Egan (Pierce) Boxiana, inscribed to American champion Joe Coburn by his defence lawyer

Egan (Pierce)

Boxiana, or Sketches of Ancient and Modern Pugilism,

5 vols., vol. 1 inscribed to front blank by New York lawyer and politician George M. Curtis, who defended the boxer Joseph Coburn when he received ten years in prison for assault with intent to kill policeman William Tobias in 1877, inscribed: ‘Feb 13. 1872, To Joseph Coburn Champion of America and real champion of the world, never defeated, proving by his indomitable game and sure skill, that the element of true courage has not left the American Heart. Geo. M. Curtis’,

vols. 1 - 3 reissue by George Virtue (vols. 1 & 2 with Sherwood, Jones and Co. imprint dated 1823 & 1824 to title page), vols. 4 - 5 Egan’s New Series, vol. 1 with additional frontispiece and an engraved title, vol. 4 lacking frontispiece, lacking numerous plates (vol. 1 with 17 plates, 4 folding; vol. 2 with 4 plates; vol. 3 with 3 plates; vol. 4 with 5 plates; vol. 5 with 1 plate), Intermittent browning, spotting and some chipping to page edges, [Hartley 587], 20th century morocco by Zaehnsdorf, gilt-lettered, some wear to extremities, 4to, 1829.

Ref: New York Herald Newspaper Archives, Feb 23, 1877, p. 7.