This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2014
Gene Tunney was one of the greatest light heavyweight and then heavyweight fighters of all time. Boxing at around the time of World War I, Tunney emerged from the streets of New York City to become an accomplished pugilist. This lot includes a pair of autographed items from the former world champ. The first item is a very rare 5-stamp strip produced by the American Bank Note Company in 1940 that was supposed to be celebrating and commemorating what was to be the Summer Olympic Games. However, due to the outbreak of World War II the Games were cancelled, thus making this strip of stamps extremely rare. The strip of stamps was signed by Tunney with a black steel-tip fountain pen. The signature is strong and rates 9/10 in our book. The second item is a framed, black-and-white portrait of Tunney, in a suit, that he signed with a black fountain pen that appears to have faded slightly over time. He also added the following inscription: “With every good wish, Sincerely Gene Tunney.”
The dual-signed 1940 stamp strip comes with a Letter of Authenticity from JSA.
Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.