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Published by Gale & Polden, Ltd., London, 1894
Seller: Lok Man Rare Books. ABA/ILAB, Central, Hong Kong
First Edition
1st Edition. First Edition. -- Condition: Very good, browning to plate of gold medal, else contents fine, some darkening and small 4mm chip to spine, light rubbing to corners and edges. Slightly cocked. -- Details: A scarce and remarkably clean copy of the rare first edition in it's original pictorial covers, by the 'Father of Bodybuilding'. 'Sandow The Magnificent' also opened one of the first 'health clubs' in the world. He was friends with Conan-Doyle, Thomas Edison and King George V. Large [26x20cm] and richly illustrated from photographs, drawings and diagrams. Sandow's resemblance to the physiques found on classical Greek and Roman sculpture was no accident, as he measured the statues in museums and helped to develop "The Grecian Ideal" as a formula for the "perfect physique." He is seen as one of the first athletes to intentionally develop his musculature to predetermined dimensions. In Strength and How to Obtain It Sandow lays out specific prescriptions of weights and repetitions in order to achieve his ideal proportion. Sandow was the promoter and judge at the first bodybuilding contest ever held, at the Royal Albert Hall in London on September 14, 1901, and his importance was such that the trophy for Mr. Olympia is a statuette of Sandow, one could even say that Sandow was the inspiration for a recent Governor of California. Sandow was born in the ancient city of Konigsberg, he moved to London and was later spotted by Florenz Ziegfeld becoming Ziegfekd's first star by placing him on the stage at the Chicago World fair. In addition to the showman, Sandow was also one of the first advocates of compulsory physical education in public schools, for he felt that a weak or sickly child simply could not learn properly. He developed exercises for pregnant mothers to reduce the pain of childbirth, and championed sanitary, safe workplaces and daily exercises for employees. pp. xvi 244 [8 advertisements] --.
Published by J. Selwin Tait & Sons, New York, 1894
Seller: Dale Steffey Books, ABAA, ILAB, Bloomington, IN, U.S.A.
First Edition
Decorative Cloth. Condition: Very Good Plus. First Edition. "the Marvel of Anatomists, Sculptors, and Artists in the Nude; embracing the great Athlete's simple method of Physical Education for the Home, the Gymnasium, and the Army Training School; preceded by a Biography dealing with the chief incidents in Mr. Sandow's Professional Career, his Phenomenal Prowess and Gladiatorial Skill, in Competitive Matches, Contests and Exhibitions; with Mr. Sandow's Scheme of Dumb-bell and Bar-bell Exercises, and his Views on the Physiology of Gymnastics, the Function of the Muscles, etc. Richly illustrated from photographs expressly taken for the work by Sarony of New York, Morrison of Chicago, and White of Birmingham, and of Drawings by A. Casarin." Very Good Plus, bound in red cloth decorated and lettered in gilt, black and white, front hinge cracked yet holding well, light rubbing to cloth at the tips, the stamp of "The Tarr System Library" front paste down, which would seem to be a prior owner's obvious reference to Edgar Allen Poe's 1850 story THE SYSTEM OF DR. TARR AND PROF. FETHER. Eugen Sandow was a German bodybuilder and showman who in 1901 organized the world's first major bodybuilding competition. Considered the "Father of modern bodybuilding", he was one of the first to model his physique to predetermined dimensions so as to resemble classic Greek and Roman sculptures. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.