Description
Shaw, Edwin ‘The Teacher of Sparring’ Scarce1886 1st ed. 63-pages, plus 16 more of ads. Instructional hardcover book by the late instructor at Harvard University. Profuselly illustrated with line drawings. The frontispiece with the line drawing of the author has come loose, else the book is in good condition.
“The Teacher of Sparring” is an exceptionally rare, foundational 19th-century American boxing manual written by Edwin F. Shaw, who was the leading instructor of sparring at Harvard University. Published in 1886 by the prominent firearm and sporting goods publisher John P. Lovell’s Sons in Boston, this 63-page guide (supplemented by a highly desirable 16-page publisher’s catalog) is a historic artifact tracking the evolution of pugilism in America.
Book Summary & Historical Context:
Edwin F. Shaw, having trained under the prominent Boston boxing master Professor J.B. Bailey, positioned his manual during a critical transitional era. Writing at a time when rough-and-tumble bare-knuckle prize fighting was technically illegal and viewed as “barbarous”, Shaw defended scientific glove sparring as a gentlemanly art and an elite health pastime.
The book serves as a vital bridge between old London Prize Ring rules and civilized amateur boxing. It is highly prized by martial arts historians because it preserves unique nineteenth-century self-defense maneuvers—including defensive blocks, counter-punches, close-quarters grapples, throws, and vintage strikes like the seldom-instructed “chopper”. The text block is enhanced by numerous full-page “cuts” or illustrations photographed directly from real-life boxing stances.
Bibliographic Specifications:
• Author: Edwin F. Shaw (Late of Harvard University)
• Full Title: The Teacher of Sparring
• Publisher: John P. Lovell’s Sons (Boston, MA)
• Year Published: 1886
• Edition: First Edition
• Format: Thin Hardcover 12mo (Cloth-bound options or paper wrappers, though library copies and cloth-bound editions remain the standard)
• Page Count: 63 pages of main text + 16 pages of backward advertisements detailing late-1800s Boston sporting and firearms equipment.
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