Palmer, Joe – Recollections of a Boxing Referee. 1927 1st ed.

Description

Palmer, Joe ‘Recollections of a Boxing Referee’ 1927 1st edition. 240 pages. VG condition in a good mylar protected non-price clipped dust jacket.

“Recollections of a Boxing Referee” is an uncommon pugilistic memoir written by Joe Palmer, a relative of the famous bare-knuckle fighter Peddlar Palmer.

Content & Narrative Overview:
The memoir details Joe Palmer’s extensive experience in the early 20th-century British fight game, during which he officiated roughly 3,000 matches involving champions across all weight divisions. He shares insider perspectives on legendary figures of the era such as Frank Goddard, Jack Bloomfield, Tommy Milligan, and Tommy Burns.
The book also addresses the highly controversial decisions that marked his career. Most notably, he provides his side of the infamous 1926 Len Harvey vs. John Sullivan bout, where his decision to award the contest to Sullivan caused such a public uproar that it ultimately led to the revocation of his refereeing license.

Physical & Publication Details of the 1927 Hardcover First Edition:
• Publisher: Published in London by John Lane The Bodley Head Ltd.
• Publication Date: 1927
• Format/Size: Large 8vo (octavo format)
• Binding/Cover: Original black cloth featuring bright orange lettering and period graphic decorations stamped on the spine and upper board (Note: some variants exist in a pale brown cloth).
• Pagination: Approximately 240 pages of main text (xxi, 240pp or xix, 240pp depending on the front matter inclusion), typically followed by an 8-page publisher’s catalog/advertisement section at the rear.
• Illustrations: Features a black-and-white portrait photograph of Joe Palmer as the frontispiece, alongside 15 to 16 internal black-and-white full-page plates and illustrations.
• Introductory Material: Features an introduction written by the well-known English author and boxing essayist, Bohun Lynch.