Jack Johnson vs. Tommy Burns Fight Ticket / Research / Now at Auction

[D. Bergin]

Jack Johnson vs. Tommy Burns Fight Ticket. December 26th, 1908.

I know there are lots of boxing card guys here, any ticket experts? Boxing is my specialty but this item has me a bit perplexed.

I just got this in from a consignor in Australia. I've never seen another example before. I've seen several programs from this fight surface in the last few years........never the ticket.

I'm trying to clarify if this is indeed the main ticket or the stub portion of the ticket. It looks like it's perforated on the left. The stub is normally located on the right but it's not exactly unheard of for it to be on the left.

It measures about 4 5/8" x 3 1'4" inches. Not as long as most main ticket sections but also much bigger then most "stubs". The Hugh McIntosh signature on the front appears to be rubber stamped.

I guess there's also the possibility that this was the full ticket and they were produced in a roll, and each ticket was torn from the other as it was purchased. It is thin stock and this very well could be possible. It was unreserved seating so maybe the whole ticket was given up at the door and seating was first come, first serve once you entered the building.

I've talked to Harry at Antiquities and he thinks it's the main ticket portion, though he's never seen this ticket before either.........and that's unbelievable coming from him, considering what has gone through his hands over the years.

Wondering if anybody else has any other info on this ticket or possibly has a scan of a possible full ticket to pass along. I've searched as many of the bigger auction house data bases that I could think of and came up empty.

As I've said, plenty of the programs lately but none of the tickets. I kind of wonder why. Were most confiscated at the door and then destroyed? Did people trash them because they are fairly unattractive looking (unlike the program) and not on thicker stock? You would think one or two of them would have been found stashed inside one of the programs that pop up every once in awhile.

For transparency sake.........yes I will be offering this at auction soon. Just trying to get as much info as possible before I do.

Thanks.

- Dave