Sports and Leisure

Robinson, Jackie; Alfred Duckett

Breakthrough to the Big League: The Story of Jackie Robinson.

New York : Harper and Row, Publishers, 1965.

First edition of this autobiography detailing Robinson’s journey as the first Black player in Major League Baseball. Octavo, original pictorial boards, frontispiece, illustrated with 21 black and white photographs. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by Jackie Robinson in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “4-18-65 To Robert Weiss with best wishes. Thanks forContinue reading "Breakthrough to the Big League: The Story of Jackie Robinson."

Jones, Robert T. [Bobby]

Golf Is My Game.

Garden City, New York : Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1960.

First edition of this classic golfing technique manual. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Freeman With all sorts of best wishes, Bob.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Ben Feder. An exceptional example.

Perry, Fred J

Perry on Tennis: Expert Advice for All on Lawn Tennis.

London : Hutchinson & Co, [1936].

First edition of this instructional work on tennis by legend Fred Perry. Octavo, original publisher’s teal cloth, frontispiece, illustrated with black and white photographs. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Foreword by H.W. Austin. Uncommon in this condition.

Wind, Herbert Warren

The Story of American Golf: Its Champions and Its Championships.

New York : Farrar, Strauss and Company, 1948.

First edition of one of the greatest works on American golf, published in the 20th century. Quarto, original cloth, top stain green, illustrated with photographs and line drawings. Fine in a very good dust jacket. Housed in the original board slipcase.

Levy, Bill

The Derby.

Cleveland and New York : The World Publishing Company, 1967.

First edition of this entertaining inside look at the greatest horse race in America. Octavo, original publisher’s green cloth, top stain orange, illustrated profusely with black and white photographs by Mike Tonegawa. Fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket photograph by Canfield and Shook.

Woods, Tiger

How I Play Golf.

Boston : Warner Books, 2001.

First edition of this work in which the legendary Masters champion displays his techniques. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Seth, Thanks again for all your wonderful help and support. Tiger Woods.” Fine in a fine dust jacket.

Jones, Robert T. [Bobby]

Golf Is My Game.

Garden City, New York : Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1960.

First edition, early printing of this classic golfing technique manual. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For Rebecca & Don Warren with best regards, Bob Jones.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Ben Feder.

Kinsella, W.P. [Kevin Costner]

Shoeless Joe. [Field of Dreams].

Norwalk, Connecticut : The Easton Press, 1992.

Signed limited first edition of this classic work, basis for the film Field of Dreams starring Kevin Costner. Octavo, bound in full leather with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, all edges gilt, watered silk moire endpapers, with a silk bookmark bound in. Boldly signed by Bill Kinsella andContinue reading "Shoeless Joe. [Field of Dreams]."

Jones, Robert [Bobby] T. Jr. and O.B. Keeler. Foreword by Grantland Rice. [Gary Player]

Down the Fairway: The Golf Life and Play of Robert T. Jones, Jr.

New York : Minton, Balch & Company, 1927.

Signed limited edition, preceding the first trade edition of what many consider the greatest golf book of the 20th century. Octavo, original half vellum over green boards, gilt titles to the spine, top edge gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece, illustrated. One of 300 numbered copies signed by both Robert T. Jones and O.B. Keeler on the limitationContinue reading "Down the Fairway: The Golf Life and Play of Robert T. Jones, Jr."

Player, Gary [Mason Rudolph]

Gary Player’s Golf Secrets.

Englewood Cliffs, N.J : Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1962.

First edition of Gary Player’s first book. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Inscribed by Gary Player on the front free endpaper, “Best wishes Gary Player” and additionally signed by Mason Rudolph. Mason Rudolph (1934–2011) was an accomplished American professional golfer whose career reflected the disciplined precision and steady temperament characteristic of mid-twentieth-century golf. A five-time PGA TourContinue reading "Gary Player’s Golf Secrets."

Jordan, Michael

Rare Air: Michael on Michael.

San Francisco : Collins Publishers, 1993.

Signed limited edition from Upper Deck of this work which share the thoughts and observations and photographs of important moments in Michael Jordan’s life, and career highlights. Folio, original cloth, original slipcase. Contains the original shipping box and tissue. Boldly signed by Michael Jordan on the front free endpaper. In fine condition.

Gomard [Possellier A.J.J.]

La Théorie de L’Escrime. [The Theory of Fencing].

Paris : Librairie Militaire de J. Dumaine, 1845.

First edition of this monumental nineteenth-century French fencing manual. Octavo, written in French, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, crossed foils and armored helmet decorations stamped in gilt to the corners of the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, gilt turn-ins andContinue reading "La Théorie de L’Escrime. [The Theory of Fencing]."

Jones, Robert T. [Bobby]; Gary Player

Right and Wrong of Golf.

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Rare autograph album bound into the original limp leatherette of Rights and Wrongs of Golf by Robert T. Jones. Duodecimo, gilt titles to the front panel. Signed on the first blank by Robert T. Jones, Jr. (four-time U.S. Open champion and winner of the 1930 Grand Slam) and Gary Player (nine-time major champion and careerContinue reading "Right and Wrong of Golf."

Jones, Robert T. [Bobby]; Gary Player

Right and Wrongs of Golf.

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Rare autograph album bound into the original limp leatherette of Rights and Wrongs of Golf by Robert T. Jones. Duodecimo, gilt titles to the front panel. Signed on the first blank by Robert T. Jones, Jr. (four-time U.S. Open champion and winner of the 1930 Grand Slam) and Gary Player (nine-time major champion and careerContinue reading "Right and Wrongs of Golf."

Teale, Oscar S. [Harry Houdini]

Oscar Teale Signed Houdini Contract Draft, Personal Notebook, and Harper & Brothers Editorial Letter To Harry Houdini.

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Rare collection of items from the magician Oscar Teale, the private secretary to famous magician Harry Houdini. Including a typed contract copy signed by Teale regarding him agreeing to compile and edit Houdini’s book A Magician Among the Spirits. An autograph note at the top of the contract states that Houdini never signed the contractContinue reading "Oscar Teale Signed Houdini Contract Draft, Personal Notebook, and Harper & Brothers Editorial Letter To Harry Houdini."

Moss, Stirling

Le Mans: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the Big Race.

New York : Hanover House, 1960.

First edition of this firsthand experience of the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans. Octavo, original publisher’s black cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Boldly signed by Stirling Moss on the title page. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Uncommon signed.

Bird, Larry

Drive: The Story of My Life.

New York : Doubleday, 1989.

First edition of the Celtics’ legend’s autobiography. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with photographs. Boldly signed by Larry Bird. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Foreword by Magic Johnson. Written with Bob Ryan.

Edward VIII [Duke of Windsor]; Bobby Jones [Robert T.]; Walter Hagan; Gene Sarazen; Tommy Armour

Bobby Jones, Walter Hagan, Gene Sarazen, and Tommy Armour Signed 1941 Bahamas Red Cross Benefit Match Admission Pass. [with] Two Duke of Windsor Typed Letters Signed.

Bahamas : Government House, 1941-1942.

Exceptionally rare 1941 Bahamas Red Cross Benefit Match Admission Pass signed by Bobby Jones, Walter Hagan, Gene Sarazen, and Tommy Armour handsomely framed with a typed letter signed by the Duke of Windsor, “Edward” to Gene Sarazen thanking him for a fine set of golf clubs and anticipating his visit and participation in the benefitContinue reading "Bobby Jones, Walter Hagan, Gene Sarazen, and Tommy Armour Signed 1941 Bahamas Red Cross Benefit Match Admission Pass. [with] Two Duke of Windsor Typed Letters Signed."

Smeeton, George; Illustrated by George Cruikshank

Doings in London: or Day and Night Scenes of the Frauds, Frolics, Manners, and Depravities of the Metropolis.

London : Orlando Hodgson, c. 1830.

Finely bound example of this spirited survey of London life. Octavo, bound in three-quarters modern morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, frontispiece and title page vignette, illustrated with thirty-three black and white engravings. InContinue reading "Doings in London: or Day and Night Scenes of the Frauds, Frolics, Manners, and Depravities of the Metropolis."

The Whole Art of Fishing. Being a Collection and Improvement of All That Has Been Written Upon the Subject: With Many New Experiments. Shewing the Different Ways of Angling, and the Best Methods of Taking Fresh-water Fish. To Which is Added, the Laws of Angling.

London : E. Curll, 1714.

First edition of this comprehensive 18th-century manual on the art of angling. Duodecimo, bound in full contemporary sprinkled tan sheepskin with the front and rear panels ruled in gilt, gilt crest of Francis Ferrand Foljambe to the foot of the spine, all edges speckled red, turn-ins stamped in black, engraved frontispiece. In very good conditionContinue reading "The Whole Art of Fishing. Being a Collection and Improvement of All That Has Been Written Upon the Subject: With Many New Experiments. Shewing the Different Ways of Angling, and the Best Methods of Taking Fresh-water Fish. To Which is Added, the Laws of Angling."

Rousmaniere, John

A Picture History of the America’s Cup.

Connecticut : Mystic Seaport Museum Stores, 1989.

First limited edition of this history of the America’s Cup yacht racing competition from 1851 through 1988. Quarto, bound in full brown leather with gilt titles to the spine, double gilt ruling to the front panel, title page vignette photograph of the Cup, illustrated profusely with photographs of the America’s Cup taken by the RosenfeldContinue reading "A Picture History of the America’s Cup."

Muir, John

Our National Parks.

Boston and New York : Houghton, Mifflin Company, 1902.

First edition, later printing of Muir’s collection of short works on the beauty and splendor of America’s National Parks. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, gilt vignette to the front panel, top edge gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece engraving of the sequoias of Mariposa Grove. In very good condition.

Shanken, Marvin R

Cigar Aficionado’s World of Cigars.

Philadelphia : Courage Books, 1996.

First edition, early printing of this work by the legendary founder of Cigar Aficionado. Quarto, original boards, illustrated. Boldly signed by Marvin R. Shanken on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Prost, Alain

Champion Du Monde.

France : Carrere/Michel Lafon, 1985.

First edition of this autobiographical account of four-time Formula One World Champion Alain Prost. Quarto, written in French, original pictorial boards with Alain Prost on the front panel, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with photographs throughout. Boldly signed by Alain Prost on the title page. In near fine condition.