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Monaco, Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo, c. 1935, a bronze medal by A. Szirmaï, semi-naked female holding a plaque above a map of Europe depicting the route of the concentration run from the different starting cities, rev. view of the harbour at Monaco, two aeroplanes in sky, 62mm. Very fine and very rare (£60-80)

Obverse only illustrated on the Plates. The Monte Carlo Rally, the oldest international event of its kind, began in 1911 at the height of the rivalry between Nice and Monte-Carlo. Nice organised its ‘carnival’ which attracted a rich clientele to the town’s casinos and so Monaco’s ruler, King Albert I, decided to organise an automobile rally. Uniquely there were different starting points in a number of European cities, all converging on Monaco in January, a tradition that was maintained until 1997. When the event was revived after the War in 1924 the number of starting cities increased and in 1934 Athens, shown on this medal, was used a starting point for the first time