Rare Joe Louis find. Relief copper artwork made in 1940 by Schmidt. Louis appears to have "autographed" the bas-relief, marking the copper "Joe Louis 1940." Louis is in boxing pose. On verso is an article about Joe Louis' letter prior to his fight with Lou Nova in September of 1941. Although likely ghostwritten, Louis is writing about trying to make one more fight before he enters the armed services so that he can contribute all the proceeds of the bout to raise funds to help, in his words, "the Negro people." Backing has fallen apart. Some crinkling of the copper in the lower part of the relief. Framed 14x23".