Bare-Knuckle Boxing
The British Prize Ring 1740–1890
235 x 298mm
256 pp
413 illustrations
A sumptuous folio edition documenting Pierre and Anna Spake’s exceptional collection of prints, paintings, ceramics and broadsides from the earliest years of the prize ring.
Few other sports from the 18th and 19th centuries have spawned such a wealth of objects, images and words as prize-fighting. Bare-Knuckle Boxing captures this great artistic diversity, chronicling the imagery of boxing’s earliest years and bringing the colourful history of the prize ring to life.
Featuring a foreword by the renowned boxing historian Tony Gee, Bare-Knuckle Boxing also includes short essays on life in and around the prize ring, and extracts from contemporaneous reports of key fights.
“I never cease to marvel at how
comprehensive the Spakes’ collection actually is
— surely one of the largest, if not the largest,
in private hands anywhere in the world.”
Tony Gee
Standard Edition
Covers: Printed full-colour on 125gsm Wibalin Buckram over 3mm boards.
Text: Printed full-colour throughout on 170gsm UPM Finesse Premium Silk.
Binding: Hardback, thread-sewn.
Limited to 150 copies
£120 + shipping
Collector's Edition
Slipcase: 120gsm Wibalin Natural Kingfisher over 3mm board, with title blocked in matt white foil.
Covers: Printed on 125gsm Wibalin Buckram Silver over 3mm boards, with debossed back cover and tipped-in image.
Text: Printed full-colour throughout on 170gsm UPM Finesse Premium Silk.
Binding: Hardback, thread-sewn.
Plus:
Seven separate cards inserted throughout as bookmarks, reproducing items from the collection at actual size.
320 x 450mm reproduction of ‘Mr. John Broughton’.
Limited to 50 copies
£220 + shipping
We are presently unable to process online orders.
If you would like to purchase a copy of the book in either edition, please email annaspake@gmail.com