(LOT 344)
c.1941 Joe Louis Autographed PSA Type 1 Encapsulated Photo –Measures Approx. 8" x 10" – Signed "Joe Louis" (PSA/DNA Authentication)
This awe-inspiring photo portrays the iconic Hall of Fame heavyweight champion boxer Joe Louis before an exhibition bout against Selman Martin in Camp Grant, IL. As a sheer publicity stunt, Joe Louis would fight the 6'3" 205 lb. African-American Martin for only two rounds on October 8, 1941, only two months before Japan would bomb the American Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. Most significantly, this hallowed offering has been eloquently signed "Joe Louis" in black fountain pen, with the signature portraying solid "8" strength and authenticated by PSA/DNA. A spectacular offering to say the least, along with Muhammad Ali, this immortal sports hero is widely recognized as one of the two foremost Africa-American icons at his selected craft. The "Brown Bomber" held the heavyweight boxing title for 13 consecutive years (1937-1949), and won a staggering 66 fights against only 3 losses.

His most notable win came against the German Champion Max Schmeling who had handed Louis his first professional loss on June 19, 1936. Two years later, on June 22, 1938 before a packed house of over 70,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, Louis literally "pummeled" Scheming in the first round, knocking him down three times until the referee called the match after 2 minutes/4 seconds. Louis had exacted his revenge and immediately assumed the role of an American hero. Measuring approximately 8" x 10", the critical central image has remained virtually unscathed for nearly 80 years, with the one notable flaw being a horizontal tear extending from the left edge to Louis's right boxing glove. The tear has been reinforced with tape on the flipside, with the remaining aesthetics to the classic "gloves on hips" boxing pose revealing impeccable clarity. Most significant is the highly coveted Joe Louis autograph and the sparkling central image visual appeal as Louis literally emanates an "I dare you to challenge me in the ring" stoic facial expression. A remarkable keepsake from the height of Joe Louis's unparalleled boxing career, it serves as a sheer reminder of how this American legend dominated the boxing world for 15+ years, leaving an indelible mark on a captivated Nation!

MIN BID $500
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