Books & Works on Paper,

to include the Boxing Collection of Brian and Debbie Watkins, 24th Aug, 2023 10:00

305 Pancratia, or a History of Pugilism, 1812 Pancratia, or a History of Pugilism. Containing a Full Account of Every Battle of Note from the Time of Broughton and Slack, down to the Present Day, First Edition, [Hartley 1522], signature ‘John Lloyd Peel 1845’ to title page, verso of frontispiece and upper board, engraved portrait frontispiece of Tom Cribb, rear endpaper loose with ms list of champions to 1847, some spotting and offsetting throughout, some short tears in margins, contemporary calf gilt, worn, 4to, W. Oxberry, 1812.

£500-700

306 Pancratia; or, a History of Pugilism, 1815 Pancratia; or, a History of Pugilism; Containing a Full Account of Every Battle of Note, from the Time of Broughton and Slack, down to the Present Day, second edition, [Hartley 1522], engraved portrait frontispiece of Tom Cribb, half-title with signature of ‘Geo. Offley, Covent Garden’ and another later, offsetting and spotting throughout, later half leather worn with some loss, 4to, G. Chapple, 1815.

£150-200

Books & Works on Paper, to include the Boxing Collection of Brian and Debbie Watkins, 24th Aug, 2023 10:00

307 Prize Ring Heroes Prize Ring Heroes

A collection of 4 volumes, including: Prize Ring Heroes: Life and Battles of Tom Hyer, Yankee Sullivan, John Morrissey, John C. Heenan, Tom King, First Edition, according to Hartley this is possibly a later version of ‘The Lives of Tom Hyer…’ from the same publisher, 3pp. adverts at rear, original wrappers preserved within later cloth, [Hartley 738A], Richard K. Fox, New York, 1889 § Innes (Nelse) The Two Great Ring Fights, America vs. England…, 48pp., original printed wrappers, some short tears and creasing, some wormtrailing to rear panel, Boston, [1888] § with an incomplete copy of ‘John C. Heenan, of Troy, N.Y., Champion Pugilist of America…’, 1881; and another similar, v.s. (4)

£200-300

308 Sammelband.- ‘A Pupil of the Late Tom Cribb’, The British Boxer Sammelband.-

‘A Pupil of the Late Tom Cribb’, The British Boxer, or Guide to Self Defence, title vignette, 16pp., [Hartley 1577], variation published by W. Winn, [1848] § Dipple (E., pub.) Dipple’s Handbooks, No. 5. Boxiana…, title vignette and 2 engraved portraits, probably complete in 16pp., c.1850 § Swift (Owen) The Hand-Book to Boxing... With a Complete Chronology of the Ring, First Edition, engraved portrait frontispiece, some offsetting, errata slip at rear, Nicholson, 1840; some spotting and browning throughout, bound in modern paper-covered boards, spine lacking. ***There are no auction records for the first title. It was advertised in The London Journal of 1848: “In these turbulent times, it is indispensably requisite that everybody should be prepared to use effectively those weapons which Nature has furnished us with, therefore instantaneously purchase The British Boxer…”

£400-600

Books & Works on Paper, to include the Boxing Collection of Brian and Debbie Watkins, 24th Aug, 2023 10:00

309 Smeeton (George, publisher) The Catechism of Boxing

Smeeton (George, publisher)

The Catechism of Boxing, Which, It Is Presumed, Will Enable the Pupil More Readily to Attain a Perfect Knowledge of That Truly British Art Than by Any Treatise Hitherto Published, fourth edition, folding stipple frontispiece, 35pp., some spotting, title and dedication with 2 cm loss to upper edge, strengthened, C5 trimmed to text on foredge, bound preserving original wrapper front panel stating 'fifth edition', in later quarter morocco, worn, 12mo, G. Smeeton, Surry, [1822].

***"In order to give the student, a correct representation of this most important requisite in Boxing, we have engraved the form of Mr. Jackson's clenched fist; which is allowed to be a model of perfection, fit for practitioners to copy from: the engraving is the size of life, and taken from the celebrated cast, in the possession of the Editor." - p.9

WorldCat lists only one copy, at the University of Notre Dame. £600-800

310 Sullivan (John L.) Sullivan (John L.)

John L. Sullivan, The Champion Pugilist. His Life and Battles, With a Full History of His Great Battle with Paddy Ryan…, 23 plates, 3pp. of publisher’s advertisements, original printed wrappers, tape to spine, soiled, loss to rear panel and numerous leaves, numerous short tears, Richard K. Fox, New York, 1883 § The Great Battle between John L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain, for $20,000…, First Edition, 48pp., numerous illustrations, original printed wrappers, later ink signature to rear of front panel, spine lacking and strengthened by tape, tape residue also to repaired tear to front panel, 1889 § Life and Reminiscences of a Nineteenth Century Gladiator…, First UK Edition, half-title, 12 plates, 1 leaf of publisher’s ads at front and 4 at rear, some staining and offsetting throughout, modern half cloth, partially preserving original yellow-back covers, George Routledge, 1892 § with another incomplete, v.s.

[with] John L. Sullivan, cabinet card portrait, albumen print, some damage lower left, very faded, some spotting; (5)

£200-300