Lynch, Bohun – The Prize Ring.

Description

Lynch, Bohun ‘The Prize Ring.’ Illustrated by Reproductions of Old Prints, several Oil Paintings, and of the famous Byron Screen. Published 1925, London Country Life Ltd. Limited English edition # 84 of 750 numbered editions. 137-pages. 10″ x 12 3/4.” Corners bumped and general wear along the edges of the covers, and the picture opposite the title page is loose but intact, else good to good + condition. Very clean internally, straight, tight binding. The handwritten name and book stamp of longtime South-African boxing historian/collector J. Karel de Vries is on the frontispiece.

“The Prize Ring” by Bohun Lynch, published in 1925 by Country Life Ltd. (London), is a highly regarded historical overview of early British bare-knuckle prize fighting and boxing.
Your specific copy—number 84 of the limited edition of 750 numbered copies—is a premium, oversized quarto edition printed at the historic Chiswick Press.

Physical Characteristics & Binding:
• Binding Style: It features a quarter vellum spine over patterned or marbled paper-covered boards.
• Cover Details: The front cover uniquely includes a round black leather label (or roundel) with the title printed in contrasting red lettering.
• Edges & Trim: The pages are bound with a top edge gilt (TEG), while the side and bottom edges are traditionally left uncut or deckled.
• Pagination: It spans 137 pages and measures approximately 13 x 10.25 inches (31 x 24 cm).

Content & Illustrations:
The book serves as both a historical record and an art catalog for early prize fighting, complete with biographical data on iconic early boxers like Tom Cribb and John Broughton. It also captures anecdotes involving the British nobility who supported the sport, including Lord Byron (who famously boxed despite having a club foot).
The volume is highly prized for its artwork, containing:
• A color frontispiece.
• 40 full-page plates showcasing classic boxing poses, historic matches, and portraits. Seven of these plates are in color, and 33 are monochrome or black-and-white.
• Fine art reproductions pulled from vintage engraved prints, oil paintings, and the famous “Byron Screen”.
• Individual protective tissue guards over the plates to prevent scratching and fading over time.