Antique 1919 Heavyweight Boxing Ring Aerial Snapshot – Jack Dempsey vs. Jess Willard Arena (Taken From Balloon Frame)
Description:
Up for sale is an incredibly rare, museum-grade piece of boxing and early aviation history. This is a genuine 1919 vernacular snapshot capturing a breathtaking overhead view of the massive temporary octagonal wooden stadium constructed at Bay View Park in Toledo, Ohio, for the legendary Jack Dempsey vs. Jess Willard World Heavyweight Championship fight on July 4th, 1919.
This phenomenal photograph provides a first-person perspective looking straight down from a spectator or press hot air balloon basket. The central boxing ring is clearly defined at the focal point of the massive wooden stands. The balloon's vertical mooring cable slices dramatically through the center of the frame, and a secondary observation balloon or blimp can be seen floating in the sky just above the arena's outer rim. The adjacent road and surrounding landscape are visible along the upper left margin.
The reverse side features extensive, legible original vintage pencil handwriting providing flawless historic provenance:
"Willard and Dempsey ring taken from the air in the Balloon. July 4th, 1919. Toledo Ohio."
Dimensions:
• Size: Measures 2" x 3"
Condition:
Excellent antique condition with incredible clarity, sharp contrast, and a rich, authentic sepia/silver-gelatin tone. The borders are clean with sharp corners. The reverse side remains flat and structurally sound, showing expected uniform vintage age-toning and two spots of original amber-brown adhesive staining on the lower-right edge where it was originally pasted into a family scrapbook. Please see all photos for a close look at this magnificent historical artifact. Perfect addition for elite sports memorabilia collections, boxing history archives, or early aviation ephemera.