American track and field athlete (1886-1958) who is remembered for his incredible races in the 1908 Summer Olympics and the 1908 Boston Marathon. Competitor bib numbers worn by Alton Roy Welton during the men's marathon race in the London 1908 Summer Olympics on July 24, 1908. Welton's cloth bib numbers approximately measure 6 x 4, and prominently feature his "34" marathon number. Also included is the rare baggage tag originally attached to Welton's personal competitor's bag, 5.75 x 2, with matching "34" identification number; the tag correlated with the bib number so that the runners could easily retrieve their belongings following the race. In very good condition, with moderate wear from use. Accompanied by three modern photos of Welton wearing the bib numbers, as well as a letter of provenance affirming that the items derive from the personal Olympic scrapbooks of Welton. After finishing ninth at the 1908 Boston Marathon, Welton qualified as a member of the Olympic Team heading to London for the 1908 Games. As one of the country's most promising long-distance runners, the Massachusetts native competed in the marathon event on July 24th, and finished in fourth place behind fellow Americans Joseph Forshaw (bronze) and Johnny Hayes (gold). As actual Olympic race-worn items, these incredibly early competitor bibs are tremendous Bay State running keepsakes that are further complemented by the rare presence of Welton's matching baggage tag.
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