Boxing/ Sam McVea/ Paris/ Bal Tabarin - Lot 20

Boxing/ Sam McVea/ Paris/ Bal Tabarin Silver print of the great black pugilist Sam McVea (1884-1921). This impressive American-belt champion boxed at the top for 18 years. In particular, he fought three times against Jack Johnson. His record in the top heavyweight category stands at 96 fights for 65 victories, including 47 by KO. During the great period of exile in Paris for black American boxers who were victims of racism, he appeared at the Folies Bergères, the Cirque de Paris, the Bal Bullier, the Théâtre Marigny, and probably at the Bal Tabarin and the Pelican on November 29, 1910 (the period of this document), in an exhibition against Geo Max. His fights against Frenchmen (G. Carpentier, KO), Japanese (Matsuda, KO) or compatriots are the stuff of fine recipes, sensitive commentary, and sometimes epic (49 rounds against Joe Jeannette in 1909); he figures in the legend of the noble art. Here, he lovingly dedicates a superb photo to the owner of the Pigalle cabaret Bal Tabarin, which also organized boxing events (editor's note: and women's wrestling with Van Dongen as a spectator, see other photo): "A Souvenir from Mr. Sam Mac Vea to Monsieur a Boss Director Bal Tabarin, rue Victor Massé, Paris, November 1910". In those years, masterfully evoked by writer Claude Meunier in his "Ring noir..." (Ed. Plon, 1992), Joe Jeannette or Sam Lanford and all the others with Scanlon were also performing in Paris. The many articles written at the time by Tristan Bernard, Marcel Prévost, Henri Desgrange, Jacques Mortane and Géo Lefèvre give an idea of the notoriety of the man who became "the idol of Paris", over the course of a dozen performances in the capital. Some say he looks like Cassius Clay. Under glass in period frame. 49 x 38.5 cm int; 57 x 47 cm ext. Misses from frame. Photo TBE.