Rare Bruce Lee Signed First Edition Coming to Auction | Weiss Auctions
A Possibly Unique Association Copy from Bruce Lee’s Inner Circle
Update: This lot sold for $115,050 at our April 30, 2026 auction, surpassing its pre-sale estimate of $15,000–$25,000 more than four times over.
Weiss Auctions is honored to present one of the rarest Bruce Lee items to come to market: a first edition copy of Chinese Gung Fu: The Philosophical Art of Self-Defense (1963), boldly signed and inscribed in ink by Bruce Lee himself.
What distinguishes this example beyond its extreme scarcity is the person to whom it was inscribed and the depth of the inscription itself — a handwritten philosophical statement that would come to define Lee’s legacy and the foundation of Jeet Kune Do.
First Edition, 1963 — Chinese Gung Fu: The Philosophical Art of Self-Defense by Bruce Lee
The Inscription
In his own hand, Bruce Lee inscribed the book: “To Richard, Simplicity is the end of art, the beginning of nature. My best always, Bruce Lee.”
This is not a routine presentation. The passage closely paraphrases one of Lee’s most enduring philosophical principles — that simplicity represents the highest form of mastery and the natural endpoint of true artistic expression. The idea became central to Lee’s teachings and later formed a cornerstone of his philosophy surrounding Jeet Kune Do, making the inscription far more than a simple dedication.
Bruce Lee’s inscription to Richard Bustillo — ink on the title page of the first edition
Richard Bustillo: A Student of the Inner Circle
Richard Bustillo was one of Bruce Lee’s closest students and one of the foremost authorities on Jeet Kune Do Concepts. His connection to Lee was not incidental — Bustillo later went on to instruct Lee’s own children, Brandon and Shannon, placing him at the center of one of martial arts’ most important lineages.
An association copy inscribed to a student of this standing — one who carried Lee’s teachings forward across generations — gives this example a historical significance greater than the scarcity of the book itself.
Provenance & Accompanying Documentation
Included with this lot was the original Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute receipt made out to Bustillo and signed by Dan Inosanto — one of Lee’s most trusted associates and a pillar of the Jeet Kune Do tradition. This document provides an extraordinary direct link to Lee’s inner circle and early teaching period.
The combination of the inscription, the recipient’s identity, and the accompanying institutional receipt establishes a clear chain of provenance that contributed significantly to the final result.
The Book: First Edition, 1963
Published in 1963 and copyright by Bruce Lee, Chinese Gung Fu: The Philosophical Art of Self-Defense was Lee’s first book — produced years before his Hollywood career and at the very earliest stages of his public teaching. First edition copies are scarce in themselves.
A signed and inscribed example with a verifiable association to a named student from Lee’s inner circle is, as far as can be determined, possibly unique in the collector marketplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bruce Lee Signed First Edition
What did this Bruce Lee signed first edition sell for?
The lot sold for $115,050 at our April 30, 2026 auction, nearly four times its high pre-sale estimate of $25,000. The winning bid was placed by a collector on our website.
What is being offered in this lot?
A first edition copy of Chinese Gung Fu: The Philosophical Art of Self-Defense (1963) — Bruce Lee’s first published book — boldly signed and inscribed by Lee to Richard Bustillo, one of his closest students and a founding figure in the Jeet Kune Do tradition. Also included is an original Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute receipt signed by Dan Inosanto establishing direct provenance to Lee’s inner circle.
Why is this book so significant?
Chinese Gung Fu was Bruce Lee’s first book, published in 1963 before his Hollywood career. First edition copies are scarce on their own. A signed and inscribed example with a verifiable association to a named student from Lee’s inner circle is believed to be possibly unique in the collector marketplace.
Who was Richard Bustillo?
Richard Bustillo was one of Bruce Lee’s closest students and one of the foremost authorities on Jeet Kune Do Concepts. He later went on to instruct Lee’s own children, Brandon and Shannon Lee, placing him at the center of one of martial arts’ most important lineages.
Does Weiss Auctions handle other Bruce Lee or martial arts memorabilia?
Yes. Weiss Auctions regularly handles rare books, signed first editions, autographs, and entertainment memorabilia across all categories. If you have Bruce Lee items, martial arts memorabilia, or other signed books and manuscripts to sell, contact us for a free, no-obligation appraisal.
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