Jack Johnson needed to win (2) championship fights to receive recognition as the true Heavyweight Champion. After knocking out Tommy Burns in Australia in 1908, Johnson was compelled to establish the validity of his title by fighting former champ James J. Jeffries in Reno, Nevada on July 4, 1910. After knocking out Jeffries in the 15th Round. With this victory Johnson would achieve mythical status and become an American sports icon. We offer two absolutely outstanding Jack Johnson items in this lot. First, a 1943 typed letter, boldly signed by Jack Johnson in black fountain pen, under Johnson's letterhead "Former Heavyweight Champion/ of the World". A note in pencil has been added, detailing the 1946 announcement of Johnson's tragic death. The 7 1/4" x 10 1/2" letter is creased and has adhesive spots in the lower left quadrant, where a photo was likely once attached; overall condition is VG, with the signature a 9/10. The second item is a magnificent 7" x 3" stereograph card, dating from 1910, and showing Johnson in his Chicago home. This superb item was used in Ken Burns' wonderful 2005 documentary Unforgiveable Blackness: The Rise & Fall of Jack Johnson. Condition of the stereograph card is NRMT.