JAMES VAN DER ZEE Autographed Photograph of Heavyweight Boxer Jack Johnson

JAMES VAN DER ZEE Autographed Photograph of Heavyweight Boxer Jack Johnson

Here we have a black and white gelatin print of a photograph taken by the renowned Harlem Renaissance photographer James Van Der Zee.

African American photographer James Van Der Zee (1986-1983) was known as the “Eyes of Harlem” in the 1920s and 1930s. Some 100,000 photographs are apart of his legacy. He took his first picture in 1900, when photography was relatively new. He then became a household name photographing legends such as Bill Cosby, and this famous black & white photo from 1933 of legendary heavyweight boxer Jack Johnson. 

This rare piece of history captures world champion boxer Jack Johnson signing documents. Van Der Zee's signature appears in the bottom left corner of the photograph. The piece is matted and housed in a wooden frame, and is approximately 22” by 17” inches.

 
John Arthur Johnson (1878-1946) referred to as Jack, was the first African American Heavyweight Boxing Champ from 1908-1915. He was nicknamed the Galveston Giant, and in Ken Burns's documentary, he wrote, “For more than thirteen years, Jack Johnson was the most famous and the most notorious African-American on Earth.” 

 

 

The above item comes with a FREE Certified Insurance Appraisal valued at $30,000.00

 

Our price is $14,900.00