Sports and Leisure

Roosevelt, Theodore

Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter.

New York : Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1905.

First edition of Roosevelt’s important collection of first-hand hunting accounts, including a lengthy description of newly created wilderness reserves. Octavo, original cloth, gilt titles to the spine and front panel, frontispiece portrait of Roosevelt with tissue guard present, illustrated with photographs. Signed by the author in the year of publication on the second preliminary leaf,Continue reading "Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter."

Percey, William

The Compleat Swimmer: Or, The Art of Swimming: Demonstrating The Rules and Practice thereof, in an Exact, Plain, and Easie Method. Necessary to be Known and Practiced by All Who Studie or Desire their own Preservation.

London : Printed by J. C. for Henry Fletcher, 1658.

First and only edition of one of the earliest treatises on swimming, preceded only by Sir Everard Digby’s short Latin tract, published in 1589 and translated into English in 1595; and the Dutchman Nicholas Wynman’s De arte natandi, 1538. 12mo, bound in full 19th century calf with gilt titles and tooling the spine, gilt rulingContinue reading "The Compleat Swimmer: Or, The Art of Swimming: Demonstrating The Rules and Practice thereof, in an Exact, Plain, and Easie Method. Necessary to be Known and Practiced by All Who Studie or Desire their own Preservation."

Roosevelt, Theodore and Edmund Heller

Life-Histories of African Game Animals.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1914.

First edition of Roosevelt’s final work on big-game hunting. Octavo, 2 volumes, original buckram cloth with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, tissue-guarded engraved frontispieces, with illustrations from photographs and drawings by Philip R. Goodwin and with forty faunal maps. In very good condition. A nice example.

Persian Miniature Painting. [Ancient Game of Polo].

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Rare Persian miniature painting depicting an ancient game of Chovgan, later adopted in the Western World as the game of polo. Affixed to an elaborately decorated paper mount, the painting depicts two opposing teams engaged in a game of Chovgan before a Persian cityscape. The ancient game of Chovgan originated in the middle of theContinue reading "Persian Miniature Painting. [Ancient Game of Polo]."

Dean, James. [Sanford H. Roth]

James Dean Signed Photograph.

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Rare large format Sanford H. Roth photograph of cultural icon James dean playing table tennis. Inscribed beneath his image, “To Mr. Roth best wishes James Dean.” The recipient, renowned American photographer Sanford H. Roth, was a close friend of Dean’s and photographed him frequently. Dean visited Roth’s home in California frequently and treated him andContinue reading "James Dean Signed Photograph."

Fisher, M.F.K

Here Let Us Feast: A Book of Banquets.

New York : The Viking Press, 1946.

First edition of Fisher’s classic fifth book. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by M.F.K. Fisher on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Robert Hallock. A very sharp example.

Valens, E.G. [Jill Kinmont]

A Long Way Up: The Story of Jill Kinmont.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1967.

First edition of this powerful biography of Jill Kinmont. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with photographs by Burk Uzzle and others. Presentation copy, inscribed by Kinmont on the front front free endpaper, “To Dr. Robinson, Thank you for your nice letter. Best Wishes- Jill Kinmont 2-27-67.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket designContinue reading "A Long Way Up: The Story of Jill Kinmont."

Douglas, Kirk

The Ragman’s Son: An Autobiography.

London : Simon & Schuster, 1988.

First edition of Kirk Douglas’ insightful autobiography. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with photographs. Association copy, inscribed by him in the year of publication on the title page “To Sally – who never gets enough! – I hope I gave you what you want – affectionately, Kirk Douglas – 1988.” The recipient, British photojournalist Sally Soames,Continue reading "The Ragman’s Son: An Autobiography."

Day, Laraine [Leo Durocher]

Day with the Giants.

Garden City : Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1952.

First edition of Day’s account of her experiences as “The First Lady of Baseball”. Octavo, original cloth, with drawings by Leo Hershfield. Signed by Lairaine Day and Leo Durocher on the third free endpaper. Very good in a good dust jacket. Jacket design by Sydney Butchkes. Jacket photograph by Editta Sherman.

Eaton, Shirley; Foreword by Roger Moore

Shirley Eaton’s Golden Touch: An Intimate Diary of Poems.

Tennessee : Concept Productions, 2006.

First edition of this diary by the famed actress of James Bond’s Goldfinger. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers, illustrated. Signed by the author on the title page, “Best wishes Shirley Eaton Enjoy.” In fine condition. Foreword by Roger Moore.

Kipling, Rudyard

The Maltese Cat: A Polo Game of the ‘Nineties.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1936.

First edition of Kipling’s tale of a polo pony living among the British in India. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Lionel Edwards, frontispiece and plates in color. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket which is in very good condition.

Henk Schiffmacher

Tatoo: 1730s-1970s. Henk Schiffmacher’s Private Collection.

: Taschen, 2021.

First edition of this “impressive, exhaustive tour through the history of tattooing” (Vice.com). Folio, original illustrated boards, illustrated throughout. Edited by Noel David. In fine condition.

Brown, Elijah P. [Billy Sunday]

The Real Billy Sunday: The Life and Work of Rev. William Ashley Sunday, D.D.

Dayton, Ohio : The Otterbein Press, 1914.

First edition of Brown’s biography of renowned American evangelist, Billy Sunday. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece portrait of Sunday, illustrated. Boldly signed by Sunday on the front free endpaper, “W.A. Sunday Psalm 34.” In near fine condition. Books signed by Sunday are uncommon.

Mills, John

Stable Secrets; and Puffy Doddles, His Saying and Sympathies.

London : Ward and Lock, 1863.

First edition of Mills’ humorous work on horse racing. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt vignette to the front panel, frontispiece and two additional plates by Phiz, publishers advertisements. In very good condition.

Meany, Tom [Leo Durocher]

The Incredible Giants.

New York : A.S. Barnes and Company, 1955.

First edition of this work on the Giants. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To my old pal, Al, Tom Meany.” Additionally signed by baseball hall of famer Leo Durocher on the title page. Durocher was nicknamedLeo the Lip and Lippy, was a professional baseball player,Continue reading "The Incredible Giants."

Johnson, Hugh

Hugh Johnson’s Modern Encyclopedia of Wine.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1983.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Hugh Johnson. Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Robert Anthony.

Wilson, Brian with Todd Gold

Wouldn’t It Be Nice: My Own Story.

New York : HarperCollins Publishers, 1991.

First edition of Brian Wilson’s candid autobiography. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Brian Wilson on the half-title page, “To Glen Brian Wilson”, signed by Todd Gold on the title page and inscribed by Dr. Eugene Landy on the dedication page, “To Glenn Eugene E. Landy.” The recipient, Glenn Goldman founded Book SoupContinue reading "Wouldn’t It Be Nice: My Own Story."

Dinsdale, Alfred

Television: Seeing by Wire or Wireless.

London : Sir Issac Pitman & Sons Ltd, 1926.

First edition of the first book on television, a key work on the history of technology. Octavo, original stiff boards, frontispiece halftone reproduction of photograph of John Logie Baird. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of shelfwear, small tape repair on the front panel. Housed in a custom slipcase.

Burton, Richard F

A New System of Sword Exercise for Infantry.

London : William Clowes and Sons, 1876.

First edition of this classic text. Small octavo, bound in three quarters leather over marbled boards, illustrated. In near fine condition.

Hatfield, Jerry. Introduction by Jay Leno [Rollie Free]

Flat Out! The Rollie Free Story.

One-Track Publications : One-Track Publications, 2007.

First edition of this wonderfully illustrated work on the legendary motorcycle racer. Oblong quarto, original boards, illustrated throughout, with the original CD of the last interview of Free. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author, “To H.J., with best wishes! It’s been great knowing you for 30 years! I remember meeting you Weatherford. You showed meContinue reading "Flat Out! The Rollie Free Story."