Personal check, 6 x 2.75, filled out and signed by Lee, “Bruce Lee,” payable to Lerman & Son for $32.71, August 6, 1970. In fine condition, with expected bank stamps and cancellation holes (trivially affecting the first letter of the signature). Lerman & Son was an orthotics and prosthetics company in Los Angeles that produced medical braces for various ailments including injuries to the back, neck, arms, and legs. During the summer of 1970, Lee sustained damage to the fourth sacral nerve in his back while attempting to perform an exercise using a 135-pound barbell—roughly his own body weight at the time. Doctors speculated that he would never be able to practice martial arts again. While confined to a bed he began compiling notebooks full of his ideas on jeet kune do—ranging from technique to philosophy—which was published posthumously as Tao of Jeet Kune Do, now the best-selling martial arts book of all-time. Lee began training again after about six months of rest. Contrary to doctors’ opinions—and likely with the aid of a Lerman & Son brace—he returned to martial arts at full capacity within a year. Not only an extremely rare autographic piece, this check represents Lee’s incredible recovery fueled by his strong will to overcome. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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Incredibly rare glossy 2.5 x 3.25 head-and-shoulders photo of Lee smiling, signed and inscribed in blue felt tip, “To Lisa, Best to you, Bruce Lee, ‘Kato’.” In very good condition, with a creased central vertical fold, tiny edge tear below the signature, and toned tape remnants to two corners. Lee played Kato in the Green Hornet television series, which aired for the 1966–67 season; the show became a hit in Lee’s native Hong Kong, where it became known as ‘The Kato Show.’ An exceedingly rare format, this is the first Lee signed photo we have offered in 15 years. Pre-certified PSA/DNA
Scarce personal check, 6 x 2.75, filled out and signed by Lee, “Bruce Lee,” payable to James Y. Lee for $30, March 1967. Endorsed on the reverse by James Y. Lee. In fine condition, with expected cancellation holes (far from and not affecting the signature) and trivial brushing to the date. The recipient, James Yimm Lee, was an important martial arts pioneer who was a mentor, teacher, and friend of Bruce Lee. The two men lived and trained together in the early 1960s, and their mutual collaboration evolved into the now-famous fighting art known as Jeet Kune Do. James Yimm Lee was responsible for introducing Bruce Lee to Ed Parker, the organizer of the Long Beach International Karate Championships where Lee would be ‘discovered’ by Hollywood in 1964. Lee autographic material is exceedingly scarce, and rarely found with such an important personal association. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
Choice ballpoint signature, “Best Wishes, Bruce Lee,” on an off-white 3 x 3 card. Lee also adds his ‘Loong’ character under his signature, which represents the Chinese character of a dragon. Archivally matted and framed with a color photo of Lee to an overall size of 15 x 21. In fine condition. According to the Chinese zodiac, Lee was born in both the hour and the year of the Dragon, thus his stylized adoption of the ‘Loong’ character as his symbol. Lee material is rare in any form, and this is a truly exceptional example. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
Lee’s navy blue, fur-lined Chinese-styled jacket created for him to wear in a movie he was planning to make after Enter the Dragon, which he wore to a pre-pre-production photo session in order to test. In fine condition. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from his brother, Robert Lee, in part: “I have kept this jacket among his personal items that I received after his death in 1973. This is a very special relic related to my brother.” An exceptional item that would have been used in a film had Lee’s life not tragically been cut short. RR Auction COA.
Unissued ‘red stripe’ student membership card for Lee’s Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute, 3.75 x 2.5, signed in black ink “Bruce Lee,” and also signed by Taky Kimura. In fine condition, with a couple trivial brushes to Kimura’s signature. Accompanied by a copy of a certificate of authenticity from Kimura stating the card was issued circa 1965–67. A well-preserved example of a scarce Hollywood autograph. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
Scarce personal check, 6 x 2.75, filled out and signed by Lee, payable to James Y. Lee for $30.00, September 25, 1966. In fine condition, with cancellation holes to left side of body and some slight show-through from stamp and endorsement on reverse. James Lee was one of three personally certified 3rd rank instructors and co-founded the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.