Sports and Leisure
Rare Sports and Leisure Books for Sale Online
View our selection of rare and vintage sports and leisure books and ephemera below. Find items related to golf, baseball, football, fox hunting, fishing, or whatever leisure activity you are searching for. Be sure to check back often for new product additions as our catalog changes frequently, sometimes daily.
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Rare large format photograph of American cultural icon James Dean; inscribed by him to his photographer Sanford H. Roth
DEAN, James. [Sanford H. Roth].
James Dean Signed Photograph.
Rare large format Sanford H. Roth photograph of cultural icon James dean playing table tennis. Inscribed beneath his image, "To Mr. Roth best wishes James Dean." The recipient, renowned American photographer Sanford H. Roth, was a close friend of Dean's and photographed him frequently. Dean visited Roth's home in California frequently and treated him and his wife Beulah almost as adoptive parents. Poignantly, Roth was in Dean's Ford station wagon driving behind Dean's new Porsche Spyder on the way to the Salinas Road Races on September 30, 1955, when Dean was killed in a late afternoon traffic accident. Roth took…
Price: $35,000.00 Item Number: 124398
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Rare first edition of one of the earliest chess manuals; Pietro Carrera's Game of Chess
CARRERA, Pietro.
Il Gioco De Gli Scacchi Di D. Pietro Carrera Diviso in Otto Libri. (The Game of Chess).
Militello: Giovanni de' Rossi, 1617.
Rare first edition of one of the early chess manuals, and the first book printed in Militello at Prince Francesco Branciforte's private press. Octavo, bound in full contemporary vellum with ink titles to the spine, large engraving of the Branciforte coat of arms opposite the dedication page, woodcut illustrations throughout the text. In near fine condition. First editions are of exceptional rarity, with only three appearing at auction in the past 90 years.
Price: $25,000.00 Item Number: 96172
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"Every strike brings me closer to the next home run": Rare black and white Photograph signed by babe ruth
RUTH, Babe [George Herman].
George Herman ‘Babe’ Ruth Signed Photograph.
c. 1930s.
Photograph of George Herman 'Babe' Ruth, boldly signed by him. Sepia-toned glossy photograph of George Herman 'Babe' Ruth. Signed by Babe Ruth near the bottom of the photograph. Matted and framed with a plaque describing Ruth's claim to fame which reads, "George Herman 'Babe' Ruth 1895-1948 'Babe' Ruth won fame as one of the greatest baseball players of all time. His record of 714 home runs stood for 39 years until Hank Aaron beat the record in 1974. In 1914, Ruth joined the Boston Red Sox and became a successful pitcher. In 1920, he was traded to the New York…
Price: $22,500.00 Item Number: 145338
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First Edition of William Percey's The Compleat Swimmer: Or, The Art of Swimming
PERCEY, William.
The Compleat Swimmer: Or, The Art of Swimming: Demonstrating The Rules and Practice thereof, in an Exact, Plain, and Easie Method. Necessary to be Known and Practiced by All Who Studie or Desire their own Preservation.
London: Printed by J. C. for Henry Fletcher, 1658.
First and only edition of one of the earliest treatises on swimming, preceded only by Sir Everard Digby's short Latin tract, published in 1589 and translated into English in 1595; and the Dutchman Nicholas Wynman's De arte natandi, 1538. 12mo, bound in full 19th century calf with gilt titles and tooling the spine, gilt ruling to the panels, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, engraved frontispiece. In very good condition. Exceptionally rare with only a handful of copies having appeared at auction in the past century.
Price: $22,500.00 Item Number: 125337
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"I would advise anyone who wants to get to the kernel of the life of a Polar explorer to read the book": Edition De Luxe of Antarctic Days; Signed by Shackleton, Murray and Marston
SHACKLETON, Ernest; James Murray and George Marston.
Antarctic Days. Sketches of the Homely Side of Polar Life by Two of Shackleton’s Men: Introduced by Sir Ernest Shackleton.
London: Andrew Melrose, 1913.
Limited edition de luxe of this account of the 1907-09 Nimrod Expedition under Shackleton. number 181 of 280 copies signed on the recto of the limitation leaf by E.H. Shackleton, James Murray and George Marston. Octavo, original blue cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel with a mounted color illustration, top edge gilt, 4 mounted color plates after watercolors by C. Day, 34 photo illustrations on 28 plates. In near fine condition with a light rubbing, with the original dust jacket lacking the spine. A very nice example, as most copies have been rebound and we have…
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 132467
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Rare collection of four original photographs of Rollie Free before and during his record-breaking 1948 motorcycle ride on the Bonneville Salt Flats; each inscribed by him
FREE, Rollie.
Rollie Free Signed Motorcycle Racing Photograph Collection.
1948.
Rare collection of original photographs inscribed by motorcycle racing legend Rollie Free. The collection includes 4 photographs, all of which are inscribed by Rollie Free to close personal friend and business partner Ted Peaso. Free and Peaso co-owned a Service Station on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California at the time of Free's record-breaking ride. Peaso also fabricated the leg support for the Vincent HRD Free broke the American motorcycle land speed record with. The photographs include an image of Free during his record-breaking ride, inscribed by him, "To Ted actual photo South near fastest 23.90 seconds. North near 24 seconds…
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 119311
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First Edition of Bobby Fischer’s Games of Chess; Inscribed by Him to Friend and Chess Competitor Vic Traibush
FISCHER, Bobby.
Bobby Fischer’s Games of Chess.
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1959.
First edition of the only book ever written entirely by Bobby Fischer. Octavo, original boards. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Vic Traibush with best wishes from Bobby Fischer April 26,1964." The recipient, Vic Traibush was a friend of Fischer who played chess at the New York Chess Club, and became friends with some of the great chess players of the era. He was an accomplished player and won the Colorado State Chess Championship in 1955, 1967, and 1970. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Frank Pagnato. Photograph…
Price: $18,500.00 Item Number: 144098
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Signed Limited Edition of the "Greatest Golf Book Of the 20th Century" Down the Fairway
JONES, Robert [Bobby] T..
Down the Fairway: The Golf Life and Play of Robert T. Jones, Jr.
New York: Minton, Balch & Company, 1927.
Signed Limited edition, preceding the first trade edition of what many consider the greatest golf book of the 20th century. One of 300 numbered copies, signed by both Robert T. Jones and O.B. Keeler, and again by Jones beneath his frontispiece, this is number 264. Octavo, original half vellum over green cloth, gilt titles to the spine, top edge gilt, frontispiece, illustrated. Foreword by Grantland Rice. In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. Rare and desirable.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 133496
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"This was the nursery book my mother read to me at age 1": First Edition of The Official System of Contract Bridge; Inscribed by Warren Buffett to his Bridge mentor
BUFFETT, Warren E.
The Official System of Contract Bridge, Simplified, Concise; the Official Book on the Official System.
New York: Produced by Bridge Headquarters, 1931.
First edition of this official Prohibition era manual to the game of contract bridge; warmly inscribed by Warren Buffett to his long-time bridge partner and close personal friend Sharon Osberg. Octavo, original cloth, inscribed by Buffett on the title page, "To Sharon - This was the nursery book my mother read to me at age 1. Unfortunately she emphasized Chapter 17. Love, Warren." Sharon Osberg is a close friend of both Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, and has coached both on the game of bridge, for which she has won several championships and awards. Chapter 17, which Buffett here refers…
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 133119
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Rare Presidential Commission appointing Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Dimaggio as a member of the Conference on Physical Fitness and Sports; signed by President Richard Nixon
NIXON, Richard; Joe DiMaggio.
Joe DiMaggio Presidential Commission Signed by Richard Nixon.
Washington, D.C: 1970.
Rare Richard Nixon Presidential Commission appointing Baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio as a "Member of the Conference on Physical Fitness and Sports." Dated September 25th, 1970 the appointment is signed by President Richard Nixon and Secretary of State William Rogers with the Presidential seal. Double matted and framed. In fine condition. From the personal collection of Joe DiMaggio. Included is letter of provenance from DiMaggio's estate signed by his two granddaughters. An exceptional association linking two American icons. Double matted and framed.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 95202
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"I would advise anyone who wants to get to the kernel of the life of a Polar explorer to read the book": Edition De Luxe of Antarctic Days; Signed by Shackleton, Murray and Marston
SHACKLETON, Ernest; James Murray and George Marston.
Antarctic Days. Sketches of the Homely Side of Polar Life by Two of Shackleton’s Men: Introduced by Sir Ernest Shackleton.
London: Andrew Melrose, 1913.
Limited edition de luxe, numbered 85 of 280 copies signed on the recto of the limitation leaf by E.H. Shackleton, James Murray and George Marston. Octavo, original blue cloth, gilt titles to the spine and front panel with a mounted color illustration, top edge gilt, 4 mounted color plates after watercolors by C. Day, 34 photo illustrations on 28 plates. In near fine condition with a light rubbing. A very nice example, as most copies have been rebound. Introduced by Sir Ernest Shackleton.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 103746
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Rare original sketch for the ball gown worn by Audrey Hepburn in her breakout role as Princess Anne in Roman Holiday; signed by Academy Award-winning costume designer Edith Head
HEAD, Edith. [Audrey Hepburn].
“Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday.” [Original Edith Head Signed Costume Sketch].
c. 1953.
Rare original sketch by Academy Award-winning costume designer Edith Head for the ball gown worn by Audrey Hepburn in her breakout role as Princess Ann in William Wyler's classic 1953 comedy, Roman Holiday. Design for Paramount Pictures, circa 1953. Gouache sketch on paper with added white. Signed and annotated by the designer, "Audrey Hepburn in 'Roman Holiday' Edith Head." The dress appears in the opening scene of the film, when the Princess is shown in newsreels greeting and dancing with dignitaries at an official reception. According to an interview with Head broadcast just after the film's release, she made two regal…
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 145841
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"Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots - but you have to play the ball where it lies.": First Edition of Down the Fairway; Signed by Bobby Jones
JONES, Robert T..
Down the Fairway: The Golf Life and Play of Robert T. Jones, Jr.
Minton, Balch & Company: New York, 1927.
First trade edition of what many consider the greatest golf book of the twentieth century. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Signed by Jones on the front free endpaper, "with best wishes, Robert T. Jones, Jr." Foreword by Grantland Rice. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. An exceptional example, rare and desirable in the original dust jacket and signed.
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 117324
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Signed Limited Edition of the "Greatest Golf Book Of the 20th Century" Down the Fairway
JONES, Robert [Bobby] T..
Down the Fairway: The Golf Life and Play of Robert T. Jones, Jr.
New York: Minton, Balch & Company, 1927.
Signed Limited edition, preceding the first trade edition of what many consider the greatest golf book of the 20th century. One of 300 numbered copies, signed by both Robert T. Jones and O.B. Keeler, and again by Jones beneath his frontispiece, this is number 29. Octavo, original half vellum over green cloth, gilt titles to the spine, top edge gilt, frontispiece, illustrated. Foreword by Grantland Rice. In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. Rare and desirable.
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 145952
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Rare first edition of James Bolton's magnificently illustrated Harmonia Ruralis; containing eighty copper-plates of life-size male and female songbirds drawn, engraved, and coloured by the author
BOLTON, James.
Harmonia Ruralis; or, An Essay Towards A Natural History of British Songbirds.
London: Printed For and Sold By the Author, 1794.
Rare first edition of Bolton's magnificently illustrated work on British songbirds. First issue with the original plates 7 and 13 which differ in later issues. Quarto, two volumes bound into one in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with eighty copper-plates of life-size male and female songbirds drawn, engraved and colored by the author, index. In near fine condition. First editions are rare, with only a handful appearing at auction in the last 100 years.
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 111071
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First Edition of My 60 Memorable Games; Signed by Chess Legend Bobby Fischer
FISCHER, Bobby.
My 60 Memorable Games.
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1968.
First edition of this classic work, which is regarded as one of the great pieces of chess literature. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Bobby Fischer on the front free endpaper. Introduction by Grandmaster Larry Evans. Fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Carl Smith. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. Rare and desirable signed by this chess legend.
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 145616
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Complete Set of The Macallan James Bond Set
The Macallan James Bond 60th Anniversary Release Decade I-VI [Full Set].
Through a behind the scenes exploration of the James Bond archives this release celebrates 007 and The Macallan as modern innovators linked by their Scottish heritage. The Macallan and James Bond are bound together by our shared Scottish heritage, innovative nature and the pursuit of excellence. We have created a remarkable collection comprising six limited edition bottles inspired by each of The Six Decades of Bond, telling the story of innovation over 60 years and the pioneering character attributes of James Bond and The Macallan. The packaging of each bottle features an original illustrative design and colour to denote the…
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 145007
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“Wherever I live, I shall feel homesick for Tibet": First American Edition of Seven Years in Tibet; Lengthily Inscribed by Heinrich Harrer and By His Holiness the Dalai Lama
HARRER, Heinrich [His Holiness The Dalai Lama].
Seven Years in Tibet.
New York: E.P. Dutton & Company, 1954.
First American edition of Harrer's classic account, signed by Harrer and The Dalai Lama. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with over 40 photographs. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by Heinrich Harrer in both English and Tibetan on the half-title page, "To Mrs. Rosser with best wishes in remembrance of my lecture in Philadelphia from H. Harrer Jan. 1955." Additionally signed by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, who was tutored by Harrer while he living in Tibet. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Translated by Richard Graves. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare and desirable signed by…
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 112165
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First edition of The White House Gardens: A History and Pictorial Record; inscribed by Jacqueline Kennedy to her mother-in-law Rose Kennedy
NIXON, Patricia. [Preface]; [Jacqueline Kennedy; Rose Kennedy].
The White House Gardens: A History and Pictorial Record.
New York: Great American Editions, 1973.
First edition of the first book to trace the history of and fully illustrate the grounds of the White House gardens. Oblong quarto, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with color plates by Harold Sterner. Association copy, inscribed by Jacqueline Kennedy on the half-title page, "For Grandma with love Jackie." The recipient, Rose Kennedy, was the matriarch of the Kennedy family: the wife of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., mother of John F. Kennedy and his eight siblings, mother-in-law of Jacqueline Kennedy, and grandmother of the children of John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy. She was a devout catholic and deeply embedded in…
Price: $12,000.00 Item Number: 142435
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"Bats Wishes": Original Oversized Sketch of Batman, Robin, and Penguin; Inscribed by Cartoonist Bob Kane to Writer Cork Millner and Annotated by Him on the Reverse
KANE, Bob; [Cork Millner].
Bob Kane and Cork Millner Signed Original Oversized Batman Sketch.
Biltmore Hotel, Santa Barbara: 1994.
Rare original oversized Batman sketch. One page on off-white cardstock, original felt tip sketch of Batman, Robin, and the Penguin, boldly inscribed by Bob Kane, "For my friend Cork, write on! Bats wishes, Bob Kane, '94." Additionally annotated and signed on the reverse by writer Cork Millner, "Personally drawn for Cork Millner at the Biltmore Hotel, Santa Barbara, during Bob Kane's visit to the SBWC (as a speaker) in exchange for a signed copy of Portraits." Framed. In fine condition. The piece measures 20 inches by 12 inches. Rare and desirable.
Price: $12,000.00 Item Number: 146709
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First Edition of the Walt Disney's The Art of Animation; Inscribed by Him to director Ralph Hulett and other Disney Artists
THOMAS, Bob [Walt Disney].
The Art of Animation: The Story of the Disney Studio Contribution to a New Art.
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1958.
First edition of this definitive work on the animation of Walt Disney. Quarto, original half cloth, pictorial endpapers. Association copy, inscribed by Walt Disney opposite the title page, "To Ralph All Best Walt." The recipient, Ralph Hulett was a director, known for Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp and Peter Pan. Additionally signed by many of "Walt's Nine Old Men" animators throughout the book, including Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston as well as Disney Legends John Hench, Al Dempster, Xavier "X" Atencio, Collin Campbell, and other noted artists and animators from the Disney Studio. Near fine in a near fine…
Price: $11,000.00 Item Number: 142096
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Scarce first edition of Frederick Studebaker Fish's A Hunting Trip in Jackson's Hole, Wyoming, October 1913; in the original wrappers
FISH, Frederick Studebaker.
A Hunting Trip in Jackson’s Hole, Wyoming, October 1913.
South Bend, Indiana: Privately Printed, 1913.
Scarce first edition of this detailed narrative of a month-long hunting trip throughout Jackson's Hole, Wyoming. Octavo, original pictorial wrappers with gilt titles as issued, 8 engraved plates incorporating captioned photographs and illustrations. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom quarter morocco and chemise slipcase. Scarce, Worldcat locates only 2 other copies.
Price: $9,800.00 Item Number: 95343
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First Edition of Harry Vardon's My Golfing Life; In the Rare Original Dust Jacket and from the library of Albert W. Tillinghast with a letter to him signed by Vardon laid in
VARDON, Harry.
My Golfing Life.
London: Hutchinson & Co, 1933.
First edition of Vardon's autobiography. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. From the library of golf architect A.W. Tillinghast with his handwritten library index card laid in. A.W. Tillinghast was one of the most prolific architects in the history of golf; he worked on more than 265 different courses and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2015. Affixed to the front free endpaper is a three-page autograph letter signed and entirely in the hand of Vardon to Tillinghast on Vardon's letterhead dated February 19th 1914 which reads in part, "Dear Mr. Tillinghast, I thank you very much for…
Price: $9,800.00 Item Number: 96787
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"The first map of Florida published in Florida": Drew's New Map of the State of Florida
BIEN, Julius. [Engraver].
Drew’s New Map of the State of Florida.
Jacksonville, Florida: Published by C. Drew, Bookseller & Stationer, 1870.
Rare original lithographic printing of the first map of the state Florida published in Florida. One page, with fine original hand colored borders and counties, showing the progress of the U.S. Surveys, the completed and projected railroads, the different railroad stations and growing railroad towns, the new towns on the rivers and interior and the new counties up to the year 1870. Also displaying townships, battlefields, springs of Florida and newly chartered railroads. Engraved and printed by Julius Bien. Scale 18 miles to an inch. In near fine condition. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 32 inches by…
Price: $8,800.00 Item Number: 126972