This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 6/6/2013.
5” x 8” ALS on lined paper, framed and matted to measure 16-3/4” x 19-3/4”. Cassius Clay penned the letter himself to his friend Gerd, Gerhard Zech, a German heavyweight fighter who would have been 22 at the time of this letter. Zech went on to fight and lose to Sonny Liston on July 1, 1966. The letter reads: “Dear Gerd, I was very glad to hear from you, you said in your last letter that you want a picture of me. I am sorry but I don’t have one yet, but when I get one I will send you one. Forgive me for writing you so late, but I have been very busy, some day I hope to have a fight in Germany so when ever you feel like writing you can, but it may take a little time to answer, but I will over.” The letter has been signed, “Your Friend, Cassius Clay, Next World Champ 19-63”. It appears that Clay originally started to pen the letter in black ink that began to run out, he switched to blue ink after the 8th line and re-wrote over two illegible words. The two sided-frame allows for the signature on the verso to be viewed easily. The large Cassius Clay signature rates a near perfect 10. The letter is accompanied by a LOA from JSA for the signature.