I saw that awhile ago Travis. Not the first bare-knuckle signature I've seen offered at a major auction that made me roll my eyes.
There was a certain whole book of them at a major auction house a couple years ago and offered more then once that made me question my own sanity.
Why would Sayers, pretty much believed to be illiterate, go to the trouble of writing out a challenge acceptance? Promoters and managers usually did this through handbill challenges and newspaper postings?
Also, legalese type contracts were already a normal occurrence at this time. I've got a copy of Yank Sullivan vs. John Morrissey in my files that is still in the hands of the family of the original stakeholder, last I knew. Not some scrawl from the boxer.
Have you seen the copy of the Tom Sayers unused passport to France that was listed in "Famous Fights"?
It has what appears to be a nice looking "Thomas Sayers" signature on it, but underneath has the phrase "his mark", which makes me wonder if somebody else actually signed it for him.
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