Lot 83
In 1908 the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion stood at the pinnacle of sporting dominance, and so the result of the Burns-Johnson fight held on Boxing Day at Rushcutters Bay, Sydney shook the white supremacist view of the world to its core. Johnson, the black American champion had been denied a licence to contest the championship in America because of his colour, and had come to Australia to fight the white Canadian title holder Burns who had been lured by Hugh McIntosh, a local entrepreneur, reputedly on the promise of a £30,000 purse (Johnson was paid £5,000). Johnson's victory led to a seven year search for the 'Great White Hope' to reclaim the title for the white man. The Australian promoter McIntosh was a visionary who had the fight filmed from the four sides of the ring thus pioneering multi-angled sports coverage. He was also possibly the first to introduce the licensing of territorial screening rights. The collection includes a rare £3 Reserved Ticket to the fight - No. A184 (there are only six full or part tickets that are known to have survived). Additionally there is a scarce copy of the official programme, a signed photo-postcard of Jack Johnson from an Australian visit dating from 1907-8 (autographs signed during his fighting career are very rare particularly from the years leading up to his world championship triumph), a signed photograph of Tommy Burns dated 1910, a rare glass negative of Johnson entitled 'Ready for a left hook', an original and iconic Charles Kerry photograph (with a view towards Lawson Street) titled 'Burns-Johnson Contest. Sydney Dec.1908' and a revealing letter written by Burns in 1953 where he acknowledges his (and society's) racial prejudice at the time of the fight.
-
Notes:
- Besides the key components the collection contains boxing magazines from the era as well as a number of boxing photos and postcards as follows : * Four promotional Johnson postcards produced by Birmingham Smallwares in anticipation of the fight and entitled, 'Stop lead, ready for right cross', 'Ready for Tahmmy', 'Ready for a left hook', 'Ready for action.' Also a large size photograph of 'Ready for a left hook' probably taken from the original glass negative. * A rare photo composite of the Burns and Johnson Fight in Sydney, 1908 which was lent extensively to various sporting publications through the years. * A second edition of the 'Full and graphic story of the great fight, Burns v Johnson'. * Health And Strength' April 10,1909. The cover shows 'the golden smirk of Mister Johnson.' * 'Boxing' June 25, 1910. A cover of the 'Great White Hope', the previously undefeated champion Jim Jeffries setting out on a shooting expedition, accompanied by his dog 'Boxing.' * Original photo postcard of the Jeffries and Johnson Fight Reno Nev(ada) July 4, 1910. * 'Boxing' July 16, 1910 with a picture of the 'Champion of the World. Jack Johnson in his pride.' * 'Boxing' July 23, 1910 with the cover picture annotated 'Jeffries drove Johnson to the ropes, sending a hard left to the stomach, which made the negro grunt and fall into a clinch.' * 'Boxing' August 26, 1910. The cover features a racially denigrating cartoon of 'A day in Jack Johnson's busy life.' * A 1912 edition of the 'Life and Battles of Jack Johnson. Champion of the World with a history of past Champions.' * 'Boxing' July 4, 1914. 'Jack Johnson trying to lure Moran to close quarters.' * 'Great Fighters and Boxers - Psychology of the Ring - Book Three'. This 1923 edition has an entry on Jack Johnson. * An early photograph of Johnson in a fighting stance. * An early photograph of Johnson in a boxing contest with an unknown opponent. * Also included is an invitation to a reception for the Australian Heavyweight Champion, Bill Squires, held at Bateman's Hotel on August 6th, 1908. In 1907 Squires had refused to fight Jack Johnson who had travelled to Australia to challenge him. Squires instead went to America to fight Burns for the World Title in San Francisco on the 4th July,1907, but was knocked out in the first round. They fought again in Paris on June 13, 1908 where Squires was again knocked out in round eight. The cocky Burns gave Squires a rematch at Rushcutters Bay, Sydney on the 24th August,1908 in a lead up to the Johnson contest, and this time Squires in a closer contest managed to survive thirteen rounds. He is mentioned in Burn's letter of 1953. A transcription of the Burn's letter follows: Dec 7th 1953 . Coalinga Calffornia USA Box 366 Your Letter 25/10/53 received. I was very pleased to hear that Bill Squires is in good Health. Inclosed (sic) find a clipping of Bill Squires and (sic) myself in the Coalinga Record two days ago. It will explain itself. What I am doing today as you requested, I am healing the sick and the suffering with the power of thought qualified with love through the Cosmic Consciousness as Jesus did 2000 years ago and as he is doing today. My contest with Jack Johnson Dec, 26-1908, reminds me that in all my previous contests I had used the secret of relaxation during all my rest periods, but at that time, race prejudice was rampant in my mind. The idea of a black man challenging me of the white race was beyond endurance. With that ruling my consciousness I went out to kill. I surely did hate which was the opposite to relaxation. Thus I was tense and unable to defend myself Johnson was the very opposite and naturally won the contest. I, however was fortunate in not being hurt, I was not bleeding although I had a swollen jaw. To prove that Mr Johnson held no hate against me was born (sic) out years later when I was operating a Night Club in New York. Johnson was broke when he came into my club and asked me if I would help him, so with a feeling of compassion and love I gave him the amount requested. The word Christ means Savior (sic), so my seeming loss on Christmas Day was turned to that of love and I felt that after all I had won a great battle which I realize now to be true. To me Johnson was a champion of the first magnitude. He just had to be to out box Tommy Burns. Now I am glad that I lost the championship to Johnson. I may say that I still had a greater contest to master some years later and that was a disease named arthritis which tied up my whole body and was the result of erroneous thinking. The thoughts were not bad, but it was my qualification of the thoughts. Finally I discovered that when I qualified my thoughts with love I felt better physically. So this was the great battle of all battles, if I was to live I just had to love and I found this almost as difficult in the beginning as the Johnson battle. However with that determination as is expressed in my pretruding (sic) chin, which has now been somewhat receded, I hold on to the qualifying of every thought with love which has regenerated me physically, mentally and spiritually. First I had to prove that love power had on my own body, and if I could heal myself, then this same power could help others when mentally applied and now I live to help others. I have helped thousands whom I have never seen that write to me for help. All is done through the cosmic consciousness from mind-life. As all mind-life is one life when the truth about life is understood. I am in my seventy- third year and in perfect health as my picture shows, although I belong to no form of religion I do read and study a book written by John Westaway entitled The Mystery of God Revealed. If anyone would like a copy of this book they may have one by writing (to) John Westaway Vancouver B.C. Canada 3589 Granville St. Only love offerings are accepted for same. It gives you Jesus teachings to its fullness how to have life everlasting and overcome death the last enemy with a consciousness of love divine. I realize today and I want to thank Mr Johnson for what he taught me that boxing day in 1908. And I now know he was a great teacher and not an opponent and I realize the word Christmas means freedom and to love is freedom. Jack Johnson has received help from me, since he has passed on, as all people pass on live in the same consciousness as they did while in the flesh body while on the earth plane as the parable of the sick man states who wanted a drink of water to quench his thirst is an example. Enclosed find photo taken a few days ago and my card which you may publish with the article anywhere except Canada and ; U.S.A. With love unreserved to Australia, Always your friend in Christ-Love, Tommy Burns.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Visa, Wire Transfer
Shipping
AUSTRALIA: Purchases within Australia will be charged a MINIMUM SHIPPING FEE of $5.50 and will be sent by Registered Post. Additional insurance is optional at the buyer's expense.
INTERNATIONAL: Overseas purchases will be charged a MINIMUM SHIPPING FEE of $20.00 and will be sent by Registered Post International. Additional insurance is optional at the buyer's expense.
Both Australian and International packages are traceable in transit and require a signature on delivery.
Smalls Auctions
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 18.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| A$0 | A$99 | A$10 |
| A$100 | A$999 | A$20 |
| A$1,000 | A$4,999 | A$50 |
| A$5,000 | A$9,999 | A$100 |
| A$10,000 + | A$250 |