Signed postcard and a menu from Dempsey's International Restaurant.

DEMPSEY, Jack.

Published by New York: 1968

About this Item

An attractive pair of items from Dempsey's famous New York eatery, the card inscribed "For Dorothy, Thanks and good luck from Jack Dempsey." Both incorporate James Montgomery Flagg's "Million Dollar Masterpiece", the specially commissioned mural - showing Dempsey knocking out Jess Willard - that adorned the restaurant for decades. Dempsey opened at 1619 Broadway in November 1944, after his retirement from the ring. "At almost any hour, Mr. Dempsey was on hand to greet friends and strangers with a cordial, 'Hiya, pal,' in a voice close to a boyish treble. (He wasn't much better at remembering names than Babe Ruth, who called people 'kid.') He posed for thousands of photographs with an arm around a customer's shoulders or - if the customer preferred, and many males did - squared off face to face. Autographing tens of thousands of menus, he never scribbled an impersonal 'Jack Dempsey' but always took the trouble to write the recipient's name and add 'good luck' or 'keep punching'" (Smith). Red Smith, "Jack Dempsey, 87, is Dead; Boxing Champion of 1920's", New York Times, 1 June 1983. Postcard (88 x 140 mm), colour illustration after James Montgomery Flagg, rear side printed in blue. Bi-fold menu (305 x 212 mm) printed in black, red, and pink, cover with monochrome image after Flagg. From the collection of the Rolling Stones drummer, Charlie Watts. General creasing, menu misfolded when used: very good.

Seller Inventory # 194105

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Signed postcard and a menu from Dempsey's International Restaurant.
• Publisher: New York: 1968