1963 Cassius Clay Signed Photograph with Original Mailing Envelope

Sold For:

$3,300

Year:

1963

Auction:

2018 Fall

Lot #:

2465

Category:

Boxing/Golf/Other Cards or Memorabilia

Publicity photo signed by Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) in 1963, together with its original mailing envelope. The photo (4 x 7.25 inches), which pictures Clay in a boxing pose, is inscribed and dated, "To Lois from Cassius Clay Next Champ Good Luck 1963." Both the inscription and signature have been rendered in blue ink, grading "6" overall. The accompanying mailing envelope (7.5 x 4.25 inches), which bears the return address of Angelo Dundee's gym in Miami, Florida, is addressed to "Miss Lois Siegel" of Akron, Ohio, and is postmarked "Mar 2 1963." Also accompanying the photo is a two-page handwritten letter, dated July 25, 2009, from Lori Siegel detailing its history. According to Siegel, she was an autograph collector at a young age and wrote to Clay while in high school requesting his signature. The photo remained in her collection until she sold it to our consignor in 2009. Clay was 17-0 at the time he signed this photo and just one year later his prediction came true when he defeated Sonny Liston for the Heavyweight Boxing Title. This is an outstanding early Clay signature, especially given its prescient inscription. The photo displays a number of tack holes along the border areas and is mounted (by means of adhesive) to a black-cardboard mount. The envelope, which is similarly affixed to the mount next to the photo, displays adhesive residue along the left border. (Both items can probably be professionally removed from the mount if so desired.) Total: 3 items (photo, mailing envelope, and letter of provenance. Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA. Pre-certified by Steve Grad and Brian Sobrero/Beckett Authentication. Reserve $1,000. Estimate (open).