Real Photo Boxing Postcards, ca. 1910
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GUEST:
I brought a collection of boxing cards that I found in a rental unit about 20 years ago. The renters had left, and other renters came in, and maybe two or three down the road, they found them back in the back of the closet.
APPRAISER:
They were basically abandoned.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
Then to your possession.
GUEST:
Yeah, right.
APPRAISER:
Well, what we have here are four beautiful examples of early 1900s real-photo postcards. These were actually printed with the intention of being mailed. From the backs of these, none of these were mailed.
GUEST:
Right.
APPRAISER:
So what we have here today are the three different boxers in four postcards. On the top two, both are of Jack Johnson, first African-American world champion in 1908. And then Peter Jackson, he was the Australian champion. Then we come down to the lowest one next to me, and that's Jim Jeffries, also an American world championship boxer. In 1910, Jim Jeffries comes out of retirement, far past his peak, to fight Jack Johnson strictly for the purpose of showing that the white man's a better boxer. And in 15 rounds, he was defeated by Jack Johnson. On the one closest to you, Peter Jackson, Australian world championship. In 1891, he went up against James Corbett. That fight was stopped in the 61st round when the referee decided there just will not be a winner in this fight. The 61st round.
GUEST:
61st...
APPRAISER:
And I saw some reports that said the 64th round.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
These are all between approximately 1908 to 1912 or so. Some really great examples of early boxing history right here. I have not seen that real-photo postcard of Jack Johnson before. That one I would expect to sell at auction for $1,000 to $1,500, for that one alone.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
The other Jack Johnson image, of him getting ready for the punch, I've seen that one trade hands before at auction. About $500 for that one. The Peter Jackson, I've also seen that postcard come up before. That one, again, would sell at auction for $500 or so. The Jim Jeffries, I've not seen that one before. That's likely a one-of-a-kind or never-before-seen image. That one I would say, at auction, $300 to $500.
GUEST:
Okay.
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