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Folio (12 ½" x 18"). 622, [2]pp., with an index at the back. Contains a continuous run of 52 weekly issues (12 pages each): Vol. 22, Nos. 1-52: February 21, 1852 to February 12, 1853. Bound in modern brown cloth over boards, leather spine label lettered in gold, modern wove endpapers, with an 1894 "Jockey Club" bookplate on each front pastedown. Endpapers lightly foxed, intermittent modest toning, very good or better. A scarce, handsomely bound volume of this important sporting newspaper. Founded and edited by William Trotter Porter, *Spirit of the Times* "aimed for an audience of sportsmen rather than sporting men, at a time when the former was identified with high-toned values and the latter described the whoring, street-fighting, and blood-sport inclinations of Bowery denizens." [Baseball historian John Thorn]. This 1852-53 volume of the newspaper features entertaining and informative accounts of horse racing and all manner of related equestrian sports (including farming, breeding, etc.); as well as hunting, fishing, and shooting; cricket, boat racing, and boxing. Also included is coverage of the theatre and associated arts. Included among the paper's coverage of boxing is a long, detailed account of the famous Heavyweight Championship Prize fight between George Thompson and John Morrisey that took place on Mare Island, California on August 21, 1852. The one and a half column of reportage in the issue of October 9th includes an account of the pugilists and events leading up to the fight, and all ten rounds of the fight itself: "Tenth Round - Both men came up to the word in splendid style, and showing the manly art of self-defense to more advantage than any previous round, and went to work in earnest. Thompson led off with his left, which was stopped. Morrisey, in return, sent in a stinger on Thompson's ear, which made the claret fly ." Other coverage includes two issues (10 and 24 April, 1852) reporting on the controversial dancer and actress "Lola Montez in Boston," and a memorial tribute (December 18, 1852) to acclaimed stage actor Junius Brutus Booth, father of actor John Wilkes Booth. A well-preserved, complete volume, providing a contemporary glimpse into the American sporting scene. Seller Inventory # 558809
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