Egan (Pierce) Boxiana, or Sketches of Ancient and Modern PUGILISM: Comprising The only Original and Complete Lives of the Boxers, Illustrated with Num
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Egan (Pierce) Boxiana, or Sketches of Ancient and Modern PUGILISM: Comprising The only Original and Complete Lives of the Boxers, Illustrated with Numerous Portraits, in five volumes, Exlibris William Morley Pegge, published in London 1812-1826, half leather with marbled boards and end papers, a fine set of the 'cornerstone of boxing literature' Pierce Egan (1772-1849) was an early journalist and commentator on British sports and popular culture. Sport at this time was mainly confined to horse racing and prize fighting. Egan's Boxiana represents the first great attempt to write an authoritative history of prize fighting. It was Egan who first described boxing as ''The Sweet Science.'' This set of Boxiana bears the library label of William Morley Pegge (1852-1927). Having amassed wealth as a brewer he lived thereafter the life of a gentleman of leisure and was a keen sportsman and a collector of books, drawings and lace. After his death the library from his Brighton home was sold by Sotheby's in London on 29 March 1928.