Historic Newspapers: Boxing

THE MORNING POST & DAILY ADVERTISER, London, July 23, 1788  The bottom of pg. 2 has: "Doyle, the famous boxer, was yesterday committed by the Magistrates at Bow St. for assaulting a gentleman in… more

THE MORNING POST & DAILY ADVERTISER, London, December 26, 1788.  Page three has content related to boxing (see images).  Four pages, folio size, very nice condition.  Also included on the back page… more

THE MORNING POST & DAILY ADVERTISER, London, Aug. 28, 1789 

* 18th century boxing

Page 3 has an early item on a boxing match, noting: "A boxing match is to be fought...between Bullard and… more

THE MORNING POST & DAILY ADVERTISER, London, Oct. 21, 1789 

* Isaac Perrins vs. Tom Johnson
* English boxing championship

Page 3 has an article headed: "Boxing" concerning: "...the battle… more

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Feb. 2, 1790  

* Daniel Mendoza - The fighting Jew

The back page has: "...Sir Sampson compelled Mr. Mendoza to give bail for his good behavior in future, which… more

THE MORNING POST, AND DAILY ADVERTISER, London, April 13, 1790

* 18th century boxing

A very nice full folio-size newspaper of 4 pages with the entire front page taken up with ads. Pages 2 & 3… more

THE MORNING POST & DAILY ADVERTISER, London, June 24, 1790 

* Early boxing match
* One arm tied up

Page 3 has an early article on: "Boxing" concerning: "...the one-armed soldier...and a… more

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, October 30, 1790  Page 2 has an article: "Boxing" which is a very early report of the sport (see photos). Other items including a page 3 article on: "Duelling", "King of… more

THE GENERAL EVENING POST, London, Feb. 23, 1792  

* President George Washington
* "Wallace Oak Box" presentation 

The back page has a report of a gift to President Washington from Scotland,… more

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, June 2, 1792

* 2nd - Second Militia Act of 1792 
* President George Washington signs
* Fort Lafayette - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Major General Anthony Wayne 

… more

THE HERALD; A GAZETTE FOR THE COUNTRY, New York, Aug. 27, 1796  Page 2 has a curious article headed: "Amorous Fracas!" beginning: "The boxing match which lately happened between two elderly maiden… more

THE HERALD; A GAZETTE FOR THE COUNTRY, New York, Aug. 27, 1796  Page 2 has a curious report: "Amorous Fracas!" The report from Ireland begins: "The boxing match which lately happened between two… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, July 30, 1811

* Tom "The Moor" Molineaux
* African-American bare-knuckle boxer

Page 3 has a one paragraph report about a boxing match near London between… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Oct. 30, 1849  Page 2 has a nice article: "Great Fight With The Apaches"  which is mostly taken up with an account of a battle headed: "American… more

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Oct. 9, 1855  Page 2 has an interesting "$15,000 Reward" ad in the "Lost and Found" section of the paper, offering much detail on the theft. A few details include: "...the 17th of… more

PORTER'S SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Jan. 24, 1857  A rather famous sporting newspaper, with a sporting-themed masthead, calling itself: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the… more

PORTER'S SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Feb. 14, 1857  Under the heading: "Out-Door Sports" are two letters to the editor from Troy, N.Y., concerning the "old game of wicket". It includes a quite… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, February 21, 1857  Includes small illustrations of: "Henry Jenkins" and "Old Parr." Many illustrations pertaining to Peru including: "Revolution in Peru-Arica Bombarded by… more

PORTER'S SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, March 14, 1857  Various literary content but there is also sporting reports near the back, including: "Trotting at Fairs" "Fistiana" which is boxing; "Our… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 21, 1857  An article entitled "Welcome to Horace Vernet" features a small illustration of him as well as a drawing by him which contains his autograph with date.… more

PORTER'S SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, March 28, 1857.

* Chess

As noted in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage", this is a volume 1 issue of a very… more

PORTER'S SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, April 4, 1857.

* Chess

As noted in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage", this is a volume II issue of a very… more

PORTER'S SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, April 11, 1857  As noted in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage", this is a volume II issue of a very early… more

NEW YORK DAILY TIMES, August 4, 1857

* Pre-Civil War boxing - prize fight
* Dominick Bradley vs. S.S. Rankin
* Buffalo, New York

Page 5 has an article headed: "The Great Prize-Fight Between… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 3, 1857  The front page article: "Thrilling Narrative of a Ship-Wrecked Passenger on Board the 'Central America" features the nearly half-page illustration 'Wreck… more

SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Oct. 10, 1857  It is subtitled in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Agriculture, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage". 
Almost half of page 7 is taken up… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 24,1857  The front page features 1/2 page illustration of "Militia-Day" with accompanying article. Inside illustration of "Sreenath alias Nena Sahib" and "The… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 7, 1857  The front page features an article "Peace and War" and has two illustrations "What the United States Soldiers are Doing" and "What the British Soldiers… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 14, 1857  Front half page illustration of "The Sovereigns at the Theatre at Stuttgardt" with an accompanying article.
Inside contains two large illustrations of… more

SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Dec. 5, 1857  

* Pre-Civil War sporting - hunting publication

"A Chronicle of the Turf, Agriculture, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage" which features an… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 2, 1858  The front page features a full page print: "New Year's Visiting in New York". Two other nice full page prints inside: "The Birth of the New Year' and 'A… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 16, 1858  The front page shows: 'Coming Out of a Fashionable Church'. 'Travel Notes in Bible Lands' includes two views of Antioch. "Dogographs" features two… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 23, 1858  The full front page illustration is entitled: 'In The Bitter Cold'. "Hon. Charles O'Conor" with an accompanying article. "The Great Massacre at Cawnpore"… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, August 14, 1858  The front page features an article and half page illustration of "The Atlantic Telegraph" (England, United States). Inside half page map of "The Gulf of… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 16, 1858  The front page features a half page illustration of "Gerard Hallock, Esq." with accompanying article. Inside full page illustration of "The Destruction… more

NEW YORK HERALD, Oct. 20, 1858  Page 4 has nearly a full column report on: "The Prize Fight Today" between Morrissey and Heenan (The Benicia Boy). Column subheads include: "Morrissey and the Benecia… more

THE NEW YORK TIMES, October 20, 1858

* John Heenan "Benicia Boy"
* Pre Civil War boxing w/ police raid
* Jews Hospital - Mount Sinai

The front page has an article headed: "Fight Between the… more

NEW YORK HERALD, Oct. 21, 1858  The front page has a "Postscript" report on the famous boxing match between Morrissey and Heenan.
The column heads: "The Great Prize Fight" "The Combat of Morrissey… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 30, 1858  The front page features a half page illustration of "Mademoiselle Piccolomini" with accompanying article. Inside two 1/4 page illustration of "The Late… more

SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Oct. 30, 1858  It is subtitled in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage". 
Page 5 has: "The Great Prize Fight" which provides… more

WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Sept. 17, 1859  It is subtitled in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage". 
Inside has considerable text under: "BASE… more

WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Oct. 8, 1859  

* English cricket team in North American tour

It is subtitled in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the… more

WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Oct. 22, 1859  It is subtitled in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage". 
All of pages 1 and 2 have columns… more

WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Nov. 12, 1859  It is subtitled in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage". 
Two-thirds of a page are taken up with… more

WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Nov. 26, 1859  It is subtitled in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage". 
Inside has: "Fistiana - The Championship… more

WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Jan. 14, 1860  

* John C. Heenan vs. Tom Sayers
* First World boxing championship match

It is subtitled in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field… more

WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Jan. 7, 1860  

* John C. Heenan vs. Tom Sayers (pre-fight)
* First World boxing championship match

It is subtitled in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the… more

WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Feb. 4, 1860  It is subtitled in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage". 
Various reporting on the historic boxing… more

WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Feb. 11, 1860  

* John C. Heenan vs. Tom Sayers
* First World boxing championship match

It is subtitled in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field… more

WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, A consecutive pair of issues for Feb. 18 and 25, 1860  

* John C. Heenan vs. Tom Sayers
* First World boxing championship match

It is subtitled in the… more