Donnelly, Ned – Self Defence or The Art of Boxing

Description

Donnelly, Ned ‘Self-Defence or The Art of Boxing’ 1879 2nd edition. London: Weldon & Co., 9, Southampton Street, Strand, W.C. 125-pages plus advertisements. Straight, tight binding, clean, good plus to very good minus condition.

The 1879 second edition hardcover of Self-Defence; or, The Art of Boxing by Ned Donnelly is a 125 to 127-page foundational instructional manual published in London by Weldon & Co. Released the same year as the scarce true first edition, this classic text represents one of the most culturally significant and historically vital artifacts documenting late-Victorian boxing technique.

Book Details:
• Author: Ned Donnelly (Professor of Boxing to the London Athletic Club)
• Editor: J. M. Waite (Professor of Fencing, late 2nd Life Guards)
• Publisher: Weldon & Co., 9, Southampton Street, Strand, London
• Publication Year: 1879 (Second Edition)
• Format: Hardcover small octavo (8vo / 12mo), traditionally bound in original green or cloth-covered boards. The front cover features a highly recognizable Victorian pictorial gilt block of a gentlemanly boxer in a fighting stance.
• Length: xii + 125 pages (typically followed by 2 pages of publisher promotional advertisements at the rear).

Content & Overview:
• A Pivotal Era in Boxing: Ned Donnelly, a famed former prize fighter turned premier instructor, wrote this book at a critical moment when old-school bare-knuckle prize-fighting was giving way to civilized, regulated scientific boxing.
• The Sweet Science Codified: The text systematically breaks down the physical and tactical geometry of Victorian combat. Donnelly teaches proper footwork, stances, weight distribution, and aggressive ring generalship. It includes comprehensive explanations of advanced tactics such as the “Side Step” (used to evade a rushing opponent or escape the ropes) alongside various combinations of punches, parries, slips, and guards.
• The Fencing Parallel: Because the book was edited by the prominent fencing master J. M. Waite, the technical language heavily mirrors the elegance and structural precision of swordplay—viewing the leading fist much like a rapier thrust.
• The Subscribers List: The front material of the book includes a rare two-page contemporary “List of Subscribers”. This historical directory names the specific aristocratic patrons, sports enthusiasts, and high-society club members who financially backed the book’s publication.
• Illustrations: The manual is highly celebrated for its exceptional visual archive, containing 37 full-page etched plates and sketches. These charming plates depict a slightly paunchy, mustachioed gentlemanly boxer modeling authentic stances, blows, stops, and defensive guards.