John L. Sullivan
world heavyweight champion
1882-1892

born: October 15, 1858
died: February 2, 1918
 

 

 

John L. Sullivan was the true link between the bare-knuckle and the gloved eras... He won the title in a bare-knuckle fight with Paddy Ryan in 1882 and lost it 10 years later in his gloved match with Jim Corbett... This wonderful piece features a one page letter, dated Feb. 8th, 1897, all in the hand of the former world champion... Sullivan, who has been hired by the New York World, is planning his trip to Carson City, Nevada where he will be reporting on the Corbett-Fitzsimmons heavyweight championship fight the following month... Boldly written throughout and nicely signed in black ink... The beautifully illustrated stationary is from one of his post-career tours...
 


FROM THE BOOKS

  
     By the beginning of 1897, things were looking up again. Jim Corbett was scheduled to defend his heavyweight title on March 17 against Bob Fitzsimmons, the lanky English-born New Zealander who had come to the United States after perfecting his fighting technique in Australia, and the New York World hired Sullivan to cover the Battle. There were to be other World reporters on the ground, of course, but it was quite clear to John L. that his account of the fight was expected to be the authoritative one and (needless to say) the only one that intelligent people would trouble to read.
   Perhaps in consequence of poverty, perhaps because he was beginning to entertain ideas of trying a comeback, Sullivan had practically quit drinking some time before he was given the newspaper assignment. Allowing for the possibility of a relapse, the World hired Gus Roeder, heavyweight wrestler, to accompany him to Carson City, Nevada, and keep him from being led astray. But the big fellow behaved himself admirably as he rode west and never once failed to appear for his advertised back-platform receptions in all the larger cities. Even when his train merely slowed down for the villages, he was at his post to raise his plug hat and bow amiably to the faithful.		  
 


Nat Fleischer-Champion of Champions
 

  
 

Professionally framed and double matted with two vintage-original period photos taken around the time of his fight with Corbett... A treasured piece of the greatest sports figure the 19th century had witnessed!!

measures: 20 x 21.75"
condition: letter has usual folds from being mailed and
 stain towards upper left, images are excellent

$4,500
$60 shipping & ins.

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                                     Boston Feb. 8th 1897
 Mr. Eakins
                                                        Dear Sir
  I received your telegram and will say that I would want you to leave ticket or send me out to go to the fight as I will be on deck unless I ail before it comes off or something unforeseen happens to the train I go on which I hope will not occur and I think I(my) report of the fight will not take a back wash from any of the other newspapers that will be represented there. The Journal had a man over here to see me but I said nay Rawlins you are too late. You kept me waiting before but not with John this time.
             Trusting you and Mr. Quibane are
        well. I am as ever yours truly
                                         John L. Sullivan
                  23 Folsom St.