Though we view the storytelling aspect of our auction research and descriptions as the most important thing we do and one of the key factors that differentiates us from other auction companies occasionally we learn a story that is so important and so moving that we're not sure how to effectively tell it. Such is the case with Young Perez. Messaoud Hal Victor "Young" Perez was a French-Tunisian Jewish boxer who was born in 1911 and became the World Flyweight Champion in 1931 and 1932. After losing his title to Jackie Brown in 1933 Perez moved to the bantamweight class where he fought until his retirement in 1938 a final record of 92 wins (28 by KO) 26 losses and 15 draws. As a Jewish World Champion his story would be interesting and his niche secure among collectors of Jewish athletes but his story is far more compelling. As a young man Perez resided in Paris. In 1943 after the Germans conquered France Perez was turned over to the Nazis who sent him to the Auschwitz death camp. While he was there he was forced to fight gladiatorial matches for the entertainment of the SS guards eventually without the ability to train as he was forced into slave labor at the camp. Despite this he won more than 100 matches at the camp over the three-year period he was enslaved there. By 1945 Perez was one of just 31 survivors from the original 1 000 prisoners with whom he entered the camp. Perez was one of the prisoners who left the camp as part of a death march in 1945. He was murdered on January 22 by SS guards legend being that he was caught stealing and smuggling food to the other prisoners on the march and thus executed. He was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1986 and his harrowing story was made into a French language film a few years ago. The incredible back story of Victor Perez and his early death makes this item all the more remarkable. There are only a handful of known signatures of Perez and we are thrilled to offer one for sale. Perez boldly signed the back of this European postcard in pencil. The card was obtained by our consignor from a postcard dealer in Spain some years ago purchased at the time as a Perez postcard without knowledge of the autograph then meticulously researched by the buyer. Due to the extreme rarity of the signature obtaining certification from PSA JSA or Beckett but we are confident that the consignor - one of the hobby's leading collectors of boxing material - conducted the most comprehensive research possible and that the signature is consistent with the few known exemplars. It is accompanied by a letter from the owner of the card attesting to the acquisition the research conducted into the signature and the images of the few other examples of Perez' signature that he was able to find. Few professional athletes have a story as terrifyin