AMERICA'S NATIONAL GAME: HISTORIC FACTS CONCERNING THE BEGINNING, EVOLUTION, DEVELOPMENT AND POPULARITY OF BASE BALL

One of the first histories of Baseball with Spalding's nostalgic memories of the early years of the sport. Spalding was a famous pitcher in the 1870s and highly successful sporting goods retailer. He was an enthusiastic proponent of the 'Doubleday myth' that placed Baseball as a purely American invention. An important early baseball book. 1st edition. 8vo. xix + 542pp. Original blue cloth with gilt titles to front board and spine with gilt woodcut of 'Uncle Sam' on the front board. Numerous photos and illustrations throughout including foldouts - please note that half of one plate (opposite p.494) is missing. Original owner's bookplate to front pastedown and one further early owner's name to fly-leaf. Foxing to tissue protecting frontispiece. A nice copy of a baseball classic.