A silver-mounted ebonised walking stick associated with the bare knuckle prize fighter Jem Smith, hallmarked London, 1887, the handle end inscribed PR

A silver-mounted ebonised walking stick associated with the bare knuckle prize fighter Jem Smith, hallmarked London, 1887, the handle end inscribed PRESENTED TO J. HARPER, BY J. ARCHBELL & J. EMLER ESQRES., OF THE JACK OF NEWBURY FOR SERVICES RENDERED TO JEM SMITH IN THE INTERNATIONAL FIGHT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD 1887 The inscription refers to the $10,000 bare knuckle fight on 19th December 1887 between England's Jem Smith and the NY born American Jake Kilrain that took place at Isle de Souverains in France. The bout was abandoned as a draw after 106 rounds which lasted 2 1/2 hours due to the fall of darkness. The recipient of the stick, Jack Harper, was a second in Smith's corner at the fight.