Lot 2328
1933 $20 St. Gaudens. MS-60. 69 mm. This was awarded to the New York World-Telegram for their work in 1932 and the award was given at the start of the year 1933. The obverse features a scantily clad pressman operating a screw type printing press surrounded by FOR THE MOST DISINTERESTED AND MERITORIOUS PUBLIC SERVICE RENDERED BY ANY AMERICAN NEWSPAPER DURING THE YEAR 1932--JOSEPH PULITZER MEDAL below, the reverse with a handsome image of Benjamin Franklin with HONORIS CAUSA in the fields, beneath the portrait is AWARDED BY COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TO THE NEW YORK WORLD-TELEGRAM. On the edge the medal states Medallic Art Company, NY, 14 K.
Under the terms of Joseph Pulitzer's will, Columbia University awards deserving recipients a Pulitzer certificate and monetary award through its school of Journalism. Prior recipients have included Arthur Schlesinger, Thorton Wilder, Arthur Miller, Brooks Atkinson and Ernest Hemingway.
In addition to the individual awards, each year since 1918 a single gold medal is awarded to the newspaper that delivers the most outstanding meritorious public service for the year. This highly coveted award is often the centerpiece of any publishing companies work, and recipients are held in the highest regard and esteem throughout the country. It is reasonable to assume that most of the gold medals awarded over the years would be retained by the recipients, and hence few would ever be available on the public market unless circumstances drastically changed, as they did for New York World Telegram newspaper. Hence, this rare medal became available in the private market. The medal itself has been gently cleaned, and remains generally as issued. The original box of issue is included, which shows extensive wear and is missing part of the edge and clasp. A foremost opportunity for the advanced medal collector to purchase an extremely rare and sought after medal.
This medal contains over 4 ½ ounces of gold.
Estimated Value $5,000-UP.
|
| |
| Realized $5,750 |
