Rare ink signature, “Jack Johnson,” penned on the back of a 6.5 x 2.25 ticket booklet for the 1933-1934 Century of Progress International Exposition, which is more popularly known as the Chicago World's Fair. The booklet contains five admission tickets and ticket stubs for various displays and attractions, such as the 'Horticultural Exhibition,' 'Old England,' 'Tunisia,' and 'Fort Dearborn or Lama Temple or Colonial Village'; the latter, the only full-sized ticket, is signed on the reverse by Johnson. In very good to fine condition, with a circular stain touching the signature.
At the Chicago World's Fair in 1934, Johnson presided at a booth, ringing the changes on his time-tried spiel and impressing Gilmer Black, the Chicago architect and sportsman, as extremely affable and most remarkably light on his feet. During this engagement, he joined Sally Rand and Samuel Insull in autographing a drum and appeared in an ‘exhibition boxing bout’ with the veteran heavyweight Sailor Tom Sharkey. Sharkey rushed at his opponent with serious intent, but Johnson easily held him off or pinioned his arms, flashing a gold-mouthed smile at the spectators and reproving Sharkey. ‘What you aim to do to me, Tom? What you tryin' to do?’
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