Lot # 201: Incredible c.1963 Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) & a 13-Year Old Stevie Wonder PSA Type I Encapsulated Contact Print – Measures Approx. 3-7/8” x 4-3/4”

Category: Photos

Starting Bid: $500.00

Bids: 0 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
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Item was in Auction "20th Anniversary Auction",
which ran from 9/18/2020 4:30 PM to
10/10/2020 7:00 PM




(LOT 201)
Incredible c.1963 Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) & a 13-Year Old Stevie Wonder PSA Type I Encapsulated Contact Print

Incredible c.1963 Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) & a 13-Year Old Stevie Wonder PSA Type I Encapsulated Contact Print – Measures Approx. 3-7/8" x 4-3/4"Presented here is a magnificent 1963 image of the incomparable Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) at the tender age of 21 with none other than a "little" 13-year old Stevie Wonder, standing outside New York's renowned Apollo Theatre! This extraordinary image portrays these two iconic African-Americans in the very early stages of their incomparable careers, with the highly outspoken Cassius Clay a year later claiming the boxing heavyweight championship belt by upsetting the highly favorite Sony Liston on February 25, 1964.

One of the most iconic all-time Athletes, Ali stands right alongside Babe Ruth and Michael Jordon in popularity, with the "trash talking" legend's resume including three WBA heavyweight titles (1964, 1974, 1978); six-time Ringside Magazine "fighter of the year" awards; Sports Illustrated #1 greatest athlete; and being widely acclaimed as the greatest heavyweight boxer ever. His unfortunate death on June 3, 2016 due to complications relating to his debilitating Parkinson's disease was deeply felt across the globe, for it virtually seemed that nothing could ever silence this incomparable legend. Not to be outdone, the illustrious Stevie Wonder (who turned blind shortly after his birth), has miraculously sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists ever. He has won an unfathomable 25 Grammy Awards, and was the first Motown artist and second African-American musician to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song (for the 1984 film "The Woman in Red").

His music related Hall of Fame credentials include inductions in the Rhythm & Blues, Songwriters and Rock & Roll Hall of Fames, and he is extremely well noted for his political activist work including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a Holiday in the United States as well as being named a "United Nations Messenger of Peace" in 2009. No wonder these legendary Black Americans stand tall as two of America's most prominent all-time figures, substantiating why collectors painstakingly seek their most valued artifacts. That said, no image could possibly boast the possible unique and prestigious stature of this "Type 1 1963 Contact Print" that remarkably places both these icons on a single photo as they are about to embark on their Hall of Fame careers.

Brilliant contrast and clarity elevate the illustration to a world-class level, with Ali donning a checkered suit and Wonder's formal attire including a dazzling white sports jacket and his customary ultra-dark sunglasses. For full disclosure, the perimeter has received a mild manual trim, a typical practice for many vintage photos with the central image still retaining all of its original captivating appeal. Some negligible fixing is evident on the blank verso, with no glaring flaws whatsoever on the critical obverse side surface. One of the most amazing historical photos you will ever come across, it is a near-impossible task to find these two immortal African-Americans in a single photo at such an early age, with the 13-year old Stevie Wonder and 21-year old Cassius Clay/Ali ironically meeting up in 1963 before their hallowed names would ultimately "rock the planet!"

MIN BID $500
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