Four large binders of uniform size (10x12”) assembed by AZ Sport Mode in Vienna, Austria and titled in gilt on their covers: "Die Sport Elite einst und heute", filled with approximately 239 either 5x7 or 8x10 black & white glossy photographs of mostly European ski racing stars from the middle 1920’s through the 1958 FIS Championships in Bad Gastein, Austria. An incredible assemblage of ski racers including Franz Gabl, Emile Allais 1937, Anderl Molterer 1950’s, Toni Sailer in the 56 Olympics Cortina, Hannes Schroll, who would later found Sugar Bowl in the California Sierra, running the 1930 Kandahar, Friedl Wolfgang, Rudi Matt, Josl Rieder 1957, Andrea Mead Lawrence and Bud Werner, the sole Americans 1956 Cortina Olympics, Francois Bonlieu and Guy Perillat the great French stars 1957, Putzi Frandl, Hans Senger, Martin Strolz, Christian Pravda, Hias Leitner, Karl Schranz in 1958 and the great Stein Ericksen along with many many other earlier skiers. Also included are photos of the teams, officials, training, waxing skis and a few fashion shots, dating period racing and skiing attire. The great thing is that each photo has a typed label mounted below identifying the person and the skiing event, many with racing times, all in German. The albums were put together by a Lothar Robelt, bildberichter, with his card mounted in each album. The pages are very heavy cardboard, and a couple of the binder rings have sprung due to the weight of the interior pages, but the mounted pages, some of which have come loose are all in fine condition as well as the photographs. I cannot imagine a better collection or ski racing photos covering such a long period of skiing history. Provenance: collection of the late Timothy Treacy