Historic Newspapers: Boxing
We sell original, historic newspapers featuring coverage of some of the great moments in the sport of boxing. Whether it is called boxing, prize-fighting, pugilism, or by some other name, the engagement of two people in a contest of strength, quickness, endurance, etc., using either gloved or bare hands, has captured the imagination of onlookers and participants since the beginning of time. Finding reports of such encounters within newspapers dates back into the 18th century. John Jackson vs. Daniel Mendoza, Jim Jeffries vs. Jim Corbett, Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling, Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali, and more... enjoy the following authentic reports spanning 3 centuries:
Found 960 Results
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Item #680899NEW-YORK TRIBUNE, April 30, 1860
* John C. Heenan vs. Tom Sayers
* Famous boxing match - fight
Appearing at the top of the first column on pg. 6 are headlines reporting one of the most famous boxing matches of the nineteenth century involving John Heenan, the American champion, and Tom Sayers, the English champion.
In the third... Read full description -
Item #716544NEW YORK TIMES, April 30, 1860
* John C. Heenan vs. Tom Sayers
* Famous boxing match - fight
Six of 7 back page columns are taken up with one of the more historic boxing matches of the 19th century.
The top of the first column has heads: "The Great Fight" "Full Particulars" "Thirty-Seven Rounds... Read full description -
Item #172360HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 5, 1860 The prime feature of this issue would have to be the great doublepage centerfold print captioned: "Bloody, Brutal, and Blackguard Prize-Fight In England, Between Heenan and Sayers, On April 17, 1860" which shows hundreds of spectators.
This historic boxing match is... Read full description -
Item #675286WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, May 12, 1860
* John Heenan vs. Tom Sayers
* "Fight of the Century" (Boxing)
This issue has great coverage of this historic boxing match for the championship between John Heenan and Tom Sayers, which lasted nearly 2 1/2 hours and ended in a draw.
Included is a full-figure, front page... Read full description -
Item #172366HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 26, 1860 This issue has become one of the most desired pre-Civil War issues of this famous illustrated newspaper, as it did much to propel Abraham Lincoln to national prominence and is one of relatively few published portraits of Lincoln without his beard.
This issue announces, in a very... Read full description -
Item #617234THE NEW YORK HERALD, May 29, 1860
* John C. Heenan vs. Tom Sayers
* 1st boxing championship dispute
Pages 3 has an article headed: "The Championship" "Settlement of the Heenan and Sayers Affair" Both To Have Belts" with subheads. (see)
Other news of the day. Complete in 12 pages, a little irregular along spine,... Read full description -
Item #690610NEW YORK HERALD, May 31, 1860 Page 3 has: "Seizure of Another Supposed Slaver" with subhead: "Seizure of the Steamer City of Norfolk, Suspected of Fitting Out For the Slave Trade".
The top of page 7 has a report: "Capture of Another Slaver Off the Coast of Cuba" which is... Read full description -
Item #698262WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, June 2, 1860
* John C. Heenan vs. Tom Sayers
* Famous boxing match
A terrific issue on the famed boxer John Heenan, as the entire front page is taken up with a print of him captioned: "John C. Heenan, The Champion of the World".
The print was taken from a photo of... Read full description -
Item #675287WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, June 9, 1860 Basically a sports-themed newspaper. Page 6 has over a full column headed: "Base Ball" which has reports of five games, with the crude box scores. Also: "Base Ball In Albany--Champion Club"
Another page has: "The Championship - Sayers and Heenan--the Question... Read full description -
Item #685011THE WORLD, New York, July 9, 1860 Page 3 has most of a column taken up with a report headed: "From Great Salt Lake City" which has a subhead: "Brutal Treatment of a Mormon By U. S. Soldiers" with much detail.
Page 4 has a report headed: "News Frost Pike's Peak" and page 8 has a pre-Civil War report... Read full description -
Item #617381THE NEW YORK HERALD, July 16, 1860
* American boxer John C. Heenan
* Boxing champion welcome home
The front page has an article headed: "The Return Of Heenan" "The Champion Of The World At Home" "The Bencia Boy On Staten Island" and more.
Other news of the day. Complete in 8 pages, a little irregular along the... Read full description -
Item #222042THE NEW YORK TIMES, August 21, 1860 This issue features the reviews of two games between Brooklyn and New York (Excelsior vs. Empire, and Mutual vs. Atlantic). A box score for each event accompanies the text. Additional articles are printed on the inside and back pages as well,... Read full description
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Item #222045THE NEW YORK TIMES, August 31, 1860 This issue features the reviews of three Baseball games: Manhattan vs. Harlem, Eckford vs. Newburgh, and Brooklyn vs. New York. A box score for each event accompanies the text. Additional articles are printed on the inside and back pages as well,... Read full description
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Item #172394HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, September 1, 1860 Ftpg. has three small prints re: "The Ohio Holy Stone--Great Circular Mound Near Newark, Ohio". Two-thirds pg: "City of Damascus, Syria". Fullpg. shows fireworks upon completion of the Victoria Bridge in Montreal, Canada. Fullpg: "Durham & Devon Cows". Another print is:... Read full description
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Item #675290WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Sept. 22, 1860 Basically a sports-themed newspaper. The front page has a nice print of the horse: "Planet...", the very famous race horse.
An inside page has a heading: "Base Ball" which contains 14 box scores.
Complete in 16 pages, decorative masthead, minor... Read full description -
Item #538726NEW-YORK TIMES, February 5, 1861 On the back page under Brooklyn News is a report: "A Game of Base Ball Played on Skates Great Crowd Of People--Exciting Scenes." The summary begins: "The long-talked contest for a silver ball, between the Charter Oak and Atlantic Base Ball Clubs, on skates...came off yesterday, on the skating pond... Read full description
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Item #172534HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 4, 1862 The full front page is a notable Winslow Homer print: "Christmas Boxes in Camp, 1861", which does show some mild margin wear as this was the first page in the volume.
Among the prints inside are a full page with 4 scenes of a: "General view of Ship Island, showing the... Read full description -
Item #545067WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, NY, January 4, 1862.
* Billiards
Page five of this issue includes a rather lengthy article concerning boxing entitled: "Billiards - Kavanagh and Foley, Proposed Match".
Another article found within this issue and entitled: "Our Chess Department" includes a "problem of the week" and the... Read full description -
Item #546330WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, NY, February 8, 1862.
* Salt
* Boxing
This issue contains a rather lengthy article concerning "the Salting of the Streets of Philadelphia", which goes into some detail about the benefits of salt.
Another article found within this issue and entitled: "Our Chess Department" includes a "problem of the... Read full description -
Item #544663WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, NY, February 15, 1862.
* Billiards
* Chess
This newspaper, which was primarily a sporting newspaper, has a quite lengthy article headed: "Billiards" includes accompanying subheads entitled: "The Foley and Kavanagh Match", "The Match of 1859", and much more.
Another article found within this issue... Read full description -
Item #544706WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, NY, February 22, 1862.
* Billiards
* Chess
This newspaper, which was primarily a sporting newspaper, has a quite lengthy article headed: "Billiards". Accompanying subheads include: "Kavanagh and Deery", "Billiard Entertainment", and much more.
Another article found within this issue... Read full description -
Item #635479WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, NY, March 1, 1862.
* Chess
This issue contains an article entitled: "Our Chess Department", which includes a "problem of the week" and the answer to the previous weeks' problem.
Some Civil War reports can also be found as well as other sports items, including boxing, horse racing, and... Read full description -
Item #544660WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, May 24, 1862.
* Boxing
* Chess
This newspaper, which was primarily a sporting newspaper, has a quite lengthy article headed: "The Ring in England" features the "Conclusion of a Fight Between Gannon and Hatton". An additional subhead discusses a fight between Cook and Kenny.
... Read full description -
Item #544658WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, June 21, 1862 This newspaper, which was primarily a sporting newspaper, has a quite lengthy article headed: "Lexington, Kentucky, Races" with accompanying subtitles reading: "Splendid Fields, and Fine Sport", "Very Exciting Vicissitudes", "Idlewild and Millington Both... Read full description
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Item #709903WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, July 5, 1862
* Civil War era baseball reporting
Over one-third of page 4 has: "Base Ball" reports with details of five games and box scores for 3 of them. Uncommon to find much baseball reporting from during the Civil War.
Sixteen pages, 11 by 16 inches, some foxing and... Read full description -
Item #544982WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, NY, July 12, 1862 The front page of this issue features an illustration captioned: "The Two First Premiums", which accompanying subheads: "Bloodhound and Black and Tan Terrier" and "The Recent London Dog Show".
Page three of this issue includes a rather lengthy... Read full description -
Item #675347WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, July 26, 1862 Basically a sports-themed newspaper. Inside has 2 1/2 columns taken up with reports on: "Base Ball" games and developments. Included are box scores for 9 games.
Other sports reports as well including for: "Fistiana" (boxing).
Sixteen pages,... Read full description -
Item #172600HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, August 23, 1862 The full front page shows the: "Great War Meeting at Washington, District of Columbia", being a huge crowd in front of the Capitol. Prints inside include: "General View of the Encampment of the Army of the Potomac at Harrison's Landing" "Kimmidge's Creek, Left Defense of the Camp... Read full description
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Item #172638HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 3, 1863 The full front front page is an illustration of "Santa Claus in Camp", this being the very first representation of Santa Claus by Thomas Nast in this publication. Inside the doublepage centerfold has two large illustrations of "Christmas Eve, 1862.", by... Read full description
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Item #172642HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 17, 1863 Certainly the most historic content would be the page 2 complete printing of: "By the President of the United States of America - A Proclamation" which is the full text of the Emancipation Proclamation, signed in type by the President: Abraham Lincoln.
Half of... Read full description -
Item #598325NEW YORK HERALD, December 22, 1863
* John C. Heenan vs. Tom King
* Boxing collectible
This 8 page newspaper has one column headlines on the front page: "THE GREAT PRIZE FIGHT", "Reports from Heenan and King to the 7th Instant", with subheads that include: "THE PRIZE RING" and more. Provides considerable pre-fight... Read full description -
Item #605566NEW YORK HERALD, Dec. 22, 1863 Among the front page column heads on the Civil War are: "Our Iron-Clad Fleet" "Rebel Reports from Charleston" "Rumored Disaster to the New Ironsides and Two Monitors" "The New Ironsides Entangled in a Net" "Important If True" and more. Also a report of the boxing... Read full description
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Item #648525THE NEW YORK HERALD, Dec. 26, 1863
* John Heenan vs. Tom King
* One of the greatest fights of the 19th century
* Heenan's last fight... was he cheated... drugged?
The front page has nearly two columns of reporting regarding the famous (or infamous?) champion prize-fight between John Heenan and Tom King. Heenan... Read full description -
Item #172820HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 1, 1864 The front page shows: "General Warren Extending & Fortifying His Lines Across the Weldon Railroad". Inside has a full page: "The Halt" by Thomas Nast; a full page: "General Sherman's Victory--Rebel Prisoners Being conducted to Atlanta... Read full description
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Item #220399THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Oct. 15, 1864 Although there is much Civil War reporting on the front page perhaps the most significant a brief item near the bottom of the back, headed: "Guerrillas at Work Again on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad" which reads: "A party of guerrillas captured the westward bound train on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad... Read full description
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Item #692478THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Oct. 15, 1864
* John S. Mosby - Guerrilla leader
* 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry
* Report on the Greenback Raid
Although there is much Civil War reporting on the front page perhaps the most significant a brief item near the bottom of the back, headed: "Guerrillas at Work Again on the Baltimore... Read full description -
Item #683057THE WORLD, New York, March 9, 1865
* The Davenport Brothers
* American magicians
* "Spirit Cabinet" hoax
* Supernatural illusions ?
Among the front page column heads on the Civil War are: "WILMINGTON" "Gen. Sherman Reported Within 60 Miles of the City"... Read full description -
Item #696929EVENING STAR, Washington, D.C., April 15, 1865
* Abraham Lincoln assassination (historic 1st report)
* It is BEST to have reports from the city where it occurred
Terrific to have this first report of Lincoln's assassination in a newspaper from the city where it happened. This is the first of this issue... Read full description -
Item #712064THE WORLD, New York, April 15, 1865 The top of the first column of the front page reports one of the most historic & tragic events of the 19th century: the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
The headlines include: "ASSASSINATION of PRESIDENT LINCOLN and SECRETARY SEWARD" "Mr. Lincoln Shot in Ford's Theater" "Boldness of the... Read full description -
Item #172878HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 22, 1865 The front page shows: "General Sheridan at the Battle of Five Forks" and also: "Cavalry Charge at the Battle of Five Forks". Inside has some nice text on the ending of the Civil War with articles headed: "Palm Sunday" "Grant"... Read full description
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Item #711122FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, April 29, 1865
* Famous Abraham Lincoln assassination issue
* Much more uncommon than the Harper's Weekly
This issue remains one of the most desired for this historic, tragic event, as it is one of the only newspapers which included a front page graphic showing the actual... Read full description -
Item #172880HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 29, 1865
* The same issue (title and date) found in the time capsule under the (former) statue of Robert E. Lee on Dec. 28, 2021
The front page has a large and dramatic illustration of "J. Wilkes Booth" plus a lengthy article headed: 'The Murder Of The President'... Read full description -
Item #203605THE NEW YORK TIMES, June 16, 1865 Page 5 has: "Out-Door Sports" " Base Ball" "Philadelphia Vs. Brooklyn". The summary mentions "a bevy of the fair ones" at the match and that "...with the crowd, the field of players in uniform, and the...banners on...flag-staffs on the grounds...the scene was... Read full description
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Item #203603THE NEW YORK TIMES, July 15, 1865 The bkpg. has: " Out-Door Sports" " Base Ball" which includes a summary and box score of a game between the Atlantic and Gotham clubs. Mentions a crowd of "...at least 4000, every seat on the platforms being occupied-a large delegation of the fair sex being present..."... Read full description
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Item #611720NEW-YORK TIMES, July 21, 1865 Pg. 3 has: "Outdoor Sports" "Base Ball" which include a summary and box score of a game between the Empire and Mutual clubs with mention there was: "...a goodly number of ladies being present." The back page has a summary and box score of a game between the Lowell team and the... Read full description
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Item #688527NEW YORK TIMES, July 25, 1865
* Harvard University commencement
* Georgia no longer a slave state
* Post civil war reconstruction era
The entire front page features the coverage of "HARVARD" "Culmination of the Grand Commencement" which concludes on the back page.
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Item #637221NEW YORK TIMES, July 26, 1865
* Government to buy Ford's Theater ?
* Andersonville Prison - Henry Wirz
Page 5 has an item with small head: "Ford's Theater" concerning the possibility of the government buying it or renting it (see). Also on pg. 5: "Base Ball" "Keystone of Philadelphia vs. Mutual of... Read full description -
Item #649852NEW YORK TIMES, July 28, 1865
* Jefferson Davis in confinement
* Fort Monroe - Hampton, Virginia
The front page features "The Pirate Shenandoah - She is Operating in the Arctic Ocean - Eight Ships of Our Whaling Fleet Destroyed - The Pirate Does Not Believe in Lee's Surrender".
Page 4 has: "The Health of Mr. Jefferson Davis at... Read full description -
Item #643740NEW YORK TIMES, July 28, 1865 The front page features "The Pirate Shenandoah - She is Operating in the Arctic Ocean - Eight Ships of Our whaling Fleet Destroyed - The Pirate Does Not Believe in Lee's Surrender" and: "Yale College - The Honors Bestowed Upon Her Fallen Heroes".
Page 4 has: "The Health of Mr.... Read full description -
Item #211719NEW YORK TRIBUNE, July 29, 1865 The back page has: "The Field Base Ball--Keystone of Philadelphia agt. Star of Brooklyn, with the summary mentioning: "The seats apportioned for ladies was filled with the galaxy of beauty and finery by the fair sex of Long Island..." and that many had fashionable umbrellas and parasols.... Read full description






















































