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xix, 542 pp. With over 100 full-page illustrations (mostly from photographs, some fold-out), lacking the sepia-tone portrait of the author; cartoon drawings by Homor C. Davenport. (8vo) cloth-backed pictorial paper-covered boards. First Edition.

An unusual variant binding from the more common blue cloth, gilt lettered one. The title page publisher remains American Sports Publishing Company, however the spine statement is "Presented by A.G. Spalding & Bros.". One of the earliest books solely devoted to America's national pastime. The author, A.G. Spalding (1850-1915) was a professional baseball player himself and of course the founder of the famous sporting goods manufacturer / publisher. Spalding first played competitively with the Rockford Pioneers, a youth team in 1865. Gift inscription on front free endpaper dated 7/14/33. Newspaper clipping tipped to front pastedown.