Driscoll, Jim – The Text Book of Boxing

Description

Driscoll, Jim ‘The Text Book of Boxing’ 36 full-page illustrations from exclusive action photographs. c1915, 95 pages. Athletic Publications, Ltd. Link House, 300-304, Gray’s Inn Road., London, W.C.1. Card covers, front hinge loosening but intact, otherwise in good condition with bright colored covers encased in plastic.

The circa 1915 hardcover edition of The Text Book of Boxing (often formatted as The Text-Book of Boxing) by Jim Driscoll is a 94 to 96-page comprehensive instructional masterpiece published in London by Athletic Publications, Ltd.. First introduced in 1914, this early printing served as the foundation of modern scientific boxing pedagogy, cementing Driscoll’s legacy as one of the sport’s greatest technical teachers.

Book Details:
• Author: “Peerless” Jim Driscoll (Undefeated British, European, and Commonwealth Featherweight Champion and Lonsdale Belt holder)
• Publisher: Athletic Publications, Ltd., London
• Publication Year: Circa 1914–1915 (Often undated or designated as early reprints/editions)
• Format: Hardcover octavo (8vo), originally issued with illustrated pictorial card covers or cloth boards.
• Length: 94 to 96 pages (depending on variations in publisher sporting advertisements at the rear).

Content & Overview:
• A Master Class in the Manly Art: Rather than focusing on simple brawling, Driscoll approaches pugilism as a highly refined science. The manual contains complete, sequential blueprints explaining how a fighter must construct an ironclad offense and defense.
• The Transatlantic Contrast: A fascinating historical element of the text is Driscoll’s analytical breakdown comparing the European and American schools of boxing. He evaluates how rules and training environments cause the two styles to diverge, expressing a distinct admiration for frenetic, six-round “Philadelphian” rules matches.
• Core Curricula Covered: The textbook systematically covers advanced ring strategies across several structured sections:
• The precise use, geometry, and execution of the Straight Left
• Navigating messy, high-pressure In-Fighting
• Mechanical instructions for executing the era’s most effective counter-punches and defensive maneuvers.
• The “Convention Breaker”: Driscoll explicitly refers to himself in the text as a “convention breaker”. He utilizes this guide to lay out exactly what he believes the future of successful championship ringcraft requires, pushing the sport toward calculated strategy over blind aggression.
• Illustrations: The volume is highly prized by boxing historians for its exceptional visual layout, featuring 36 to 40 full-page photographic plates taken from exclusive action shoots. These archival images depict Driscoll himself modeling proper stance alignment, exact punch extension, and traditional guards.