HISTORY: James John Corbett (September 1, 1866 – February 18, 1933) was an American professional boxer and a World Heavyweight Champion, best known as the man who defeated the great John L. Sullivan. Despite a career spanning only 20 bouts, Corbett faced the best competition his era had to offer; squaring off with a total of 9 fighters who would later be enshrined alongside him in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Offered here is an exceedingly rare, original, hand written and signed letter by James J. Corbett dating to his pre championship period in October, 1891. Corbett penned his correspondence to Arthur Lumly of the New York Illustrated News. Corbett was coming off a 4 round victory over Ed Kinney on October 8, 1891. He attended the Peter Maher-Jim Daly fight in Philadelphia on October 23, 1891 and speaks of it in his letter to Lumly, "Jim Daly fought Maher the other night and would have been licked had it not been stopped. Maher is a good second class man and he is not by far the best in that class." Corbett wrote this to Lumly on October 26, 1891 while he was in transit to Pittsburgh and less than a year away from his eventful meeting with John L. Sullivan. Authenticated by PSA/DNA.
FULL DESCRIPTION: This is a one page, ink written and signed letter on the National Hotel letterhead of York, Pennsylvania. Clean and bold. Signed "Jim Corbett." Folded both horizontally and vertically. Minor edge wear at bottom. Exceedingly rare from this era with outstanding content. 6" x 9 3/4." Authenticated by PSA/DNA and comes with their full letter with cert # AL03754.
