Lot # 1729: 1909 Jack Johnson "Champion of the World" Poster

Long before Muhammad Ali’s meteoric rise to fame as a proud Black athlete, Heavyweight legend Jack Johnson set a telling precedent, establishing himself in an even brasher demeanor than his Louisville-born successor. This vintage 1909 15-3/4 x 19-3/4" broadside was issued shortly after Johnson’s claim as the first-ever black Heavyweight Champion. Printed on thick stock by Brandt & Scheible, the poster portrays Johnson in a boxing pose and is accented by likenesses of his Galveston, Texas log cabin birthplace and Johnson in his automobile. Despite significant perimeter/interior creasing, notching, and tearing, this ready-to-display piece is still quite presentable.