"You sir, are the greatest athlete in the world," said King Gustav V of Sweden to Jim Thorpe in July, 1912, as he presented Gold Medals to Thorpe for winning both the pentathlon and decathlon in that year's Olympics held in Stockholm. Thorpe was already a legendary football star as he led tiny Carlisle Indian Industrial School, coached by Pop Warner, to amazing victories over national known football powers, Thorpe would go on to play professional football for many teams and major league baseball for the New York Giants. It is hard to argue with King Gustav's assessment of Thorpe's ability. Yet, in 1913, Thorpe's medals were taken away because it became known that Thorpe had unwittingly violated his amateur status by playing minor league baseball during the summers of 1910 and 1911. In the offered typewritten postcard signed by Jim Thorpe, and it apparently was written in reply to a letter or postcard of encouragement from a young fan, Thorpe writes, in part, "Dear Tony, Go out for track [,] which is the basis of all athletics. I will appreciate the help of the youth of this country in my effort to regain my Olympic medals. A pention [sic, petition] from youngsters all over the country might help...." The 3.25x5.5" postcard contains this especially poignant plea from Thorpe, who would only live one more year. It is signed "Jim Thorpe" in dark blue or black ink with a fountain pen. On the other side of the postcard is the typed name and address of its recipient. The government postcard is postmarked, from New York City, Feb. 12, 1952, almost 40 years from when Thorpe received his medals. In 1982, the International Olympic Committee unanimously, and posthumously, did return Thorpe's medals. The card has tape at all four corners, but otherwise is in good condition, with no creases. It is encapsulated and graded by PSA/DNA as an authentic autograph.