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VINTAGE WRESTLING MEMORABILIA FROM THE PIONEERS OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING
Many Images Are Thumbnailed So Click On Them For a Larger View
Here's a few vintage oversized original photographs. ...size is important!
This is an extremely rare and beautiful original oversized mounted photograph of Duncan C. Ross. It's from the historic John Wood Studios of New York and noted as such on the mount, It's circa 1887. Overall it measures 11 inches x 14 inches. The mount has a light stain on the right edge and foxing on the reverse otherwise excellent condition. The photograph itself is crystal clear, in near mint condition and shows, the acclaimed all-around athlete, Ross wearing his Championship Belt. Click on the image for a hi-def view. RESERVED FOR GREG!
This vintage oversized hand colorized photograph of Frank Gotch once hung in the Olympia Stadium in Detroit, Mich. It measures 29 inches long x 18 inches wide.
Here's a nice oversized photograph of "Ed Strangler" Lewis. It measures 14 inches long x 11 inches wide. Lewis inscribed and signed this one to George Barton in 1926.
Here's a great oversized photograph of Toots Mondt. It measures 14 inches long x 11 inches wide. Toots inscribed and signed this to Jack Dempsey on St Patrick's Day in 1937.
A rare oversized photo of Rudy Dusek. Inscribed and signed by Rudy in 1933. It measures 20 inches long x 16 inches wide.
An oversized mounted studio photograph of Frank Gotch. Sykes Studio in Chicago. Overall measurements are 14 inches x 11 inches. The photograph itself measures a delightful 9.5 inches x 7.75 inches. and Yes, it is inscribed and signed by Gotch. "To Mr. and Mrs. Arthur F. Wagner, with best wishes from Frank A. Gotch" However, he signed his name on the mount "from Frank A. Gotch". Its faded, but readable. "Oh why couldn't he have signed his name on the photo portion instead of the mount...." oh well...
Here's a nice large, mounted, vintage photograph of Frank Gotch, Farmer Burns and Joe Carrol Marsh. Overall the mount measures out at 13.5 inches x 11.5 inches, it has edge wear at the top and a horizontal crease and corner crease at the bottom . The photograph itself is crystal clear and measures 9.25 inches x 7.5 inches and is in near mint condition. The studio is Solberg of Decorah, Iowa. A rare image of a very young Frank Gotch, in 1901. Together with his mentor Farmer Burns and his early agent/manager Joe Carroll Marsh. This original came from the family of Joe Carroll Marsh. RESERVED FOR GREG!
Next up is a true pioneer! Here's CORA LIVINGSTON Cora Livingstone (left) was born in Buffalo, New York in 1893. Livingstone, who exhibited considerable abilities as a teenager, was a natural athlete. She stood 5 feet 5 inches (165cm) and weighed 138 pounds (63kg). Livingstone began her wrestling career in earnest after marrying ring promoter Paul Bowser and settling in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Professionally trained, Livingstone would meet up with Laura Bennett in St. Louis in 1912. Smaller and outweighed by 50 pounds, Livingstone tore into Bennett right from the start and pinned her in 12 minutes. Miss Bennett's morale was shot to pieces by that fall. The second part of the match was no contest. Cora literally threw Laura in three minutes. A half Nelson and crotch hold proved to be the Livingstone media for victory. Cora was recognized everywhere as the greatest female wrestler in the world. With the rise of Cora Livingstone women's wrestling went into a more lucrative, dignified successful phase. Her victorious wrestling career finished in 1925. Actually, Cora Livingston figures as one of the first “professional wrestlers". Here are two original studio photographs of Cora Livingston, the second one is inscribed and signed by Cora.
ex Frank Gotch vs. George Hackenschmidt World's Championship bout, September 4, 1911 in Chicago's Comiskey Park. Click on it for a fine panoramic view. Among the greatest legends of early wrestling, Frank Gotch reigned as World Heavyweight Champion from 1908 to 1915. The world title was on the line when Gotch challenged the heavily favored "Russian Lion", George Hackenschmidt on April 3, 1908. Despite rumors of rough and unsportsmanlike behavior, Gotch appears to have thoroughly psyched out his opponent by showing unflappable good cheer, both before and during the match, and used his speed convincingly against a much stronger opponent. Two hours and three minutes into the bout, Gotch applied a submission hold and won the first of three falls. Hackenschmidt refused to return to the ring, and Gotch was awarded the World Title. A rematch was held on September 4, 1911 at newly opened Comiskey Park in Chicago, before a crowd of 33,000. Gotch again triumphed, winning two falls within one half hour. It was rumored, but never proven, the Hackenschmidt was intentionally injured prior to the fight. In any event, Frank Gotch later became the very first inductee into both Wrestling Halls of Fame. Huge public interest in these two matches resulted in the adoption of wrestling programs by high schools around the country, and thus the bouts proved to be of far-reaching and lasting significance. This rare, original Panorama nicely celebrates the second (1911) match, and measures 23 in x 7 in, and is framed in hardwood under glass to a total dimension of 27 in x 11 in. A real photo inset provides a very nice close-up of the two famous wrestlers and the referee. From the MAX RIGOT Studios of Chicago in 1911, it was distributed as a souvenir of the match, it is in excellent condition in the original period frame. MAX RIGOT also distributed the much more common postcards for this historic bout
Ready to hang, its $350. RESERVED!
Next up is a most unusual find. It was most likely used at the wrestling arenas circa 1910. It heralds the appearance of the great Jess Westergaard. It measures 30 inches high by 20 inches wide. It consists of 4 original, oversized, posed, 15 inch x 10 inch photographs of Jess Westergaard, mounted to hardboard. The "Jess Westergaard" name has professionally "caligraphied" on in blue ink.
nail holes in the corners, staining on the right and also on upper left. tear on the bottom right photo. Jess Westergaard (Jess Reimer)mer
No Longer Available!
Rare as hens teeth are signatures of Frank Gotch and as such they are prized among Gotch collectors. Here is an inscribed and signed copy of his book.
This original 1913 edition is inscribed to his sister and brother-in-law, "Merry Christmas, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Kurth, from brother F. A. Gotch"
JOE "TOOTS" MONDT J Here's a very young Joe "Toots" Mondt - An 8 x 10 from Riley Studios - This has been autographed by Toots - The photo itself is only in fair condition, but a very rare and early photo and signature!
DUNCAN C. ROSS Here's Duncan Ross again, this time with his pal Captain C. Daly on a cabinet card. Circa 1888, and most likely from the John Wood Studios (although unaccredited). Cool piece as it shows what I believe is the collar & elbow wrestling jacket. No Longer Available!
VERNON BREEDLOVE Born October 2, 1988, Harrison Vernon Breedlove of Council Bluffs, Iowa, studied wrestling under Farmer Burns. He turned pro in 1910. A superb technical wrestler, Breedlove never lost to an opponent of his weight (122-140 lbs.) in over 2000 matches. His final record is 2000+ wins against 7 defeats. He served his country in WWI and Dr. Breedlove earned his Doctor of Chiropractic at Palmer College in 1923 and went on to practice for 55 years. He died in 1986 at the age of 96.
Below are two vintage mounted photographs of Dr. Vernon Breedlove. The photos themselves both measure approx 7 inches x 5 inches.
JOHN PESEK "The Nebraska Tigerman"
Known for years as the policeman of the Ed "Strangler" Lewis camp, the most independent man in wrestling, and it's greatest enforcer didn't get his world title until 1938 at the age of 44. Born in Ravenna, Nebraska in 1894, this was also his home until he died in 1978. Discovered, trained and befriended by World Champion Clarence "The Octopus" Eklund. Lewis, Stecher and Londos kept Pesek at "arms length" via The Trust and used John to defeat talented challengers such as Armas Laitinen, Jack Taylor, Marin Plestina, Charles Hansen and Olympian Nat Pendleton. In 1929, he toured Australia & New Zealand, going 47-0 and beating both Ad Santel and Jim Browning. His career at a close, Pesek was known to state with pride; "No one ever got behind my back." Very likely, the greatest scientific wrestler ever to have donned a pair of tights, John Pesek passed away in 1978 at the age of 84. Below is a rare autographed photo of John Pesek. It is inscribed to referee Bert Potts. Below
LUCHA LIBRE! L FRANCISCO AGUAYO a.k.a. CACTUS PETE BROWN THE FIRST MEXICAN NATIONAL CHAMPION. Here is his Original Presentation Belt from 1925. The center plate is inscribed and was given to him by a Mexican Society in Chicago, IL on September 16, 1925. It is accompanied with the original wooden presentation case with a protective glass viewing pane. It is very large and measure 31 inches long end-to-end. The center plate measure 9 inches high x 8 inches wide. Some of the side plates need to be re-attached to the leather backing. One-of-a-kind wrestling artifact from the early days of professional wrestling.
No Longer Available!
Do you wear the Tom Jenkins Shoe? "Strongest On Earth" Rare Original Pinback Still has the rear paper copyright insert showing Union Label and the maker Stearn & Co., Cleveland Ohio. (Tom Jenkins was born in Cleveland in 1872) Circa 1905 - measures 1 1/4 inches in diameter. NO LONGER AVAILABLE!
William Muldoon Rare Original Pinback Whitehead & Hoag Co., Newark, NJ, July 21 1896 Circa 1896 - measures 3/4 inches in diameter. NO LONGER AVAILABLE!
Jess Westergaard a.k.a. Jess Reimer The Giant From Des Moines Top contender for the American Catch as Catch Can Wrestling Title in the early 20th century. Many consider him a Champion by virtue of his defeating Henry Ordemann on January 7, 1913 in the Minneapolis Auditorium. Presented here is an original vintage photo of Jess Westergaard circa 1913. Managed by Emil Klank, Westergaard stood 6' 2 and weighed in at around 220 lbs.
Measures 9 1/2 " x 5 1/4" - Sepia Tone
Ad Santel Born Adolph Ernst in 1887, Santel stood around 5' 9", weighed in at 180 lbs and was one of the best light heavyweights of his era. He wrestled in various legitimate catch wrestling tournaments throughout Europe against wrestlers of mixed styles. Between 1914 and 1921, Santel fought regularly in mixed martial arts contests against the best practitioners and proclaimed himself World Judo Champion.
Presented here is an original 8 x 10, Hartsook Studio, fight posed photograph, which has been inscribed, signed and dated by Ad Santel in 1919, in bold fountain pen ink. Extremely rare and desirable.
More to come! More to come! More to come!
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