Allanson-Winn, R.G. – Boxing

Description

Allanson-Winn, R.G. ‘Boxing’ 1891 91 pages. Introduction, Position, Straight Hitting, Guarding and Slipping, Cross-Counter, Right-Handed Boxers, Timing or Countering, Feinting, Infighting, Rough and Tumble, Dangerous Hits, Street Fight and La Savatae, Bad Example, Comparative Merit, Instruction, Training, Judging, and Excercises.. Another published in 1892 that is a 3rd edition and 91-pages. Title and Prefatory Note pages are loose in front, else good with some cover wear. Illustrated instructional book covering: Position, Straight Hitting, Guarding and Slipping, The Cross Counter, Right-Handed Boxers, Timing or Countering, Feinting, Infighting, The Contracted-Arm, Uppercut, Cross-Buttock, A Rough and Tumble, Dangerous Hits, A Street Fight and La Savate, Bad Examples, Comparative Merit, Instruction, Training, Judging, and Exercises. $45 each.

The 1891 91-page hardcover edition of Boxing by R. G. Allanson-Winn is an early printing of his highly popular instructional guide published as part of “The All-England Series”. Originally debuted in 1889, this compact volume was designed as an affordable, accessible manual for Victorian gentlemen seeking to learn the art of scientific self-defense.

Publication Details:
• Title: Boxing (The All-England Series)
• Author: R. G. Allanson-Winn
• Publisher: George Bell & Sons, London
• Year: 1891 (Early reprint/edition following the 1889 first release)
• Format: Small hardcover (12mo format, roughly 4.75″ x 6.75″)
• Page Count: 91 pages (excluding publisher’s advertising catalog pages at the front and rear)

Content and Structure:
Despite its short length, the book is incredibly dense and serves as a direct instructional syllabus covering late 19th-century boxing. It features a Prefatory Note by Bat Mullins, the former lightweight champion of the world. The 91 pages are strictly divided into practical chapters covering:
• The Fundamentals: Proper stance, footwork (“Position”), and the mechanics of “Straight Hitting”.
• Defensive Tactics: Methods for “Guarding and Slipping”, utilizing the “Cross-Counter”, and understanding “Timing or Countering”.
• Ring Craft: Feinting, infighting, and strategy tailored for right-handed boxers.
• Practical Scenarios: Dealing with a “Rough and Tumble” situation, identifying “Dangerous Hits”, and defending oneself in a “Street Fight” (with a brief comparative mention of La Savate, French kickboxing).
• Conditioning & Regulation: Guidelines on physical training, targeted exercises, judging criteria, and competitive rules of the era.

Physical Characteristics & Collectability:
• Binding: The book was issued in the standard binding for “The All-England Series”—traditionally a distinct salmon-pink cloth (or occasionally pale tan boards) lettered and decorated with brown ink. The cover generally features basic typography or simple pictorial boxing iconography.
• Endpapers: True to late-Victorian publisher practices, the front and rear fixed endpapers and flyleaves are heavily printed with text-based advertisements for other sports books, athletic gear, and contemporary goods.
• Illustrations: The manual is richly illustrated for its size, incorporating black-and-white drawings, tactical diagrams, and photographic plates depicting proper guards and punches.
• Value & Rarity: While Allanson-Winn’s expanded 1897 Isthmian Library book is more luxurious, this 91-page 1891 pocket-guide is a highly sought-after antiquarian item. It captures the pure, unembellished instructional methodology of early Marquess of Queensberry rules boxing.