This exceedingly rare personal letter written by famed bare knuckle fighter Jake Kilrain is dated April 22, 1889. Written to his friend and cornerman Johnny Murphy a fews months before his epic battle with John L. Sullivan for the heavyweight title. This would be the last heavyweight title fight decided by bare knuckles. Johnny Murphy would be in Kilrain’s corner.The letter is bound in rust colored leather measuring 7.5" x 5” and is in remarkable shape for a letter over a century old. The pages have a few minor wrinkles but are completely devoid of any tears or severe creasing and the fountain pen ink is completely legible with very little age discoloration. The scarcity of personal letters written by Kilrain coupled with the outstanding quality, make this a truly unique lot and real treasure, especially for collectors of pre-modern era boxing memorabilia.