[Rarebooks] FS: Base-Ball Guide for 1868

[Charles Agvent]

 From our annual End of Summer Miscellany Catalogue to be posted on our home 
page tomorrow.  It will contain 140 items, many quite scarce, including 
interesting Autographs, uncommon Modern First Editions, scarce Americana titles, 
and unusual Baseball and other Sporting items, such as this:

KELLY,  M. J. THE BASE-BALL GUIDE FOR 1868. CONTAINING THE  RULES
OF  THE  GAME,  WITH  OBSERVATIONS.... New York:  Robert  M.  De  Witt
(1868).  First Edition. ...CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES, "MUFFIN" MATCHES  AND
THE  GAME ON ICE. FULL DIRECTIONS FOR SCORERS, FORMATION OF CLUBS  AND
SELECTION  OF NINES. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AND A LARGE QUANTITY OF
OTHER  INSTRUCTIVE AND ENTERTAINING MATTER. Small octavo (4" x 6-3/8")
in  original  gold wraps depicting a pitcher in uniform on  the  front
about  to  throw a ball; [iv], 9-100 pages, plus covers. A very  early
rule  book, illustrated with a frontispiece full-page engraving of two
teams  playing on a field as well as a diagram of a baseball field and
a  few small engravings in the text. Includes the constitution and the
by-laws  "founded chiefly on those of the Active Base-Ball Club of the
City  of  New  York."  Also contains rules for  players  and  umpires,
including  a  prohibition on betting, as well as descriptions  of  the
requirements  for  each  position. A very useful  index  follows.  The
author  was  the secretary for the New York Base-Ball Association.  An
old  dampstain  affects most of the page throughout but is very  light
and  hardly  noticeable. The front wrap has a small chip in the  upper
right  corner  slightly affecting the price, and there are  two  small
pieces  lacking  from  the  spine.  The rear  cover  is  detached  but
present.  Someone long ago used three pieces of adhesive tape to  keep
the  rear cover on, and while those pieces are no longer present there
is  a  slight shadow visible. The front cover is on securely.  Still a
Very Good copy of a scarce and important baseball book.       $4500.00

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returned within 7 days of receipt for any reason provided they are in the same 
condition as sent and prior notice is given. Please insure returns for their 
full value.  We carry a diverse stock with major specialties including Modern 
and 19th Century Literary First Editions, Autographed Books, and Limited 
Editions Club books.  We are proud to be members of the Antiquarian Booksellers 
Association of America (ABAA) and the International League of Antiquarian 
Booksellers (ILAB) as well as the Manuscript Society and the Universal Autograph 
Collectors Club (UACC).  Please feel free to contact us with any wants or 
offerings.  Thank you.

CHARLES AGVENT
291 Linden Road
Mertztown, PA  19539-8750
Voice/Fax: 610-682-4750
agvent at erols.com
Visit our home page:  http://www.erols.com/agvent