JACK JOHNSON SIGNED COPY OF HIS BOOK "JACK JOHNSON THE MAN" JSA

Description

Few
pieces of memorabilia, and perhaps even fewer individuals, can reside at the nexus of their sport and the American cultural stage of their era, an intersection that was seemingly invented by Jack Johnson, the legendary black boxing figure from 100 years ago. Johnson, a black champion of worldwide renown, parlayed his reign as World Heavyweight Champion from 1908-15 and his swashbuckling and flamboyant lifestyle at the height of the Jim Crow era into a unique and unmatched perch on the American sporting scene, a template in a fashion for generations of black athletes still many years down the road. With that kind of resume comes this extraordinary signed copy of his book, “Jack Johnson The Man,” subtitled “With Boxing Instructions and Health Hints,” that latter allusion apparently done without any apparent ironic nod to his exuberant lifestyle. The 48-page, 5-by-7-inch book is nothing short of sensational, with black-and-white full-page photographs of the great champion in candid poses or studio portrayals of fighting moves and punches. Signed in a blazing black fountain pen signature on the author’s page 2, and inscription by Johnson inside the front cover notes “From Jack Johnson, to a friend Leon, with good luck.” The book is in wonderful condition, presenting perhaps Ex-Mt, jostled only marginally by a bit of a dog-eared corner on the cover missing and slight separation around a staple on the cover, none of which detracts from the presentation. Difficult to imagine a more compelling artifact being available from a truly legendary figure from the turn-of-the-century sporting arena. Book is missing a small corner on the cover, shown in picture.
Book was purchased from SCP auctions in 2015 Lot 1082
Full LOA from JSA.