1912 Postcard World Champion Wrestler Josef Smejkal Training Camp NY Wrestling for Sale

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1912 Postcard World Champion Wrestler Josef Smejkal Training Camp NY Wrestling For Sale

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1912 Postcard World Champion Wrestler Josef Smejkal Training Camp NY Wrestling:
$166.99

This rare 1912 real photo postcard features world champion Josef Smejkal at his training camp in the United States (believed to be New York).

Approximate size: 5.4 inches x 3.4 inches

Josef Smejkal was a notable wrestler from the Czech Republic in the early 20th century. One of his most significant matches was against Gustav Frištenský in 1913. This match is considered one of the oldest available professional wrestling match footages. It was likely the biggest professional wrestling match in Prague of the decade.

This postcard was made a year before his famous match against Gustav Frištenský, here in the United States, which makes this postcard even more rare.

He came over to the United States to wrestle some prominent wrestlers and even started a training camp.

This was written about him in 1911:

\"Foreign wrestlers are hot after the title which Frank Gotch, the American champion, holds. The latest arrival in this country-to seek a match with Gotch is Josef Smejkal, a giant Bohemian, whom his countryman believe is good enough to bring back the world\'s championship to the old country.

Smejkal has every appearance of a great wrestler. He is a powerful fellow and Is a bigger man than Gotch. He has wrestled in his own country with great success and seeks more honors in the land of the champion. Smejkal arrived in New York last week and Immediately issued a challenge to wrestle Gotch. He is 27 years old and stands six feet two inches in height and weighs 280 pounds. He has a chest measurement of 56 inches.

Promoters are planning to match the Bohemian with Ivan Romanoff. Jens Pedersen or Paul Samson, all foreign wrestlers now in this country. By the elimination system they can ascertain who has the right to challenge Gotch for the title.\"

The following are images of newspaper clippings (shown at the end of the pictures in the listing) are used for reference and not included in the purchase:

The first reference image is a newspaper clipping that was printed in the Rock Island Argus (Rock Island, Ill.), November 14, 1911

The second reference image is a newspaper clipping that was printed inThe Hawaiian star (Honolulu [Oahu]), January 2, 1912

The third reference image is a newspaper clipping that was printed in The San Francisco call (San Francisco [Calif.]), November 14, 1911

The fourth reference image is a newspaper clipping that was printed inThe Fairmont West Virginian (Fairmont, W. Va.), January 9, 1912.

The fourth article reads:

Ivan Romanoff, the giant Russian Cossack, who has just returned from the West, where he wrestled a draw with Josef Smejkal, the Bohemian champion, is anxious to meet Zbyszko or Jess Pedersen. Romanoff will be introduced from the stage at the Harlem Music Hall, West One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street, near Seventh Avenue, tonight. Niel Olsen, the clever Danish heavyweight, will appear against Leo Pardello, the Italian local champion.

Please inspect the pictures, as they give the best representation of condition.May have discoloring, edge or corner wear, marks, creases, fading, smudges, corner or edge bends, tears, or corners missing.

(C72 inventory number)