[KING, Martin Luther, Jr. (1929-1968)]. SLEET, Moneta, Jr. (1926-1996), photographer. Dr. King asleep on plane en route to Oslo, Norway to Receive Nobel Peace Prize, 1964. Printed later.

8 1/8 x 10 in. (including margins) silver gelatin photograph (few creases to margins, light surface wear). Features Dr. King sleeping with his hands clasped together near his face and curtains pulled together over the windows behind his head. Verso bears affixed paper label with typewritten caption and ink inscription reading, "credit photographer Moneta Sleet, Jr."

Born in Owensboro, KY, Moneta Sleet, Jr. studied journalism and photography extensively before serving his county in World War II. After returning to the US, he began a long career at Ebony Magazine in 1955. It was in that capacity that he followed Martin Luther King, Jr. for 13 years, witnessing (and more importantly, capturing) the Civil Rights Movement up close. One of his most famous images was a photograph of King with Rosa Parks, Ralph Abernathy, Ralph Bunche, and Coretta Scott King, leading a group of marchers. Sleet became the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for photography in 1969 for his photograph, Deep Sorrow, which captured Coretta Scott King at her husband's funeral.

This is a circa 1970-1975 restrike of the original image.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

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Katie Horstman

VP, Head of Department, American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

[email protected]513.666.4958

Ms. Horstman has spent over a decade specializing in historic photography and Americana at auction. During her tenure, she has overseen several notable single owner auctions, including property from the inventory of celebrated Americana and antique arms expert Norm Flayderman. During her time with the firm, she has maintained an active membership in the Daguerreian Society. Ms. Horstman holds an MA in Art History from the University of Cincinnati and a BA in Art History from The Ohio State University.

American Historical Ephemera and Photography, Featuring African Americana

[KING, Martin Luther, Jr. (1929-1968)]. SLEET, Moneta, Jr. (1926-1996), photographer. Dr. King asleep on plane en route to Oslo, Norway to Receive Nobel Peace Prize, 1964. Printed later.

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