TUNNEY, GENE & JAMES FARLEY INK SIGNATURES

Gene Tunney was born May 25, 1897 in New York City. He won the American Light Heavyweight Title on January 13, 1922 in a bout with Battling Levinsky. He won the World Heavyweight Title on September 23, 1926 against Jack Dempsey. He defeated Dempsey in a famous rematch the following year known forever more as "the long count fight." His last fight was a victory in defense of his title over Tom Heeney. In his career Tunney posted victories over Harry Greb, Tommy Gibbons, Jack Dempsey, George Carpentier, Battling Levinsky and Tommy Loughran. His final record was 77-1-3 with 45 KO's. James Aloysius Farley (May 30, 1888–June 9, 1976) was arguably the first Irish Catholic politician in American history to achieve success on a national level, serving as Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and as Postmaster General simultaneously under the first two administrations of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Farley would get his first taste of national and global attention for his role in fighting for equal rights for African-Americans as Chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission. In 1926, Farley threatened to resign his post as Athletic Commissioner if the boxing champion Jack Dempsey did not fight the mandatory challenger, African-American fighter Harry Wills who went by the name "the Black Panther". Farley banned Dempsey from fighting Gene Tunney and publicly threatened to revoke Tex Rickard's Madison Square Garden license if he ignored the ruling of the commission. This public stand for Negro rights would prove to be a valuable asset to the Democratic Party for generations, and would sow the seeds of the Negro block of the New Deal. Offered here is a business card of boxing announcer George Silverman which has been signed on the reverse by Gene Tunney and James Farley.
Boldly signed in fountain pen ink on the back of the business card, "J.A.Farley & Gene Tunney." Signatures are bold and clear. One mild compression. Minor edge and corner wear. Minor soiling. 2" x 3 1/2."