(Boxing) James "Jem" Mace. World Heavyweight Boxing Champion...

Estimate

£200 - £300

(Boxing) James "Jem" Mace. World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, 1870-71 A small archive of 'Show' scripts Hull Empire flyer featuring Mace in ‘Catching a Tartar’, 14cm x 5cm; 'Catching a Tartar,' MS, pp.27 both ink and graphite, string bound, appears changes were made during the writing, folded, vg, [c.1910]; With another script of the same 'show', MS in the same hand but it seems in a quicker hand (so to speak), a rushed second copy perhaps; A third script, this one titled 'A Grand Old Man,' MS, pp.4, many directions for Mace, folded with tear to foot affecting text, vg; 'A Just Reward,' MS, pp.5 of script with a further page detailing a boxer’s training and diet regime, some soiling, folded, vg, circa 1910; Photographic postcard of Jack Knifton, boxer, son in law of Mace, author (probably with Mace) of the scripts, H. Flett, London, [c,1909]; Postcard depicting Gem Mace, Turnball & Sons, Glasgow, [c.1909]; Postcard of Mace, Knifton and Ruby Knifton (Mace’s daughter and leading female boxer of the day), backed onto card. (8) Jem Mace (1831–1910) was a bare-knuckle prizefighter and a talented violinist. He was a pioneer of gloved boxing and even fought a bout with the Marquis of Queensberry. Although the title of world champion had not yet been formalized during his career, Mace is universally recognized as such. Over the course of his life, he amassed and lost millions of dollars. In his later years, Mace worked the music hall circuit, performing sketches that combined dialogue with exhibition rounds of boxing and violin performances. He often collaborated with his family in these acts; his daughter Ruby, a notable figure at the time, participated in one of the comedic boxing sketches. Of local interest, in the early 1880s, Mace traveled to Timaru, New Zealand, where he established a boxing school and organized the first boxing championships in the country. It was here that Bob Fitzsimmons, originally from Helston, made his professional debut. From the archives of the Boxing family: The Millers of Birmingham, early 20th century.