Muhammad Ali Desktop Pen & Calendar Set Gifted to Archie Moore in 1969

The offered desktop pen and calendar set was a gift from Muhammad Ali to his former rival Archie Moore. The plaque on the set reads: "ARCHIE MOORE / HAPPY BIRTHDAY and BEST WISHES / MUHAMMAD ALI DECEMBER 13, 1969." Moore trained Ali early in his career, but the young fighter didn't appreciate the salty veteran's training methods. Ironically, Moore was the first professional opponent of the young heavyweight Cassius Clay on November 15, 1962, but that didn't stop the brash young fighter from proclaiming prior to the fight "Don't block the aisle and don't block the door. You will all go home after round four." Amazingly he was right! Clay won by TKO in the 4th round. For as much as it burned Moore to say it, he did admit he had underestimated Clay. Though he was the veteran of more than 200 fights, at 47 years old, Moore knew he was outgunned, but he thought he could catch the young fighter with a hard right hand. At the end of the fight, Clay hugged Moore with more than a little respect, and their friendship continued through the rest of his career. Most of Ali's verbal hyperbole was to build excitement and drama for his fights, and though he could get mad at opponents, he was always fond of Moore. The offered pen and calendar set is evidence of that. The calendar mechanism is somewhat ingenious—simply move it forward to advance the days visible in the windows. It is still operational. The month is displayed on individual cardboard cards, all of which are presents. The pens have long since stopped working. The set measures 9 ¾ x 4 7/8 inches and presents with moderate to heavy wear, apparently from use, with scratches to the calendar mechanism and the base. Excellent condition. The set is accompanied by a letter from the original auction house when the set was sold and a letter from the buyer.