This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 6/6/2013.
Framed and matted to measure 27” x 27”, this 16” x 16” white handkerchief comes from Muhammad Ali’s African-styled robe that he wore prior to his title fight against George Foreman on October 30, 1974 at Tata Raphael Stadium, in Kinshasa, Zaire; a.k.a. “The Rumble In The Jungle”. The astrological chart was drawn onto the handkerchief by Frederic Davies, a British psychic astrologer and clairvoyant. Prior to the fight, the handkerchief was sewn into in a secret panel in the hem by the robe’s designer, Michael Fish, unknown to anyone but he and Davies at the time. The chart is hand-drawn in black ink, it features a compass rose, with Ali’s Capricorn zodiac sign at the center, along with the rest of the zodiac signs and various calculations that Davies made. At the top of the handkerchief, Davies has written “ASTROLOGER FREDERICK DAVIES PREDICTS - 1974 WORLD CHAMPION MUHAMMAD ALI - FIGHT ROBE MADE BY MICHAEL FISH AND CHRISTOPHER LYNCH”. Below the astrological chart, Davies also wrote the date, time and location of Ali’s birth, “BORN JANUARY 17, 1942 AT 6:35 PM - LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY” as well as the original location, date and time of the fight, “ZAIRE SEPTEMBER 25TH 1974 AT 3:00 AM.” The fight was rescheduled for October 30 after Foreman injured his eye during training in Zaire. Both fighters spent much of the summer of ‘74 training in Zaire, getting their bodies acclimated to the weather in the tropical African country. The border of the handkerchief features the same phrase, “NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO”, hand-written twelve times, three on each edge. The phrase refers to a mantra chanted to achieve enlightenment; it is a central practice of all forms of Nichiren Buddhism. NRMT Condition, this item will require additional shipping and handling charges due to its size, weight and fragility.