Golding, Louis – Black Frailty

Description

Golding, Louis ‘Black Frailty’ 1934 1st ed. 49-pages. # 30 of limited edition of 75 SIGNED copies by the author. The hero of the story is bareknuckle boxer Tom Molineux. VG condition. Rare. Another #16 of limited edition with facsimile signature of the author in VG condition and with original onion skin covering. Both are now also protected by mylar. $250 ea. Pictured is #30, though #16 is identical other than having the original onion skin covering.

Black Frailty is an ultra-rare 1934 historical sports novella written by British author Louis Golding, issued by The Centaur Press in London as a highly exclusive limited edition of only 75 numbered and signed copies.

Book Overview & Plot Summary:
The Protagonist: Spanning 49 pages, the hero of this narrative is the legendary real-life African American bare-knuckle boxer Tom Molineux, who traveled from American slavery to Regency-era England to compete at the highest levels of the sport.

The Narrative: The short story delves into the psychological and physical hardships of Molineux’s groundbreaking but tragic career. It captures the essence of his struggles against systemic racial barriers, the grueling brutality of early prize rings, and the vulnerability—or “frailty”—that accompanied his fierce public persona as a black athlete in a hostile era.

Artistic Elements: The hardcover volume features four full-page plates illustrated by artist Ulrica Hyde, adding a distinct visual layer to Golding’s dramatic boxing prose.

Because of its exceptionally low print run, surviving copies are treated as prize artifacts for sports historians and rare book collectors. Golding’s original holograph manuscript of the story, featuring his hand-written corrections, is preserved within the collections of Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.