Allanson-Winn, R.G. – Boxing

Description

Allanson-Winn, R.G. ‘Boxing’ 1903 91-pages. Good condition. 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.

The 1903 91-page hardcover edition of Boxing by R. G. Allanson-Winn is an early Edwardian era printing of his highly successful instructional guide, published as part of the esteemed “All-England Series”. It maintains the exact, proven 91-page instructional text that shaped late-Victorian and early-20th-century scientific boxing.

Publication Details

• Title: Boxing (The All-England Series)
• Author: R. G. Allanson-Winn
• Publisher: George Bell & Sons, London (distributed in New York by The Macmillan Co.)
• Year: 1903
• Format: Small hardcover pocket guide (12mo format, roughly 4.75″ x 6.75″)
• Page Count: 91 pages (excluding extensive publisher’s catalogs bound at the back)

Content and Structure:
The 1903 edition continues to preserve the Prefatory Note by champion boxer Bat Mullins. The text presents a pure, mechanical approach to the Marquess of Queensberry rules, teaching boxing as an art of leverage, timing, and physics rather than sheer brawling:
• The Stance and Position: Detailed instruction on weight distribution, keeping the head protected, and mastering the straight left.
• Guards and Counters: Step-by-step guides on slipping punches, ducking, blocking, and executing the devastating “cross-counter.”
• Advanced Ring Tactics: Feinting, mastering distance, and breaking down an opponent’s defense.
• Practical Self-Defense: A dedicated chapter on practical self-defense against “roughs” in street situations, including a critique of the French kickboxing style, La Savate.
• Edwardian Athletic Conditioning: Advice on diet, roadwork, endurance, and training equipment standard at the turn of the century.

Physical Characteristics & Collectability:
• Binding: Following the traditional design of George Bell & Sons’ “All-England Series,” the 1903 volume is bound in smooth salmon-pink or pale green cloth boards. The front cover features crisp, dark brown or black stamped typography, often framed by a minimalist geometric border.
• Period Advertisements: True to the publishing practices of the era, the interior pastedowns, free endpapers, and several unnumbered pages at the rear are packed with fascinating text-based advertisements for Edwardian athletic gear, sportswear, and other instructional books in the series.
• Illustrations: The book relies on crisp black-and-white plates, diagrams, and illustrations showing boxers in high-waisted trunks demonstrating correct guards and punch trajectories.
• Historical Significance: By 1903, boxing was rapidly evolving with the rise of international superstars like Jack Johnson and Tommy Burns. This book is a highly sought-after collectible because it reflects the foundational “scientific” style taught to young men in schools and clubs at the dawn of the Edwardian era.