Billie Jean King - 1975

📜 Description
Historical vintage print dated May 4, 1975, depicting Billie Jean King in action during an official tennis match, captured at the precise moment of impact with remarkable clarity and dynamism. The image, a press photograph printed in silver gelatin, conveys the athlete’s concentration and physical control, set against the backdrop of a crowded stadium that reinforces the competitive context of high-level tennis in the mid-1970s.

The editorial caption on the verso clearly reads “May 4 1975 – King, Billie Jean,” confirming both the identity of the subject and the contemporaneity of the print. This vintage print constitutes a direct visual document of a pivotal phase in Billie Jean King’s career, when she stood at the forefront of international tennis and broader cultural change within professional sport.

📚 Historical Note
By 1975, Billie Jean King had established herself as one of the most influential figures in global sport. Following her landmark role in reshaping women’s tennis, her presence extended beyond competition into the cultural and social sphere, redefining the position of female athletes in the professional arena.

Press photographs and historical images from this period serve as primary visual records of a transformative era in sports and media. This photograph stands as a compelling document within that context, offering an authentic and immediate representation of Billie Jean King at the height of her influence.

🧾 Technical Sheet
Type: Original photograph / Type I / vintage print / press photograph
Photographer: Not indicated
Place: Not indicated
Date: May 4, 1975
Medium: Photographic paper
Process: Silver gelatin print
Subject: Billie Jean King
Certification: PSA/DNA Type I
Dimensions: 23 × 17.5 cm
Marks / inscriptions: Verso dated “May 4 1975” with handwritten note “King, Billie Jean”

🔍 Condition Report
Overall condition is excellent. The photographic surface shows minor handling marks and light editorial wear consistent with age and professional use. The verso retains the original date stamp and handwritten identification, along with traces of adhesive or mounting from prior editorial handling. Structurally sound, with strong image clarity and full legibility.