[Rarebooks] FS - Spalding's baseball guides

[GREENFIELD BOOKS]

1.    *FOSTER, John B. (ed.). /SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASEBALL GUIDE / 
Fortieth Year  / 1916./* American Sports Publishing Co., New York City. 
1916. 1st edition, wrappers, 12mo, pp. 346, ads. Complete, and in 
original illustrated card covers (with a three-colour advertisement on 
rear page for "Spalding's Official League Ball".

An important issue of the famous Spalding baseball guide, as it is the 
first published after Spalding's death in September, 1915. Contains an 
eight-page obituary of the founder (in a black box), plus testimonials 
to the "Father and Savior of Base Ball" from Col. A. G. Mills (former 
president of the National League of Base Ball Players), and the Hon. 
John K. Tener (President of the National League of Base Ball Clubs). The 
lead Editorial Comment from John B. Foster begins by noting that "During 
the playing season of 1915 there was a lamentable lack of base stealing 
in the National League..". At the end of this volume is an illustrated 
26-page catalog of Spalding's baseball equipment. The card covers of our 
copy are now thumbed at the edges, and creased, with some soiling. On 
the front cover is a small, faded rubber stamp and an "X" has been drawn 
across the cover. There are a few blue smudges to the rear cover. The 
contents are clean and tight. A good copy despite cosmetic blemishes to 
the covers.

Price:      $150.00.


2.    *FOSTER, John B. (ed.). /SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASE BALL GUIDE / 
Forty-second year / 1918/*/./ American Sports Publishing Co., New York 
City. 1916. 1st edition, 12mo, pp. 236, ads. Complete, and in original 
illustrated card covers (with a three-colour advertisement on rear page 
for "Spalding's Official League Ball"), but now bound in blue 
cloth-covered boards with the title on spine of "Base/Ball/Guide/1918". 
As the original card covers have been retained, it may be possible to 
remove the guide from the boards, although the printed spine would 
almost certainly have been affected (if not removed) in the binding 
process. The quality of the paper stock was not as high as with previous 
(i.e., pre-war) and subsequent issues, and has tanned a bit with age. 
The front cover is bright, with a small stain to the bottom right 
margin. The rear cover is similarly bright with a small scrape. It has 
been a little too closely trimmed affecting the outer rule of the left 
margin. Some pages are chipped at edges. Overall, still a good copy.

Price:       $100.00.


Terms of sale - The prices are in USD. Postage and packing charge will 
be $7.50 for one or both titles. Payment by check or credit card. 
Returnable within seven days of receipt if not as described.

 
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