in ­Athens. These were only staged once in 1906. 46 Official Report, Vol. 2, p. 5. The photo of the seven IOC members was printed with a completely retouched background. 47 Letter from Coubertin to Meyer, 26th August 1896, RFA. The jewellery casket mentioned may have been the same album casket contain- ing 34 photos acquired by the Leipzig Sports Museum acquired in 2003 from the estate of Elisabeth Meyer via her grandson Johannes Gebbing. From Coubertin’s recommendation can be assumed that he saw potentlal for the Olympic Movement in those five countries, for which the monarchs stood. The Prince of Wales was closer to him in age than his mother, Queen Victoria, whom he succeeded in 1901 as Edward VII and first scion of the house of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. In 1908 he opened the Games of the IV Olympiad in

JOH 1 | 2016 Say cheese! Herr Meyer stage-manages the Committee 15