Lot 525

525

WILLIAM HARRISON 'JACK' DEMPSEY (1895-1983)
A GOLD, DIAMOND AND ENAMEL WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE BELT

WILLIAM HARRISON "JACK" DEMPSEY (1895-1983)
A 14K GOLD, DIAMOND AND ENAMEL WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE BELT

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These lots have been imported from outside the EU … Read more

Property from the Collection of David Gainsborough Roberts

WILLIAM HARRISON 'JACK' DEMPSEY (1895-1983)A GOLD, DIAMOND AND ENAMEL WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE BELT

1919

Details

WILLIAM HARRISON 'JACK' DEMPSEY (1895-1983)
A GOLD, DIAMOND AND ENAMEL WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE BELT
1919
The central buckle designed as a rectangular panel with two boxers in raised relief around a central circular-cut collet-set diamond, flanked by diamond-set gloves, also with diamond stylised canopy and border, the polychrome enamel legend inscribed 'TEX RICKARD/ BELT/ HEAVY WEIGHT/ WORLD'S CHAMPION', on red, white and blue silk and leather belt; together with an autographed menu from Jack Dempsey's Broadway Bar and Cocktail Lounge, New York, inscribed 'Good Luck Pal/ Jack Dempsey'
The badge: 2 ¾ in. (7 cm.) wide

Provenance

William Harrison 'Jack' Dempsey.
Gifted to previous owner.
Sotheby's, New York, 22 June 1990, lot 248.

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Sale room notice

Please note the estimate for this lot should read £15,000-20,000 and not as stated in the catalogue

Lot Essay

Also known as 'The Manassa Mauler', Dempsey was a boxing icon of the 1920s, becoming one of the most popular boxers of all time.
This belt was awarded to him by Rickard (The promoter of Madison Square Garden at the time) after Dempsey's three round knockout of Jess Willard ('The Pottawatamie Giant') on 4th July 1919.
Dempsey went on to defend his heavyweight crown a further 5 times, only losing it in 1926 in a fight against Gene Tunney.
He was elected to the The Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954.
This lot is sold with a letter of provenance and an excerpt from The Ring Record Book and Encyclopedia.

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