Martin Luther King signed Shabbat programme to auction at Lelands

A 1963 Shabbat programme signed by Martin Luther King is auctioning at Lelands.

Bidding stands at $1,569; the sale ends later today.

MLK rabbi Lelands
Martin Luther King gave the speech at a synagogue in New Jersey

King gave a Shabbat speech at the Temple Sha'arey Shalom in Springfield, New Jersey on January 18, 1963.

He was invited by his friend, the rabbi and civil rights activist Israel Dresner.

The programme displays a large signature and is accompanied by an extensive set of notes on King's speech made by its original owner.

Josh Evans of Lelands told Forward, a Jewish news site: "The history of the program bridges the gap between the civil rights movement and American Jews.

"It tells people today about that bond that exists.

"We understand it [the program] was somebody's who was there at the service. The speech [King] gave was similar to 'The Birth of a New Age' in 1956.

"[It tells] the history of how African Americans have felt through the years and the plight they were in in 1963."

Memorabilia pertaining to Dr King remains popular, with strong sums paid at auction. A handwritten page recounting his memories of the Montgomery Bus Boycott sold for $12,500 in 2014.

Click here to check out our exciting selection of autographs for sale.

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