1962 Martin Luther King Signed Letter - Extraordinary Signature Example with Jackie Robinson Content! - JSA and Beckett LOAs

Sold For:

Unsold

Year:

1962

Auction:

2017 Fall

Lot #:

2602

Category:

Historical/Political/Pop Culture/Americana

One-page typed letter, dated August 24, 1962, signed by Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), American civil rights leader. This is one of, if not the finest Martin Luther King Jr., signed letter in the hobby today, notable for both its content and the quality of King's signature. What makes it so extraordinary is that it is the only Martin Luther King Jr., letter we have ever seen in which he specifically references Jackie Robinson. On July 20, 1962, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an African-American civil rights organization with King as its president, held a testimonial dinner for Jackie Robinson at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The dinner was given in honor of Robinson's election to the Baseball Hall of Fame and was attended by King, New York Governor Nelson A. Rockfeller, and many other dignitaries. In his letter, written to civil-rights activist Marian B. Logan, King thanks her for her efforts in planning that dinner for Robinson and lets her know that the money raised will be put to good use in the Albany Movement, which was underway in Albany, Georgia. In full: Dear Mrs. Logan: Albany, Georgia has spent a great deal of our energies and resources but not enough to have us overlook the tremendous job you did in making the Hall of Fame Dinner honoring Jackie Robinson a great success. Some of the monies raised have already been put to work in Albany in a Voter-Registration Drive that is in progress at this very moment. When the books close there on October 1st, you will have shared through your efforts to free the people of Albany from the shackles of segregation and discrimination. Our Annual Convention meets in Birmingham, September 25-28. Please consider this our personal invitation to attend. You will be hearing more about the details in a few days. You contributed much to the whole affair. It would not have been the success it was without you. Sincerely yours, Martin L. King Jr. [signed]. Also signed by "Wyatt Tee Walker," director of the SCLC. King's signature has been boldly scripted in blue fountain pen and grades "10" in our estimation. (The signature has been formally graded "9" by Beckett Authentication, but it is hard to understand how the signature can be any bolder; bidders can judge for themselves the quality of the signature by the close ups we have provided in the catalog and online.) Marian Logan was a prominent New York civil-rights activist and longtime associate of Dr. King. In addition to being the former New York City Commissioner of Human Rights, she was also a campaign aide for a number of prominent politicians, including Nelson Rockefeller, Robert Kennedy, and Robert F. Wagner. The letter (8.5 x 11 inches), which is written on SCLC letterhead, displays two horizontal folds and is in Excellent to Mint condition. It has been matted and framed together with the original mailing envelope (9.5 x 4 inches; Ex) and a black-and-white photo (9 x 7 inches; modern print) of Martin Luther King and Jackie Robinson posing together. Total dimensions: 16.24 x 34 inches. Together with a program from the July 20, 1962 Hall of Fame Dinner (8.5 x 11 inches; Ex) that has been signed on the interior in blue ink (grading "9/10") by Nelson Rockefeller. The substantial size/weight of this item requires that there will be a shipping charge for this lot (which will vary depending upon where it is being shipped). Full LOAs from James Spence/JSA, Steve Grad and Brian Sobrero of Beckett Authentication, and John Reznikoff/University Archives. Opening Bid $5,000. Estimate $10,000/$20,000.